If you've been conditioned to view fettuccine, penne, tagliatelle, or, really, any kind of noodle as the basis for a dish drowned in sauce, you'll find PastaVino refreshing. The bright, modern restaurant at the west end of Boulder's Pearl Street Mall specializes, as the name suggests, in house-made fresh pasta.

Created by chef-owner Fabio Flagiello, who was raised in Italy, the dishes show great restraint. The accompanying sauce—be it the meaty Bolognese on the fettuccine (pictured) or spicy tomato arrabiata on the penne—adds delicate, delicious flavor without overwhelming the perfectly al dente pasta. Better still: These seemingly simple combinations are immensely satisfying.

An added bonus, the wine list leans heavily on Italian pours typically hard to come by in the Rocky Mountains.

Plan Ahead: On October 18, PastaVino hosts a five-course dinner paired with Venetian wines. Cost: $95 per person, limited to 25.

1043 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-955-8791