Sooshi Mango comedy trio enlists hospo heavyweights for new ‘nonna-style’ Italian restaurant in Lygon Street
Named after the trio’s comedy characters, Johnny, Vince & Sam’s will serve traditional Italian food in a homely, gimmick-free setting.
Brothers Joe and Carlo Salanitri and best mate Andrew Manfre, aka comedy trio Sooshi Mango, are opening their first restaurant, Johnny, Vince & Sam’s (named after their ethnic dad characters) in the site formerly known as St Charly cafe in Lygon Street, Carlton.
The Italian restaurant will be “a gimmick-free, delicious food experience, laced with nostalgia” aimed at restoring Lygon Street to its former glory.
“We didn’t want it to be like Disneyland. We don’t want it to be an amusement park,” Joe tells Good Food.
Meantime, Manfre defines his vision for the eatery as homely, unpretentious and tasty.
“We didn’t want it to be like Disneyland. We don’t want it to be an amusement park”Joe Salanitri
The troupe developed the concept with award-winning chef Johnny Di Francesco (400 Gradi) and Dani Zeini (Royal Stacks), drawing on the pair’s industry knowledge and experience.
Joe says, “We’ve gone to a lot of effort to get it right, working with two well-established amazing restaurateurs because the only thing we know about restaurants is ordering food, and that’s about it.”
Di Francesco recently returned from Italy after honing his dough-making skills in a “pizza lab” in Naples.
“He’s nailed an airy, Neapolitan-style pizza with a light crust that no one is doing in Melbourne,” says Carlo.
The menu brims with traditional dishes - spaghetti and meatballs, pasta and broccoli, gnocchi and the ubiquitous cotoletta.
The drinks list includes a tiramisu cocktail and limoncello spritz.
Interior designers Mitchell & Eades (Chin Chin, Grill Americano) have introduced chandeliers, carpet in the dining space, crystal cabinets and “picture frames that you haven’t seen since you were a child,” reveals Manfre.
“It will feel just like home. Like nonna’s house, like mum’s house, like where you grew up,” he asserts, while confirming there’s a large, framed print of The Last Supper.
The comedians can’t resist a gag: “If you don’t finish your meal, one of the waiters comes up and hits you with a belt.”
And while that definitely won’t happen, the trio is still deciding whether Tupperware will be on hand for diners’ leftovers.
Open Mon-Fri 11.30am-3pm, 5pm-11pm; Sat-Sun 11.30am-11pm from June 29.
306-308 Lygon Street, Carlton, johnnyvinceandsams.com
Donna Demaio is a freelance arts, travel, entertainment and food journalist and broadcaster.