Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks

Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks Sparrow's Philly Cheesesteaks at the Catfish Fitzroy

Before my mother passed away, she was heavily involved in local politics. She cared about her community and believed tha...
10/10/2026

Before my mother passed away, she was heavily involved in local politics. She cared about her community and believed that showing up and having a say actually mattered. ❤️

With the US midterm elections underway, I’ve done my bit and voted. 🇺🇸

Now, I know I live about 10,000 miles away in Melbourne, Australia, but last time I checked, moving overseas doesn’t mean you stop giving a s**t about where you came from.

If you’re an American citizen, you have the right to vote. USE IT. You don’t get to spend four years complaining about the clowns running the circus if you couldn’t be bothered buying a ticket. 🤣

And somehow, I need to tie this back to Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks.

I could make some grand statement about democracy, Philadelphia, cheesesteaks and the American dream… but honestly, I’ve got nothing.

We make proper cheesesteaks, NOT authentic ones. We’re not a political party, and I’m pretty sure our cheesesteaks aren't going to fix Washington.

But my mother believed in getting involved, and I reckon that’s worth remembering.

So, from a little piece of Philadelphia in Melbourne: **VOTE, YOU BEAUTIFUL BUNCH OF YANKEES.** 🇺🇸🗳️

Now go argue about politics somewhere other than my Facebook comments. I’ve got sandwiches to sell. 😂

One of the best things about growing up in Philadelphia was **ALL AGES SHOWS**. 🎸You could be 16, 26, 46—or apparently *...
07/10/2026

One of the best things about growing up in Philadelphia was **ALL AGES SHOWS**. 🎸

You could be 16, 26, 46—or apparently **50**, which is roughly where I was when this particular list came out in ’96—and still walk into a place and see some absolutely ridiculous live music.

The Pogues. Rollins Band. PJ Harvey. The Specials. Pearl Jam. Fugazi. The Jesus & Mary Chain. NOFX. Morphine. Sepultura. The Misfits. Nine Inch Nails.

Basically, Philadelphia looked at the concept of *“appropriate entertainment for your age”* and said, **“F**k that. Buy a ticket.”**

And I respect the hell out of that.

Live music should be for everyone. Young people need places to discover bands, make questionable decisions, fall in love, stay out too late, meet strange people, hear something that changes their life—and occasionally make a mistake they'll laugh about for the next 30 years.

So that's the spirit we're bringing to the new joint.

**Live music. Good times. All ages.**

And probably a few mistakes that alter your life.

**But hopefully in a good way.**

Because that's what places like this are supposed to do.

And yes… at 50, I was probably the old guy standing near the back saying, **“Holy s**t, these kids are loud.”** 😂

**The kids are welcome. The lifers are welcome. Everybody's welcome.**

That's the point. 🎸🖤

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday, I was desperately searching the internet for something—ANYTHING—that m...
06/10/2026

After watching the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday, I was desperately searching the internet for something—ANYTHING—that might bring me a little joy.

So I’m reading the *New York Times*.

Yes. **I can read.**
I contain multitudes. 😂

And there it was…

**Philadelphia’s first-ever Parallel Parking Championship.**

Of course it fu***ng is. 😂🇺🇸

Nothing says Philadelphia quite like turning parallel parking into a competitive sport.

And let me tell you something: **we are mental about parallel parking.** If you can’t do it with a manual transmission, three inches of clearance and someone behind you aggressively honking, you’re not a real Philadelphian.

I remember learning to park like this. No cameras. No sensors. No fu***ng parking assist.

Just a clutch, a stick shift, two bumpers and the knowledge that someone’s auntie was about to scream at you from the sidewalk.

Meanwhile, watching Australians attempt parallel parking sometimes feels like watching a cat try to operate a forklift. 😂

But this made me smile. It took my mind off the Eagles for approximately 90 seconds.

Which is important because I am still extremely angry.

