If you’re a fan of comedy trio Sooshi Mango and their ‘ethnic dad’ videos, here’s an immersive new eatery in Carlton that will transplant you straight into their world in living, breathing colour.
Replacing the former café St Charly that previously occupied the site, the traditional Italian restaurant is named – you guessed it – Johnny, Vince and Sam’s, after the three iconic characters created by Australian-Italian brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and their best friend Andrew Manfre.
Their bustling restaurant draws on the lovably daggy charm of traditional nonno and nonna-style deco (think floral carpets, crystal cabinets and art prints depicting Jesus and the Last Supper) and unpretentious old-school Italian recipes. Anticipate Neapolitan-inspired light crust pizzas with names such as ‘You Like’A My Salami’ or ‘Capricciosa From’A My Town’, plus a generous selection of crowd-pleasers like spaghetti and meatballs, arancini, sugo-drenched gnocchi and, of course, the classic parmesan-crusted cotolette.
It’s not every day a comedian tries their hand at a restaurant or bar enterprise, but it’s not unheard of either. Bill Murray and his brothers opened a Caddyshack-themed bar outside Chicago in 2018, and in 2021 Dave Chappelle announced plans to convert a former fire station into a restaurant and comedy club.
So is Johnny, Vince and Sam’s just another clever gag from the Sooshi Mango boys or will it stand up to the rest of Lygon Street’s culinary offerings as a serious dining destination worth visiting in its own right? Only time will tell, but the enthusiastic fanfare the restaurant’s been met with during its first weeks alone has been encouraging, with long (and thankfully, fast-moving) queues snaking out the door on weekends.
It helps that the kitchen talent’s hardly small fry, with the menu and concept co-developed by 400 Gradi’s Italian chef Johnny Di Francesco, known for winning the title of Australia’s Best Pizza, and Dani Zeini of Royal Stacks fame. For drinks, you’ll be tempted with an impressive wine selection and Di Francesco’s award-winning Margaritas, as well as a Wog-ified Bloody Mary, limoncello spritz and tiramisu cocktails.
Though the team is willing to dole out takeaway in Tupperware containers, trust us when we say you’ll want to eat in – the cosy, sentimental interiors will make you feel like you’ve been invited over to a real nonna’s house for tea.
Curious enough to pop in and taste what's cooking? No need to make a booking. The restaurant's currently accepting walk-ins only.
