Vic Av
135 Victoria Avenue
Albert Park, Vic
Ph: 9690 7960

This review will have dollops of Melbourne memories because twenty years ago I lived in Albert Park. Not far from the famous VicAv trendy noshery on Victoria Avenue.

And the mists of memory will also be invoked because about twenty years ago I met a bloke named Peter Sullivan. He was playing the late-night piano at a joint called Lazar’s on King Street. From memory when I met him he was pouring beer over his own head and singing “ you’re a bleep, you’re a bleep, you’re a bleep, bleep, bleep”.

And I thought I could like this guy. I ended up introducing him to a friend and colleague of mine and they got married and I was best man at the wedding and I am godfather to their daughter Ellie-Jean.

So what on earth does this have to do with Sir Hinchalot and the VicAv?

Well. Sullivan’s estranged wife, Annette Philpott, has now bought shares in the VicAv and being a Big Band booking agent and manager she has taken those skills into a trendy restaurant.

Overnight the restaurant has become a salon. And they are calling in old favours. After all, Sullivan was once a member of the Two Man band that wrote one of Australia’s biggest selling songs with Mike Brady. An anthem called Up There Cazaly. He also did a great CD with Big Bob Valentine called Back to Back. I liked that one because a song I wrote called You’re Cheatin’ Again is on it.

On a recent Friday night at the VicAv they had such songstresses as Wendy Stapleton (our Dusty Springfield) plus Nikki Nicholls and a heavily pregnant Lisa Edwards the backup singer to John Farnham who left his tour to have this baby.

Seeing this is meant to be a restaurant not a music review I should mention the food. And I can assure you that VicAv has the best gourmet pizzas in Melbourne.

I am an Americana and Margherita sort of bloke when it comes to pizza and am not usually impressed with tricky fillings. But this place works.

I loved a pizza called Bombay Bliss which features tandoori chicken and Greek Tzatziki. The Inferno with hot salami, green pepper and chilli is a treat and I also enjoyed the Atlantic Salmon special with mozzarella, smoked salmon, cream cheese and capers.

The prices are pretty good too. They range from $8.50 to $14.50 and good wine (Annie’s Lane) is less than $30 a bottle. No cover charge for the entertainment and you are guaranteed a great night’s feed and entertainment.

I loved it – even though somebody called the cops when I was singing Joe Cocker’s You Are So Beautiful. Ah well, that’s life.

Monday 17th Feb 2003