By Karla Walsh

On a recent Wednesday, stuff on one of the coldest nights of the year, I scurried into Cosi Cucina for my second visit to the Italian Clive restaurant. From the warm greeting at the door and the bright wood-fired grill behind the bar, to the crackling fireplace and the promptly-delivered fresh rolls, I wanted to suggest to our friendly server that they should change the spelling to "C-O-Z-Y" instead.

Cosi Cucina has had its cold spells. Originally opened in 1993 by the Bartels family and a few friends, the restaurant was sold to new owners. Amid tough times, it was set to be shuttered in 2014. Then, Nathan Bartels, just 11 when the original Cosi Cucina opened, heard of its potential demise. He decided to move back to Iowa from California to help the Bartels family reclaim the space. Three years later, the Italian spot seems to be back to its former glory days, earning loyal fans (thanks for the suggestion, readers!) and is bustling nearly every dinner service.

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Source: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/