Like disturbing a grizzly bear's hibernation, waking a stomach after hours of dormancy can result in loud growls that can only be silenced with copious pasta and 20 minutes of gentle patting. Ward off the temper tantrums of tired tummies with today’s Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of Italian fare and drinks at Es-Ca, located in Staten Island.

Offering authentic Italian fare in an elegant dining environment, Es-Ca entices epicures with an eclectic assortment of lunch and dinner specialties, as well as a full bar. Start dinners with an appetizing mouth party of grilled lobster ravioli attended by a fresh tomato demi-glaze ($17), or opt for the mozzarella caprese served warm with fresh roasted peppers and drizzled with balsamic glaze and basil oil ($12). Like Italian Barbie dolls, orecchiette comes accessorized with fried eggplant, zucchini, fresh mozzarella, and plum tomato sauce ($15), while red or white clam sauce provides a palatable chapeau for angel hair pasta ($19). Panko-breaded boneless pork chops target taste buds with the help of hot cherry pepper sauce and roasted sweet potatoes ($20), and jumbo shrimp with creamy risotto do-si-dos with wild mushrooms and fresh spinach ($29) in a belly-bound barn dance.

Es-Ca's colorful, sophisticated space is peppered with intimate tables and illuminated by soft lighting. Live entertainment on Fridays and Saturdays complements the hunger-hampering headliners on the menu, as does a centrally located bar, where guests can toss back a specialty martini while eavesdropping on conversations using carefully placed dictaphones and stenographers hidden in cocktail shakers.

Reviews

Time Out New York magazine reviewed Es-Ca. Five Yelpers give it a 3.5-star average, Google Mappers give it a three-star average, and 84% of more than 100 Urbanspooners recommend it.

• Staten Islanders have made this colorful and elegant little restaurant a local favorite…Stick with pasta, like garlicky rigatoni with prosciutto, arugula and smoked mozzarella, or a regional specialty such as the veal chop milanese with eggplant, roasted peppers and bocconcini mozzarella. The chocolate crème brûlée will provide a happy ending. – Time Out New York
• Excellent restaurant. Good service. High quality food. – Lisa C., Yelp