Geoff Scott says he’s still “crazy about great food”, with plans to open a new restaurant.

Auckland fine-dining restaurant Vinnies will close its doors next month after 27 years in business.

Owner Geoff Scott, an award-winning chef, has been behind the stoves for the last decade.

He announced the sale of the Herne Bay restaurant on Tuesday, and said it would close on March 5.

Scott said the new owners had indicated they were going to launch a French bistro, with a soft opening in mid-April.

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His own plans for a new restaurant were already underway.

"At this stage, I'm expecting it's going to be relaxed and casual dining. It's going to be really focused on fantastic quality food, inexpensive."

Asked about the location and timing, he said "watch this space".

Scott said he was also doing some consulting work with new food businesses, and had launched a website which would feature regular blogs and recipes.

"That'll be ticking along in the background as we get closer to D-day."

Scott described his 11 years at Vinnies as a "whirlwind", a span of time that had also included buying a house and having three children.

"There's a tinge of sadness, definitely," he said.

"I guess it'll probably hit me in that last week, but at the moment, lots of excitement coming up."