Lucky you, Woolloomooloo. Annita Potter, one of the best Thai cooking talents this side of Bangkok, has nabbed the former site of Italian restaurant Puntino Trattoria at 41 Crown Street, where she'll open a Thai restaurant in June.

The Perth-born protegee of David Thompson, who was parachuted into Sydney as part of the opening team at Long Chim, liked the city enough to stay.

While hunting for bricks and mortar, she ran a successful pop-up a couple of days a week out of Almond Bar in Darlinghurst, using the moniker the Viand Club.

Potter has confirmed she'll be calling her new restaurant Viand.

"It'll be a completely different concept for Sydney," she says. "People are wanting something new, something sophisticated. I want to bring back a sensory experience."

The charming Woolloomooloo building gives her room to work with. "It'll be a 40-seater. People want space around them now," she says.

And while a Thai degustation menu will feature, Potter will also offer a la carte and is toying with ideas to make it an accessible offering.