Italy has given us legendary artisans, from the evocative paintings of Caravaggio and da Vinci to the deliciously daring miniature meat sculptures of Boyardee. Admire edible Italian masterpieces with today's Groupon: for $25, you get $50 worth of Italian fare and drinks at Mezzo Italian Ristorante & Lounge.
Mezzo Italian Ristorante & Lounge plates locally sourced takes on Italian culinary staples with options that are gluten-free. Competitive eaters can warm up with fork calisthenics as they dig in to lunch or dinner menu selections that demonstrate why WindsorEats.com voters named Mezzo the 2009 Favourite Restaurant and Favourite Italian Restaurant in Windsor. Ultramodern decor accented by white tablecloths and booths with curved panels form a fetching backdrop for consuming daring pasta platters such as whole-wheat penne ($20) and fettuccine nero, which jumbles mussels, scallops, and calamari in its own sea of white-wine sauce ($25). Meat entrees such as the bacon-wrapped chicken breast of pollo Mezzo ($27) and gluten-free options such as beef tenderloin served with aged balsamic-beef reduction ($36) can be paired with red or white wine escorts from Mezzo's varied wine list. As live music fills the dining space three nights a week, troupes of flamboyant desserts sashay their way into diners' mouths, leading to satisfied sweet teeth and a scout badge for the diner with the most-licked plate.
Mezzo Ristorante
Owner Filip Rocca crafts classic Italian dishes with a twist inside Mezzo Ristorante’s sleek, modern interior. The extensive cocktail and wine list complements locally sourced and celiac-friendly menus that blend both traditional and eclectic ingredients, such as sauces infused with Sambuca or limoncello. Cozy, padded niches crowned with orange accents offer an intimate setting for couples or asylum escapees, and the outdoor patio provides a clear view of Via Italia. Mezzo Ristorante hosts live music Thursday–Saturday, as well as a supper club on the last Friday of each month.