There’s an abundance of restaurants laid out before me along the Honeysuckle dining precinct, but I’m only craving one thing. Italian. The neon Casa Nova sign catches my eye, a waiter brings out a bowl of pasta to an expectant diner, and suddenly, the decision on where to dine is made easy.

I roped a friend into coming with me on this midweek outing, and as we walked into Casa Nova, we were greeted with a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful Italian-inspired decor.

The terrazzo tiles covering the entire restaurant floor were a standout amongst the minimalistic furnishings. We took a seat inside, but on a balmy evening, a seat outside with views over the harbour would be ideal.

When it came to the menu, we were spoiled for choice. There are plenty of gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan options too, so no diners have to miss out on the Italian goodness. 

As we decided what to order, we listened to other diners butcher the pronunciations of the Italian meals and laughed – not because we were above them, but because we knew we were about to do the same.

I chose to differ from my usual side dish of classic garlic bread and was not disappointed. I ordered the Tomato Bruschetta, which had the perfect ratio of tomato, Spanish onion, and basil topped with a sweet balsamic glaze. 

The next decision I was faced with was whether to get pizza or pasta – an agonising choice! I opted for the Pappardelle Ragù – thick ribbons of homemade pappardelle with 12-hour braised beef, Neapolitan sauce, and parmesan. My friend chose the Spaghetti Alla Carbonara, made with homemade spaghetti, pancetta, pecorino romano, grana padano, egg yolk, and cracked pepper. 

We were delighted when the dishes came out steaming, and even more delighted after having a taste. 

The Neapolitan sauce was rich in flavour, and the beef was falling apart. Combining these elements with the homemade pappardelle made for a delicious combination. A definite step up from my homemade spaghetti bolognese.

Safe to say, there was nothing left on our plates, and we’re already planning a second visit to try more of the extensive menu. 

Casa Nova’s appeal is in simple flavours done well. No matter what you decide to order, you can expect classic Italian food that tastes delicious.