There is just something different about fresh pasta. Some of us were lucky enough to have childhood memories of rolling out noodles with grandma at the kitchen counter, while others discovered this hidden gem of Italian cuisine when they paid a visit to an Italian market.

But it’s not always easy to find on a restaurant menu – and this goes double for a restaurant that makes its pasta in-house. There are a few well-known high-end restaurants in Des Moines that serve fresh pasta, but surprisingly, one of the best spots for fresh pasta in Iowa is in the state’s second city, Cedar Rapids.