Mediterranean civilizations invented many lasting concepts, developing astronomy to explain the cosmos and democracy to equally divide lamb kebabs. Split a skewer with today's Groupon: for $14, you get $28 worth of Mediterranean-inspired fare at Avenue Grill Restaurant.

The neon sign outside Avenue Grill Restaurant, a Kerrisdale neighbourhood staple since 1927, beckons appetites to sample seafood and pasta dishes featuring distinctive Mediterranean flavours. Meals can commence with duelling appetizers of bruschetta ($7) and caprese salad, where bocconcini cheese teams with tomato to form a stacked pedestal over which miniature helicopters fly to deliver drizzlings of tangy balsamic vinaigrette ($8). Eight traditional pasta dishes take form in such shapes as the anchovy-sprinkled puttanesca linguine ($17). Chefs plate crispy morsels of duck confit ($19) and ladle a vegetable ragout over braised lamb shanks in a traditional osso buco ($19). Tiramisu ($6) or crème brûlée serve as sweet codas, which customers savour while surrounded by local art in the dining room. On Sunday evenings Hemant Rao performs live guitar music to enhance dinners with smooth, six-string melodies and authentic Gene Simmons face paint.