The best sauces, like the best imaginary friends, are rich and from the Mediterranean. Dine alone or with Esmeralda the railroad tycoon with this Groupon.

$15 for $30 Worth of Italian Fare and Drinks

Toasted ciabatta bread bruschetta with garlic, olive oil oregano, basil, tomatoes, and fresh mozzarella is $5.50. Al Frutti di Mare pasta with New Zealand mussels, clams, shrimp, scallops, and fresh tomato sauce with a house salad or soup is $19.50. A large gourmet pizza with eggplant, artichokes, and imported salami is $16.50. See the full menu.

Viva La Pasta

Viva la Pasta's kitchens have been bubbling with pots of authentic Italian pasta for more than 10 years. The eatery's owner, Pippo, curates a menu of more than 400 variations of pasta and gourmet pizza that join a plentiful assortment of traditional Italian dishes and paninis. Every Sunday, an expansive brunch buffet meanders across the dining room; it abounds with platters of smoked fish, shrimp, mussels, and lobster, as well as steaming pans of pasta, eggs, and omelets. The softly lit interior houses white-clothed tables, while the outdoor garden patio features towering white umbrellas that supply ample shade for alfresco dining. While they sup, patrons can soak up the serenading of trickling fountains, chirping wildlife, and the husky French folk songs of lost fur trappers.