Ancient Italians were renowned for eating every part of the angels they hunted—even the hair. Enjoy divine flavour with today's Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of authentic Italian fare at La Scala Ristorante in downtown St. Catharines.

With a focus on traditional Tuscan cuisine, La Scala Ristorante concocts a menu of house-crafted pasta, made-from-scratch sauces, and fresh seafood to whisk diners away on a culinary adventure through Northern Italy. Start your meal with an insalata di funghi ($9), wild mushrooms nestled in a bed of baby spinach alongside caramelised onions and goat cheese, or whet your antipasti appetite with the prosciutto di parma ($10)—grilled melon wrapped in veritable pashmina of prosciutto ham and anointed with a fig and wine reduction. Apennine aficionados can sink teeth into the vegetarian-friendly ravioli alla pomodoro ($17), twist a fork around the capallini alla pescatere ($21), a dish of sea scallops, shrimp, and spring vegetables in a creamy citrus sauce, or revel in La Scala's signature dish, the scallopini di vitello marsala ($26)—melting circlets of veal in a mushroom and wine cream sauce, traditionally served to patrons ordering by aria. A private wine list, along with VQA wines, adds flair to the already authenticated meal.

The warm, welcoming restaurant is situated in a lovingly restored nineteenth-century building, with reproductions of Tuscan frescos gracing the walls. Trickling fountains and lush green plants entice cuisinal adventurers outside, to La Scala's new patio—an excellent place to re-enact pasta-eating scenes from Lady and the Tramp.

Reviews

Six TripAdvisors give La Scala Ristorante an average of 3.5 owl eyes, and Restaurantica reviewers give the business a 3.8-star average:

• the perfect romantic spot for a very nice italian gateway in the city. Using fresh local ingredients, each bite is a burst of flavours. – Meeowmix, TripAdvisor
• The food is incredible, the service is very warm, hospitable and friendly – Alexander Parker, Restaurantica