Handmade Pasta in Austin.
Rolled fresh every morning. Sauced to order. And finished tableside in a hollowed wheel of cheese — Moderna's signature theater.
The pasta at Moderna is rolled, cut and cooked in-house every day, then sauced to order rather than held. That means hand-cut Tagliatelle alla Ruota swirled tableside inside a hollowed wheel of Grana Padano, a Famous 20-Layer Lasagna Moderna built with slow-cooked Bolognese and bechamel, and a three-ingredient Cacio e Pepe that hides nothing. It is the quietest argument we make for scratch cooking on West 6th Street. Book a table if you want the wheel service.
Tableside Cheese Wheel Pasta: Tagliatelle alla Ruota
The cheese wheel pasta at Moderna is Tagliatelle alla Ruota ($36), finished in front of you rather than in the kitchen. Hand-cut tagliatelle is brought to the table and swirled inside a hollowed wheel of Grana Padano with crema di parmigiano, brandy and lemon zest. The pasta itself is rolled and cut in-house every morning and sauced to order. The dish is served only in the main dining room and at the pizza bar; it is not available on the patio, at the cocktail bar, or during weekend lunch.
Tagliatelle alla Ruota
$36Hand-cut tagliatelle, crema di parmigiano, Grana Padano, brandy, lemon zest; prepared tableside.
Pappardelle alla Bolognese
$30Hand-cut pappardelle, Bolognese meat sauce, crema di parmigiano, Locatelli Romano.
Rigatoni alla Vodka
$28Fresh rigatoni, creamy vodka sauce, mascarpone, Calabrian chili flakes, Parmigiano-Reggiano, crispy pancetta.
Linguine Frutta di Mare
$38Fresh linguine, shrimp, mussels, calamari, white wine, garlic, Partanna lemon agrumato, Italian parsley, lemon.
Cacio e Pepe
$25Fresh spaghetti, Sarawak black pepper, Locatelli Romano.
Casarecce Genovese con Pollo
$32Fresh casarecce pasta, asparagus, zucchini, creamy pesto, fried capers, roasted chicken, heirloom baby tomatoes.
The Famous 20-Layer Lasagna Moderna
$36Fresh lasagna pasta, slow-cooked Bolognese meat sauce, creamy bechamel sauce, smoked mozzarella, Locatelli Romano.
Signature Risotto of the Day
MPChef's arborio creation; ask your server.
Cheese wheel pasta — common questions
What kind of cheese wheel is the pasta served in?
A hollowed wheel of Grana Padano, an aged parmesan-style Italian cheese. The hot tagliatelle is tossed inside it with crema di parmigiano, brandy and lemon zest.
Which dish is the tableside cheese wheel pasta?
Tagliatelle alla Ruota, on the pasta menu. It's the only dish finished tableside in the wheel.
Do I need a reservation for the parmesan wheel pasta?
Reservations are recommended, and walk-ins are welcome at the bar. The wheel service is available only in the main dining room and at the pizza bar.
What else is made in-house on the pasta menu?
All of it. The pasta is rolled and cut fresh every morning, including the 20-Layer Lasagna Moderna and the Cacio e Pepe.