Cuisine rating: Eat: 6 Drink: 6 Look: 6 Care: 6

813 Colombo street has made a colourful contribution to Christchurch’s dining history. Remember the Mandalo, where the city sophisticates congregated in the ‘60s and ‘70s? And the Paul Revere, known for its steaks and singles in the ‘80s? For the last decade it has been Café Valentino, known for its home-made pasta – featuring in up to 18 different dishes a day.

It has become a popular spot, not the least with the casts of shows performing at the Town Hall, just around the corner, and other nearby theatres. They have been encouraged to sign posters, which now cover several of the café’s walls. So you get the reflected glory of twirling your linguine alongside (as it were) the likes of Don McLean, Tina Turner, UB40, and the cast of Chess.

The pasta dishes are often quite innovative – ravioli filled with venison and porcini in a cream, mustard seed and leek sauce, for example – and several offer a diet-conscious choice between a cream and Neapolitan sauce. Purists may find classics such as lasagne overly generous with the meat.

Pasta is by no means all that is offered. The menu ranges wide, from house-baked breads with four pestos, through seafood starters and salads, such as chicken liver and blueberry, to beef and lamb mains.

There is quite an extensive, eclectic wine list, peppered with descriptions like ‘tough to pronounce – easy to drink!’. Most of these wines are available by the glass, and there’s also a special cellar list.

The service tends to be of the ‘Sorry to interrupt, but is everything ok?’ variety, but obliging and efficient. Say you want to be out quickly to get to a show, and they’ll whisk you through in an hour.

- Mavis Airey