Grotta Capri returns

The Grotta Capri, the well known Italian and seafood restaurant on Anzac Parade, Kensington, has finally made a come back due to its Mother’s Day special.

The restaurant, which first opened in 1955, became famous for its resemblance to an underwater cave. The façade is covered in real oyster and shellfish shells and inside the under-the-sea theme continues with fish tanks and fake seaweed and starfish. Historically, it was one of the most prominent and recognisable restaurants in Sydney.

Having been shut down last year, Pietro Aidala reopened the restaurant 7 months ago, but so far, business has been slow.

However, Pietro and his wife, Sonia are expecting a busy Mother’s Day. They say that this is because the clients who used to dine at the Grotta are now mothers and, for tradition sake, their children are taking them back to the restaurant.

Internet advertising and mail outs to past customers highlighting their special also helped to create awareness of the restaurant’s restoration.

“I think once people know that we have reopened, we will get much busier,” says the owner and head chef.

The Mother’s Day Menu is $70 for adults and $20 for children and sports a smorgasbord of seafood and Italian delights including Lobster Mornay, veal king prawns and, of course, oysters. Where else would they get the shells to cover the whole restaurant?!?

Delirious DVD finally here

Most popular movies have, by now, been converted from original VHS videos to DVDs. However, comedian Eddie Murphy’s stand-up movie, Delirious, has only just hit the shelves this month as a new release DVD at Kensington Top Video Store.

The 70-minute show, released on video in 1983, was the video rental favourite of the 1980’s. So much so that, according to Video Ezy and Top Video, customers would often not return the movie back after having rented it. Apparently, these people would rather pay the fines than hand the video back over. As a result of this continuous theft, many video stores did not continue to stock Delirious.

“People would always come in and ask if we had it in. I've never as many requests for any other movie,” says Kensington Top Video Store owner Jane Murray.

The popularity of this ‘strictly adults only’ film can be owed to Eddie Murphy’s audacity and the outrageously rude and racy content. According to the movie reviews, Murphy uses the word f#@k 230 times.

Eddie Murphy’s second film, Raw, was released on DVD in 2004 and like it’s predecessor, it was a huge success. However, this movie is generally available for renting.

Now, at Kensington Top Video, there are 5 overnight copies available. Nevertheless, says store employee Matthew Wilkins, “You’ve got to get in quick. They’re basically reserved for the next two weeks.”