Before tables, dinner guests would eat off the backs of balled-up waiters, often resulting in a high rate of drink spillage and crooked spines. Experience mealtime evolution with today's Groupon: for $12, you get $30 worth of eclectic American dining and drinks at Wild Abandon Restaurant and the Red Velvet Lounge.

Although customers wearing crushed-red-velvet suits will feel extra special at the restaurant and lounge, the cuisine will charge regularly attired patrons with similar vigor. Wild Abandon's menu features American cuisine with French and Italian influences and a Northwestern flair. Get started with a goat-cheese torta and garlic bread ($11.50) or some steamers (clams steamed in a white-wine garlic-butter sauce; $11 half order, $16 full pound). Entrees such as cioppino stew (fish, shellfish, shrimp, and scallops; $16 half, $21 full) and vegan linguine soffritto ($8.75 half, $12.75 full) make for hearty plates; curb a more powerful, mind-controlling hunger with a selection from the Most Hearty menu such as chicken champagne (free-range chicken breast stuffed with chevre, prosciutto, and spinach in a champagne-butter sauce, $21). A crème brûlée ($4.75) or the house-made ice cream and fresh-fruit sorbet ($3.50) gives the gastronome in every diner a flavor-filled nightcap.

Like cornhusk dolls, every dish that materializes in the kitchen is freshly homemade in-house. Great care goes into sculpting dishes to please all palate desires, from meat and seafood to vegan and vegetarian. Before planning a raging Tuesday night on the town, remember that Wild Abandon is closed every Tuesday so the hard-working staff can truly experience wild abandon. Stop by any other day of the week to lounge, dine, and drink while arguing over whether that cloud visible from the outdoor patio is the spitting image of George Gershwin.

This Groupon is not valid toward happy-hour specials.

Reviews

Everyone raves with wild abandon: Yelpers and Citysearchers give it four stars, 83% of Urbanspooners like it, and both the Mercury and Portland-based food blogger Elizabeth Fuss had a great time.

• Their popular weekend brunch has expanded to weekdays as well, with lots of artful eggy dishes and even some satisfying vegan dishes. When the weather cooperates, the back patio- which may actually have more seating than the dining room itself, is one of Portland's best. – Mercury
• This place is so comfy. You just spread out in one of their booths and have one of their great drinks. Prices...are easy on the wallet. – Sherry, Urbanspoon
• Wild Abandon is one of my favorites in Portland, and its been appreciated by both guests and friends. The pulled pork hash on the brunch menu is excellent, and their vegan and vegetarian options (brunch and dinner) have received good reviews from friends. Its [sic] nice that vegans have the option of more than one dish. – PDXBeer, Citysearch