Prime spot, new food, new owners, new look

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KAHULUI - Central Maui diners may soon rejoice. The prime location in Kahului for power lunches, happy hours, dinners and music will soon reopen - but with a new name, new owners and a new look.

Bistro Casanova is targeted for a soft opening in mid-August in the former Manana Garage in A&B's Kahului Building on the corner of Kaahumanu and Lono avenues, said co-owner Giovanni "Steven" Cappelli, owner of the original Casanova Italian Restaurant & Deli in Makawao.

"People keep asking me, 'Why are you doing this?' My answer is, 'It's because of popular demand,' '' he said. "I'm flooded by positive response. Everyone from the dishwasher to the waitress wants their jobs back. The opportunity is there, the talent is there, and so this is almost a civic responsibility."

So what may diners expect?

"In terms of decor, we chose to move away from the garage and gas-station theme," Cappelli said. "We will have a major sale of Manana Garage memorabilia from the gas-pump door handles to the toolbox hostess stand. A&B, the property managers, are also completely committed to redoing the outside patio and opening it up with an entrance on Kaahumanu Avenue."

Bistro Casanova's new look will be all about the ocean, with varying hues of blues.

"Kahului Harbor is right across the street, so we want to bring in colors from the beach sand to the turquoise blue of the water itself."

Casanova's longtime Executive Chef David Gemberling will take the helm of both restaurants, and his sous chef, John Abe, will be given more responsibility in the popular Makawao restaurant, which celebrates its 20th anniversary July 7.

"As far as food goes, Bistro Casanova will break the limit of Italian and go more Mediterranean," says Cappelli. "It gives us more latitude."

"It will be more French," said Gemberling, who is a French-speaking native of Belgium.

Lunch will be light and organic fare, featuring sustainable Maui products.

"We'll also have some fun items like crepes and paninis, and, of course, basic Italian cuisine will be available all day with homemade pastas and sauces," Cappelli said.

Dinner will feature steaks and a limited amount of pasta - but no pizza.

"Instead, David will be offering the best french fries ever. We'll also do fresh fishes, bouillabaisse and paella. Slow food, like the San Francisco movement."

For late night, "We don't want to compete with Casanova in Makawao," he said. "We'll replace the garage door to the private party room with French doors and do poetry slams, comedy hours and flamenco guitar nights. It will be small theater. We'll adapt to be more of a dinner steakhouse complete with an intimate nightclub."

Cappelli shares ownership in the new restaurant venture with his bride, Panna Speas Cappelli, of Maui Hands Gallery.

"We were 18 years engaged and then we got married and now we are pregnant of a restaurant," he said.

* Carla Tracy can be reached at ctracy@mauinews.com.