If you’re in the mood for Italian food and prefer authentic fare instead of chain menu choices, I highly recommend Casa di Amore on Tropicana near Eastern.

My wife and I visited the small restaurant on our anniversary this summer and were pleasantly surprised.

Admittedly, when you enter the restaurant you find yourself dumped right into the square dining room in front of a small maître d' podium and very much aware that you’re in an old-time place. Adding to the ambiance was the sign on the front door that said if it was locked to walk around back because someone was always there. Now there’s a call out to the old Vegas—open 24/7, you just have to know that you enter from the back during the middle of the night.

We ordered a wonderful anti pasta salad complete with meat and cheese and the perfect Italian dressing. I was particularly pleased with the baked mostaccioli and enjoyed a cannoli to top off the meal.