Dinner no longer holds the sense of mystery it did in America's infancy, when grandpas would shoot an animal in the dark and grandmas, would cook it blindfolded. Today's Groupon puts the magic back into mealtime: for $50, you get two tickets to Savino Recine's magic show (a $60 value) plus $40 towards dinner at Primi Piatti (a $100 total value). Reservations are recommended.

Lighthearted restaurateur Savino Recine takes pride in performing magical feats in the kitchen as well as on the stage. Recine, owner of Primi Piatti, takes the spotlight in order to wow wide-eyed patrons with tricks involving fire, sleight of hand, and awe-inspiring illusions. While audience members’ minds will be enthralled by the magic, their stomachs will be satisfied by an authentic Italian meal. The menu features a bevy of delicacies, including carpaccio di manzo—an appetizer with beef carpaccio, avocado, and hearts of palm—served with olive oil and lemon dressing ($12.50). A variety of pasta dishes come dressed to impress, such as the paccheri con ragu di pesce, a sitcom-worthy co-mingling of flavorful rigatoni and notoriously pious monkfish ($21.50), while entrees such as the filetto di tonno ($31.50), which features center-cut tuna served over fava beans in Chianti and lobster broth reduction, showcases the sea’s other briny love matches. Enjoy tasty tricks and treats with a Houdini-tinged heap of delicious cuisine at Primi Piatti.

Magic show and dinner must be redeemed in one visit.

The Washington Post featured Savino Recine and Primi Piatti, and reviewed the restaurant. OpenTable reviewers give the restaurant an average of four stars, and Yelpers give it an average of 3.5 stars.

• The portions are American (read: enormous), but the accent is Italian. Primi Piatti's lamb shank is fit for a Flintstone; it's also heady with the flavors of wine, tomato and meat juices. Chicken baked beneath a brick in the oven is super-juicy from its soak in herbs and wine, and it's partnered on its plate with pleasing diced potatoes and a nest of spinach. – Tom Sietsema, Washington Post)
• Savino was a fantastic host and magician....yes.. he does a fabulous magic show. The food was excellent. I had the agnolitti with pistachio cream sauce which was incredible and my husband had the braised lamb shank. – OpenTable.com reviewer who dined on 10/2/2010