Sad news for fans of The Old Spaghetti Works in Des Moines. The 45-year-old restaurant on Court Avenue permanently closed after business on Monday night. “Spaghetti Works will be closing its door permanently March 27, 2023,” a sign on the front door stated in all caps on Tuesday morning. “We appreciate the business and the regulars we all have gotten to know over the past 45 years.”

The restaurant sits inside a converted 19th-century former hat factory at 310 Court Ave. with daily lunch specials, such as crispy chicken alfredo for $11.99 on Tuesdays. The Old Spaghetti Works specializes in hot Italian pie, a spicy hot dish with Italian sausage and pepperoni over penne pasta and a spicy marinara; alfredo chicken and mushroom bake; Cajun alfredo; cheese tortellini; chicken broccoli alfredo; and lobster sensation with a blend of lobster, pollock and Alaskan whitefish in a garlic butter with a Cajun alfredo sauce.