Spirits, named after the phantasms who distill them, have been a vital part of having fun ever since moon shoes were banned. Sip some liquid fun with today’s Groupon. For $30, you get admission to a Lift Your Spirits tasting event at the Olive Press Restaurant in the Hyatt Regency Hotel (a $65 value).

Your Groupon works toward any of the monthly Lift Your Spirits wine or spirits tasting events. These friendly yet sophisticated shindigs highlight one of Olive Press’s greatest talents: drink and food pairings. The staff displays serious skill in choosing the perfect beverage from the extensive wine list to bring out the flavor of Olive Press’s meals. Each Lift Your Spirits event features the unique flavors of a particular libation, paired with a culinary match. Events include free parking. See past offerings here. Upcoming sessions include:

• Feb. 25: Alexander Valley Winery Wine Dinner: Sips from Sonoma
• March 11: Kick Off St. Patrick’s Day Early: Irish Whiskey Tastings
• March 26: Italian Wine Dinner: Viva La Vino
• April 15: Tax Day: Rum Tastings
• April 30: Chardonnay Wine Dinner

As for the restaurant itself, Olive Press offers a comfortable oasis of fine dining in one of the nicer hotels near the aluminum birds and runways. The restaurant proves itself a worthy destination, whether you descend from the air after a business trip or just flap your arms really fast and run at it from central Pittsburgh. Its laid-back sophistication gently discourages patrons from throwing bombastic laser light shows. As the restaurant’s name suggests, its menu highlights Mediterranean flavors and recipes, often with Italian influences. Olive Press chefs make all their dishes from scratch, fresh to order, and with a Golden Ticket in every tenth chicken. Dinner options will vary according to your event, but regular menu highlights include an 8 oz. filet mignon ($37) topped with porcini mushroom butter and worthy of discerning Pittsburgh steak aficionados, jumbo lump crab cakes ($33), and the black angus burger ($16).

Reviews

Though there are no online reviews for these events, Pittsburgh City Paper and the Tribune-Review have featured Olive Press Restaurant, saying: > * Much of our experience at Olive Press was enjoyable, even remarkable, with good service in an attractive dining room and some truly excellent food. – Angelique Bamberg and Jason Roth, Pittsburgh City Paper

One Chowhound user says this of the restaurant: > * I ate at the Olive Press in the Hyatt on my last trip to Pittsburgh and was very pleasantly surprised by how good it was. Excellent food, attentive service and a decent wine list. – susancinsf