Although food smells wonderful and preserves the modesty of naked plates, we enjoy it primarily for its taste. Today's Groupon gets you $50 worth of upscale comfort food and drinks for $25 at Taste. Choose from Taste's two chic locations, on Melrose and at the Palisades.

Taste highlights the taste of fresh cuisine prepared with an artistic eye by genuine food eaters. The brunch menu splits skulls with a breakfast panini, which consummates the union of scrambled eggs, applewood-smoked bacon, oven-dried tomatoes, goat cheese, arugula, caramelized onions, and garlic taters in an envelope of white or wheat bread ($10.50). Then, at the sound of the dinner gong, Crispy Rock Shrimp struts in with his entourage of wasabi and spicy aiolis for dipping ($11). Pachyderm enthusiasts will love the roasted elephant garlic with tomato chutney and cambozola cheese ($10.50), while pachyderm haters will enjoy the big plates of cumin-spiced pork chops with truffle oil and mushroom mac 'n' cheese ($20) or sugar-snap pasta with sugar-snap peas and sweet corn in a mint pesto sauce ($15).

Taste's chic atmosphere puts comfort food in a svelte silk robe and a handsome recliner. The Melrose location is a refurbished home, featuring an outdoor patio and leather-covered walls, while diners at the Palisades location can discreetly melt candy bars by the cozy fireplace.

Today's Groupon is not valid for Valentine's Day.

Reviews

The LA Times recommends Taste, and Gayot and The Happy Hour Tour are only a few publications to feature the restaurant:

• Nestled in a house that has been converted into a restaurant, you actually feel you are eating in a home, especially since the prices are reasonable. The decor is comfortable, with leather-covered walls, red banquettes and a large patio. Chef Cathy Halter has put together a California menu, executed with simplicity. The salmon spring rolls are crispy ($8); the pear and caramelized onion pizza is tasty ($7.50); the grapefruit salad with fennel and avocado is light ($8.25). – Gayot

Citysearchers, Yelpers, and OpenTable users all award Taste four stars. Eighty-five percent of Urbanspooners like the eatery:

• My favorites of the night were the White Truffle Oil and Mushroom Mac & Cheese (delicious smokey flavor) and the Panroasted Pork Tenderloin (great texture and seasoning). – OpenTable user who dined on 01/27/2010
• We love the chocolate brioche bread pudding best!! – OpenTable user who dined on 01/26/2010
• The ambiance inside of Taste is very intimate and welcoming. – HungrynLA, Citysearch