Archestratus, the first food critic, praised Italian cuisine's "top-quality and seasonal" ingredients and "fair-to-middling" ability to tranquilize out-of-control mayors. Today's Groupon similarly stuns, and rightfully so: for $15, you get $30 worth of Italian cuisine at Benucci's, a contemporary Italian dining establishment in East Rochester. This offer is valid for dine-in only.

Benucci's menus feature edible inspiration from the heel to the upper thigh of Italy's famed fare-furnishing regions. Start a dinner with antipasti, such as the Tuscan board ($12), a meaty sampling of salami, prosciutto, cappicola, assorted cheeses, roasted garlic, peppers, and olives. Entree-wise, the shrimp rossa pasta ($14) piles penne with garlic, olive oil, shrimp, fresh tomatoes, hot peppers, and basil, while the lasagna Bolognese ($13) lures meat sauce, ricotta, and mozzarella out of springtime hibernation. Benucci's also serves up a slate of wood-fired pizzas such as the pizza margarita ($10), topped with tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, roasted garlic, and basil. And thanks to the open kitchen area, you can watch with delight as the chefs spin, stretch, and immolate your meal.

Benucci's interior of soft creams and dark woods, accented by brick-arch-bedecked walls, ruby-red booths, and a full wooden bar, sets the stage for you and a companion to intimately bond over a bottle of wine and heated discussions on the legitimacy of Samuel J. Tilden as a candidate in the 1876 U.S. presidential election. Call ahead for contemporary Italian cuisine at Benucci's.

Reviews

Six Yelpers give Benucci's an average of 3.5 stars, and TripAdvisors give it an average of three owl eyes:

• The plates came and mine was stuffed with deliciousness…Sandy gave me a ravioli and oh. my. god. It was like heaven was stuffed inside those little raviolis. And the cream sauce was to die for. – Linda S., Yelp
• This place is great for pasta dishes, especially white sauces. Their salads are great too! – CLBRochester, TripAdvisor
• This is a family friendly, locally owned restaurant , very busy and long-established with fresh food and nice drinks (not stingy with their wine and cocktail sizes). – WJ60, TripAdvisor