One of Benjamin Franklin’s last theories was that taking in a good view while eating aids both in digestion and the ability to squeeze milk out of coal. Prove him half right with today's Groupon: for $15, you get $30 worth of upscale cuisine and cocktails at VU bistro in Fountain Hills.

Visual Utopia bistro offers an upscale dining experience with panoramic views of the Mesa. Let peckish peepers eat up the scenery while the bruschetta platter with melted brie, candied pecans, and apple primes the palate ($7). Or, tantalize your tummy with a mountain of spinach salad drizzled with pineapple-bacon dressing and topped with hard-boiled egg and goat cheese ($10.95). The hand-tossed barbecue-chicken pizza introduces chicken and barbecue sauce to mozzarella, red onions, and cilantro, facilitating a friendship as satisfying as a Tom and Jerry reunion ($12.50). Just like ambition to pursue guinea-pig rodeo clowning, dinner specials fluctuate weekly, but in the past have included options such as the grilled trout with tomato-cilantro chutney ($16.95) and the 14 oz. New York strip steak ($18.95).

VU bistro grew out of VU Salon, making them experts at swift ambience execution. Art from up-and-coming image makers dresses the restaurant's walls and is available for sale, and live music jazzes up weekend evenings. A heated patio ensures that chilly evenings or wearing air-conditioned pants doesn't stand between guests and views of the lush landscape.

Reviews

TripAdvisors rank VU #4 out of 32 restaurants in Fountain Hills. Four Yelpers give it an average 4.5 stars.

• Upscale dining with a gourmet menu and great views of Mesa from the hilltop. Live music on the weekends. Highly recommend for a romantic getaway. – radiologyman, TripAdvisor
• Great atmosphere....great views...excellent service...outstanding steak!...and an outside act that was very talented – Dave A., Yelp