When I first came to Shepparton in 1980 my favourite pizza parlour was the Riviera in Wyndham St. In my later years it has been the Casablanca. The first time I called in to try their pizzas I met a grown up Tony Vittorio. I remembered him as a Year 6 student at Bourchier St Primary School when I was teaching there and was rapt to see that he found a career working in the family business.
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The first Casablanca was actually located on the south-west corner of High and Corio Sts. When the shop opened in 1971, it did not sell pizzas. Nick and Nina Vittorio did not even know what they were until a policeman came in one day and suggested they sell them. He took Nick to Melbourne and went to Toto’s Pizza Shop on Lygon St — the first in Australia to sell pizza. It took a few years of learning the trade and in 1975 they bought their first pizza oven.
In 1978 a permanent block became available over the road in High St and in 1980 their dream was realised when they opened their first restaurant — called Casablanca, of course. For 50-plus years, now with help from their children Maria and Tony, they have been selling pasta, pizza and gelato to Sheppartonians of all ages, with many they call friends. And the rest is history.
The Lost Shepparton Facebook Page is a great resource to ask questions and learn more about our past. Not long ago Tony G Mac asked: What pizza parlours in Shepparton do you remember from the 1980s and ’90s? There were heaps of comments, with many sharing their memories of the Casa, the Riv and others, such as 8 Ball, Lyric Cafe, Pizza Palace, Martyn’s, Taverna, Pizza Haven, Pinky’s and Pizza Hut.
There is some disagreement over what was the first place to sell pizzas. Many say it was the Casablanca, some say the Riviera — and a few say it was the Lyric Cafe in Maude St:
Lucy Scott
I remember pizzas being made in what used to be the Lyric Cafe. We used to stand and watch them spinning the dough around on the tips of their fingers. Can’t recall the year though.
Bob McKellar
The first pizza oven in Shepp was the café next door to the Lyric Theatre.
It was called the Lyric Cafe in the early days. It would be around 50 years ago and I had a young family at the time. It was so different from the food at the time — fish and chips or hamburger from Hamburger Harry’s in High St.
Kaz Corbo
Thinking the Taverna was originally an Italian coffee shop, later pizza but the original Riviera Pizza was opened by Lou Ange de Palma at 297 Wyndham St in early 1974.
A few Facebook memories of the Casablanca:
Tania Van Diesen
Best pizza, used to take one home to Bendigo after square dancing, after sampling their fine fare in the restaurant. Great people.
Max McConnell
Used to always get our pizzas from there. The kids used to love watching Nick throw them up in the air when he was making them.
Greg McCoy
What an iconic Shepparton establishment. My girlfriend (now wife) and I would regularly drop in for a pizza and milkshake after a night out at a dance or the pictures. Going in there now is like time travel back to the ’70s — same layout still, with the famous booths. Loved it and still love it!
Christine Clark
My mum and dad had their first ever date at Casa forever ago — back in the ’70s!
Nerida Thomas
My mum worked there when they were on the other side of the road on the corner. I remember finishing school and going there after school to do my homework while she worked. I live in Queensland now but every time l come and visit Shepp l always get my pizza from there.
Kathryn Sims
I remember when the Casa was on the other side of the street on the corner. I lived upstairs next door (above where Zen X is now). Was great to have coffee and pizza before going home.
Dolly Stone
1977. Our final year of school doing a one-year business studies course at Jackson College (Fryers St). Every Friday we’d go to the Casablanca for pizza for lunch (sooo good) and listen to Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody and Leo Sayer’s Moonlighting. Man, I can still taste those pizzas.
Brendan Florence
Maria Ciavatta, I’m a little biased. My favourite was always the Casa. A friendship that started with your mum and dad, and proud to say it continues to grow with the generations. As a younger person, our ‘gang’ grew up with the Casablanca as the base for our lives changing from kids to young adults (and now not so young). I’m pretty sure love bloomed there and hearts were also broken. Everything was always fixable at the Casa with a coffee and pizza at stupid o’clock in the morning. Thank you for the privilege of being there.
Debbie Litchfield
Still the best pizzas in Shepparton, and a lovely family that never forget their customers.
A few Facebook memories of the Riviera:
Jennifer Cirillo
I reckon Uncle Gino would have only been early 20s here. Uncle Mario ’n Gino bought the pizza shop off my dad, Joe, so it would have been around 26 years ago! Good times and great memories!
Tammy Gray
The Riviera pizza went down a treat after dancing up a storm next door at the Sherbourne’s (Station One).
Gary Dumaresq
When you could walk in the door and Gino, who knew you by name, would just ask what size and get it perfect every time. Those were the days.
Andy Roberts
Loved that they delivered to Kialla Central. They are the standard by which I measure every pizza and pizzeria.
Pamela Jane Van Kerkwijk
Never found better food anywhere, and believe me I have been searching.
Judith Collier
Best pizzas I’ve ever had in my life. Used to order a large hot salami and eat it at the lake.
Veronica Pattison Hibble
Those were the nights, after Shakers.
Pics of the past columnist