Comedy trio Sooshi Mango fuels rumours of opening Italian restaurant in Leichhardt
Sooshi Mango – famous for parodies of nonnas and other ethnic characters – is adding fuel to rumours its successful Melbourne restaurant venture will spread to Sydney. Here’s the latest.
Inner West
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Sooshi Mango – “wog” comedians turned successful restaurateurs – are adding more fuel to rumours they will expand their successful Melbourne restaurant in Sydney and revive the city’s ailing Little Italy with a visit to the inner west.
Brothers Carlo and Joe Salanitri, and their best friend, Andrew Manfre, founded Johnny Vince and Sam’s Ristorante in Carlton, Melbourne, where Italian food is served in a restaurant that mirrors a nonna’s traditional dining room.
The concept has taken off and the Lygon St restaurant recently expanded upstairs.
The comics gave Sydney fans and lovers of Italian cuisine some hope they would open the concept noshery here after they visited the Italian Forum at Leichhardt in September when they inspected the once-flourishing Norton St landmark.
“We don’t know when, but this could be a possibility to help bring this once-vibrant Italian hotspot of Sydney back to life,’’ Joe said.
Now a planned visit to Leichhardt in August is piquing interest that a ristorante could actually be arriving in what used to be the epicentre of Italian culture in the city.
Dressed as nonnas, the comedy act – which has sold out shows across Australia and has millions of social media followers – will serve up delicious pasta in pop-up experience.
Radio station 2Day FM’s The Jimmy, Nath and Emma Show will join them at a date to be set.
“Following last year’s efforts to revive Leichhardt’s Little Italy, the team has decided to take action – with the help of none other than Sooshi Mango dressed as their iconic nonna characters, ready to serve up some delicious gnocchi, paired with classic Italian banter,’’ a 2Day FM spokeswoman said.
Many blame the Inner West Council, parking meters on Norton St and the cost-of-living crisis for the Italian Forum’s deterioration over the past 15 years.
The visit’s exact date and location of the Leichhardt visit is still being sorted.
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