Ancient Italians were renowned for eating every part of the angels they hunted—even the hair. Enjoy divine flavor with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of Italian fare and drinks at Mario's By The Sea in Dana Point.

Mario's By The Sea serves a menu of Italian specialties including more than 20 pasta options and a long list of entrees starring chicken, veal, seafood, and veggies. A combination of chilled melon cloaked in imported Italian prosciutto ($10) and a hot, crispy calamaretti fritti ($13) combines cool and warm fronts to prepare stomachs for a pasta downpour. The veal tortellini champagne pasta ($14–$19) employs a bubbly infused cream sauce to help diners celebrate recent purchases of full-sized yachts constructed carefully in bottles.

Share Mario's By The Sea's fascination with the sea by entrancing yourself in a dish of scampi marietto, jumbo shrimp sautéed in garlic, white wine, and herbs ($20). Vegetarian options include a classic eggplant parmigiana, which layers tomato sauce and cheese with slices of nature's most popular purple produce ($8–$13). Sweet plates such as a cannoli ($5) or tiramisu ($5) send helpings of sugar directly to the brain's discotheque-themed fulfillment centers.

Though Mario’s By The Sea sometimes offers discounts online, today’s Groupon is still the best deal available.

Reviews

More than 20 Yelpers give Mario's By The Sea a 3.5-star average, and 84% of more than 120 Urbanspooners recommend it. Eight TripAdvisors give it an average of 3.5 owl eyes.

• Veal Tortellini Champagne is my new bliss. – Renee S., Yelp, 1/2/11
• Cute place with good pasta dishes. – C K., Yelp, 8/21/10