**NICK SIRIANNI NEEDS TO GO.**

That guy SUCKS!!!! 🤬🦅

Anyway… congratulations, Philadelphia.

Apparently we’ve now turned **parallel parking into the Olympics.**

And honestly?

**I’d bet on Philly.** ❤️💚



People sometimes ask me, **“Why the hell did you move to Melbourne?”**Honestly? It was basically a random Tuesday.I was ...
01/10/2026

People sometimes ask me, **“Why the hell did you move to Melbourne?”**

Honestly? It was basically a random Tuesday.

I was working in IT for Morgan Stanley in Sydney when this dude from London got transferred in. He sat next to me, and after hanging out with him once, I thought:

**“This guy is cool. He’s being transferred to Melbourne. F**k it. I’m moving to Melbourne.”** 😂

No five-year plan.
No market research.
No business strategy.
Apparently, just vibes.

Two years later, I started **Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks.**

And when I look back, it’s kind of amazing. One completely random meeting can change the entire direction of your life.

Sometimes you meet people who have a profound impact on you. You might not realise it at the time, but something about them opens a door you didn't even know was there.

When that happens, **you have to go.**

So yeah… Sparrow’s exists because some random dude from London sat next to me at Morgan Stanley and happened to be cool.

**Thanks, Bobby Alexander. You accidentally started a cheesesteak shop.** 😂❤️

13 years later, here we are.

Life is weird. And fu***ng brilliant.

So this week is the 40th reunion for Strath Haven High School, near one of the many, MANY places I grew up. 🎉Small detai...
28/09/2026

So this week is the 40th reunion for Strath Haven High School, near one of the many, MANY places I grew up. 🎉
Small detail: I never went there.
Still got an invite though. Fair enough, I thought, clerical error, happens to the best of us.
Then I'm scrolling through old photos and find this one: the day my daughter was born. One of the biggest moments of my life. And what am I wearing? A Strath Haven t-shirt. 🤔
So now I have questions. Did I go there? Was I there in spirit? Have I been an undercover alumnus this whole time? At this point the evidence is stacking up against me.
Maybe you don't choose your high school. Maybe your high school chooses you. 🙌
Here's to Strath Haven's 40th, from your most dedicated non-graduate, cheering you on from the other side of the world. Save me a seat at the back!!!

🎶 **THE SPARROW’S JUKEBOX IS COMING… AND THIS COULD GET OUT OF HAND.** 🎶We’ve been talking about what tunes are going in...
27/09/2026

🎶 **THE SPARROW’S JUKEBOX IS COMING… AND THIS COULD GET OUT OF HAND.** 🎶

We’ve been talking about what tunes are going into the new Sparrow’s jukebox.

Obviously there will be the classics. **David Bowie. AC/DC.** The stuff that should legally be required to exist in every jukebox.

BUT…

Everyone involved in this new project is slightly — okay, **very** — mental about music.

So I have a feeling this jukebox is going to be less “greatest hits” and more **“Who the hell put THIS on?”**

And I’m absolutely here for it.

There better be some **Minneapolis goodness** in there. The Replacements. Hüsker Dü. Prince. Soul Asylum. The whole beautiful, slightly dysfunctional Minneapolis musical universe.

And yes, **Fishbone will be there.** Obviously. 😂

This isn’t going to be one of those jukeboxes where you put $2 in and get six songs that sound like they were selected for an elevator ride!

This is going to be a **Sparrow’s jukebox.**

A little Philly.
A little Minneapolis.
A little New York.
A little punk.
A little rock ’n’ roll.
A little WTF.

Basically, **if you can’t p**s off at least three people with the song selection, we haven’t done our job properly.**

More importantly… **what the hell should we put on it?** ??🍻

24/09/2026

S**t we look young!!

