Eating while riding horseback was pioneered by the efficient Mongols, who also adjusted to reading, receiving haircuts, and filling out their taxes atop their four-legged mobiles. Enjoy the convenience of chairs and tables with today’s Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of classic American bistro fare and drinks at Gaffney's Restaurant in Bethesda, about three blocks from the Bethesda Metro station.

With a savory selection of fresh seafood, delectable steaks, and tasty sandwiches, Gaffney's menu features classic American cuisine with a Cajun and traditional Southern influence. Land-meat lovers can hunker down with steaks ($21–$29) and barbecue pork ribs ($22), while diners desiring delicacies of the deep can partake of the specialty Maryland crab-cake sandwich ($16). After tasting the jambalaya ($20), the New Orleans shrimp etouffee ($21), or the bayou stew ($24)—a hearty helping of shrimp, scallops, and crawfish in Creole-mustard sauce—tone-deaf taste buds find themselves serenading incisors with John Fogerty lyrics.

Gaffney's 40-foot bar lends a neighborhood feel to the restaurant, encouraging patrons to engage in conversations about hot topics such as the dinosaurs, baseball bats, and the color blue. Free parking is available each night after 5 p.m. in the Farm Women's Co-op parking lot.

Reviews

Gaffney's grabs great reviews from the Washingtonian, Metromix, and Zagat. Yelpers, TripAdvisors, and more than 50 OpenTable diners give it an average of 3.5 stars:

• Go for classic comfort fare or anything Southern and you’ll come away happy. – Ann Limpert, Cynthia Hacinli, Sara Levine, Washingtonian
• From the chicken tortilla salad to the sweet potato fries, they pick and choose from some of the best American cuisine has to offer, such as the ever popular turkey burger. – Metromix
• Great place, Great food, Great Service… – PaulS9314, Zagat
• Been to Gaffney's a couple of times and I was impressed with the service and the food. I ordered the Roast Chicken and it was great my friend had the Flat Iron and enjoyed it as well! Even though it was a busy night and it seemed like my server had her hands full, she did a good job. – OpenTable user who dined on 05/28/2010