Sipping wine, sharing a meal, having a good laugh with childhood friends or swaying to the music, it's all happening at Casanova. Over the last 20 years this lively restaurant has captured Makwao's image as a cowboy town from the past, to its gradual foray into modernity.

Starters are designed to share, so choose between a beef carpaccio served chilled with fresh arugula, Parmesan shavings and lemon, and dressed with extra virgin olive oil, or seared scallops wrapped in bacon. A first course of fettuccine calabrese with Italian sausages, dry ricotta and spicy marinara sauce may whet the appetite for an Italian and Pacific Rim influenced main of veal shank slowly simmered in a rich vegetable and tomato sauce.

Calzone stuffed with ricotta cheese, ham and basil, topped with tomato sauce and a Bianca with gorgonzola, broccoli, roasted peppers, grilled egg plant and garlic feature in the pizza section. Desserts go the Italian way with tiramisu and crème brûlée.