🚨 **ATTENTION, AFL BROTHERS & SISTERS!** 🚨In an unprecedented display of respect for the sports-obsessed community we li...
24/09/2026

🚨 **ATTENTION, AFL BROTHERS & SISTERS!** 🚨

In an unprecedented display of respect for the sports-obsessed community we live in, **Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks will NOT be open tomorrow, Friday September 25th.**

That’s right. We are voluntarily surrendering our Friday to the AFL gods. 🏉😂

We could pretend it’s because we have important things to do… but let’s be honest — when an entire city is collectively obsessed with footy, sometimes you just have to **respect the chaos.**

So go forth, barrack, argue with your mates, question the umpire’s ancestry, and enjoy the AFL.

We’ll be back **Saturday**, ready to return to the important business of cheesesteaks, chicken, catfish and generally keeping Melbourne properly fed. 🇺🇸🍻

**Sparrow’s will be closed Friday.
Back Saturday as usual.**

Because we may be from Philadelphia…

…but after 13 years in Melbourne, **we know better than to stand between Australians and their footy.** 😂🏉

**See you Saturday, Brothers & Sisters!** ❤️🦅

There was something magical about growing up in and around Philadelphia in the 1970s.It was a city where Mayor Frank Riz...
23/09/2026

There was something magical about growing up in and around Philadelphia in the 1970s.

It was a city where Mayor Frank Rizzo was basically running City Hall like it was the back room at a South Philly social club, our sports teams were absolutely insane, and apparently nobody had ever heard the phrase “please remain calm.” 😂

The Flyers won the Stanley Cup and the parade looked less like a celebration and more like Philadelphia had temporarily lost control of itself.

And honestly… that’s the Philadelphia I remember.

Loud. Rough around the edges. Proud. A little dysfunctional. A lot of fun. And absolutely impossible to forget.

That’s the spirit we try to keep alive at Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks.

We’re not trying to recreate some sanitized, postcard version of Philadelphia.

We’re proper. Not “authentic.”

Proper means you know where you came from, you respect the food, you respect the people, and you understand that sometimes the best stories happen when things get a little chaotic.

I left Philadelphia a long time ago, but I never really left it behind.

A little piece of that beautiful, messed-up city came with me to Melbourne. ❤️

And judging by this photo…

Philadelphia has been causing trouble for a very long time.

Go Birds. 🦅
Go Flyers. 🏒
And God help anyone standing between a Philadelphian and a cheesesteak. 🥩

Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks — Proper. Not Authentic.






🇺🇸 HELL NO. 😂I’ve been asked a few times if I would ever give up my American citizenship.The answer is simple: "Hell. No...
18/09/2026

🇺🇸 HELL NO. 😂

I’ve been asked a few times if I would ever give up my American citizenship.

The answer is simple: "Hell. No."

I left the States years ago. It took me about 45 years of wandering around to finally find the city that feels like home — Melbourne — and the perfect place to build Sparrow’s Philly Cheesesteaks.

But there’s one little connection to the old country I’m not giving up…

I still get to vote. 🇺🇸🗳️

So I may live on the other side of the planet, eat Vegemite ( just kidding - still hate the mite), complain about Melbourne weather and call this place home…

…but I’m still an American.

A Philadelphia kid living in Melbourne, Australia, running a little cheesesteak joint and somehow still participating in American democracy from approximately 10,000 miles away. 😂

It’s a pretty good life.

I found the best city on the planet. I found Sparrow’s. And I’m keeping my US passport.

You can take the American out of Philadelphia…

but apparently you can’t take the Philadelphia out of the American. 🇺🇸❤️🇦🇺
.....geno 🦅🥩

Address

30 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy, VIC
3065

Opening Hours

Monday 12pm - 12:30am
Tuesday 12pm - 12:30am
Wednesday 12pm - 12:30am
Thursday 12pm - 12:30am
Friday 12pm - 12:30am
Saturday 12pm - 12:30am
Sunday 12pm - 10:30pm

Telephone

+61401078470

Website

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