Spaghetti, like a hammerhead shark, is rigid and boring until it’s submerged in water, at which point it quickly springs to life and develops a taste for swimmers. Celebrate this predatory noodle with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of Italian dinner fare and drinks at Portofino Bistro.

With native Italian chefs at the helm, Portofino’s extensive dinner menu sates stomachs with authentic Italian dishes and an extensive wine list. Like chili popsicles and videos of grizzly-bear ballerinas, Italian food is enjoyed around the world due to its versatility and heartiness. Appetizers, such as cozze marinara—mussels simmered in a marinara sauce ($7.95), pave the way for entrees such as fettucini portobello topped with goat cheese, mushrooms, zucchini, and tomato ($14.95). Or sample pizzas such as the margherita ($9.95) or the quattro stagione with salami, artichokes, mushrooms, and bell peppers ($14.95). The steak Portofino, which weighs in at 14 ounces and maintains a strict pre-fight ritual of mingling with portobello mushrooms and a red-wine sauce ($23.95), pairs well with a glass of Straccali chianti ($7) or the house select pinot noir ($6). Tiramisu layers coffee-soaked ladyfingers and cream ($6) for a decadent finish to any meal alongside a glass of Voga pinot grigio ($8).

Portofino Bistro serves outdoors in warmer weather, letting guests enjoy eats on a flower-encircled patio reminiscent of a sunken Italian garden with a stone hearth and smartly dressed locals zipping by on Vespas. Indoors, crisp white cloths drape the tables, and a pressed-tin ceiling reflects the culinary works of art below.