Spaghetti, like a hammerhead shark, is rigid and boring until it’s submerged in water, at which point it quickly springs to life and develops a taste for swimmers. Celebrate this predatory noodle with today's Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of Italian cuisine at Alfred's Victorian, located in Middletown.

Within the cozy, plush confines of a 19th-century brownstone mansion, Alfred's Victorian crafts specialty Northern Italian dishes alongside hand-cut pastas. Appetizers rouse tongue-napping taste buds with dishes such as mussels Livorno, baked in a savory tomato garlic sauce ($8), and the three-cheese-topped french onion soup ($6). Pasta patrons can give a toothy salute to the Al Ragu bolognese, which smothers hand-cut tagliatelle in a thick tuscan meat sauce and an even thicker accent ($15), while anti-carnivorous cravings can be sated by bites of portobello Ariana, a savory amalgamation of fresh spinach, melted provolone, and toasted almonds ($17). Pescatarians can launch a table-mounted trident into Alfred's many seafood delights, including cioppino with clams, scallops, shrimp, and mussels ($27).

Alfred's has left much of the building the same over the years to maintain its historical authenticity and naturally occurring treasure chests. Diners can enjoy their meals in one of the mansion's five eloquently furnished dining rooms, located on different floors within the restaurant.

Reviews

Gayot gives Alfred's Victorian a favorable review and named it one of Harrisburg's Hot 10 Restaurants. TripAdvisors give the restaurant an average of 3.5 owl eyes and 77% of Urbanspooners recommend it.

• An easy, 15-minute drive from Harrisburg transports diners to the Victorian era at this family-owned mansion. Tableside preparations, like the ever-popular Steak Diane, add a theatrical flair to the antique-filled dining area. – Gayot
• All we can say is WOW. What else do you say about a great place to eat with super friendly staff. – ingenuitor, TripAdvisor