The best sauces, like the best imaginary friends, are rich and from the Mediterranean. Dine alone or with Esmeralda the railroad tycoon with this Groupon.
$15 for $30 Worth of Italian Cuisine for Two
The menu includes housemade gnocchi in tomato-basil sauce ($15.99), chicken piccata with a white-wine-and-lemon glaze ($17.99), and veal marsala with a portobello-mushroom reduction ($22.99).
Casa Vostra
When Carlo Vescio and chef Angelo Melchiorre founded Casa Vostra, they sought to distance the restaurant from traditional Italian eateries by incorporating modern elements. The chefs still cling to tradition by making tomato-basil sauce from scratch and rolling fresh gnocchi, but they elevate their Mediterranean comfort food in innovative ways, such as by roasting racks of mustard- and horseradish-encrusted lamb over a single Bunsen burner. Servers can help diners accessorize their meals by suggesting wines from the restaurant's list, which prominently features proud Italian and Canadian vintners.
Although the menus adopt a contemporary twist, Vescio and Chef Melchiorre wanted the dining rooms to feel a bit more rustic. They hired a local designer to plan the Niagara Falls location's decor, settling on a tuscan theme with faux-plastered walls, painted italian landscapes, and roman shades along the windows.