According to most restaurant critics, the perfect Mediterranean meal is served on a plate, which rests on a table that has legs. For $25, today’s Groupon gets you $50 worth of Mediterranean cuisine and drinks at Zimzala in Huntington Beach.

The well-regarded executive chef at Zimzala, Vincent Muraco, worked with menu expert and cookbook author Joyce Goldstein to develop a creative menu of Mediterranean cuisine with a California tinge. They researched the 22 countries of the region, incorporating the flavors of Spain, Greece, Italy, Northern Africa, the Middle East, Alabama, and more into a collection of healthful, exotic delights built from fresh, top-quality ingredients.

Open your meal with one of Zimzala’s delicately spiced appetizers, including the popular mezze plate ($15), with hearty hummus, healthful Mediterranean salad, pita bread, and “Turkish cigar” soft cheese, along with a glass of wine, beer, or a cocktail. Main dishes focus on healthy Mediterranean specialties like seafood, vegetables, and grains. Honor the seafaring tradition of the Mediterranean with the prosciutto-wrapped, pan-seared diver scallops ($25), whose flavorful saltiness is creatively offset by candied yams and sweetbreads. Zimzala whips up meatier main dishes, like the carnivore-slaying braised lamb shoulder ($25), flavored with mint and pecorino Romano. Great meals have a way of convincing the stomach that it needs a sweet, buttery sealant. No need to resist, given Zimzala’s mouthwatering desserts, including the crowd-pleasing chocolate ganache ($8), paired with a base of grilled sourdough.

Located across the street from another patch of iconic saltwater, some of LA’s most rideable Pacific, Zimzala is in the heart of Surf City U.S.A., giving diners a gorgeous beach view to complement their meal. Zimzala’s stylish and modern décor, designed by De Lisle, Philpotts & Staub Interiors, emanates cool comfort with soft lighting and leather benches. The interior features a lounge “living room” area, comfy dining room, and outdoor seating to take full advantage of conversation-stopping, deep-orange sunsets and bright-pink bikinis. The beach setting and hip atmosphere attract a young, energetic crowd, often found stylishly grooving to frequent live entertainment and DJs. Based in The Strand, Zimzala also offers service with friendly and extremely attentive staff, who will gladly turn up the contrast on that sunset if you ask politely.

Not valid on Valentine's Day. Reservations are recommended.

Reviews

The OC Weekly blog has featured Zimzala Restaurant, and Gayot rates it 14/20:

• Zimzala soothes the soul with its Zen atmosphere and pleases the palate with its authentic dishes gleaned from the coastal cuisines of the greater Mediterranean basin. – Gayot

92% of 14 Urbanspooners like it, while OpenTablers and 40 Yelpers give it four stars:

• Terrific food, extensive menu, beautiful modern setting, and knowledgeable, attentive wait staff, made for a memorable evening that we are anxious to share with family and friends. – OpenTable user who dined on 11/14/2009
• You have to try this restaurant! Great food, great ambience, and great service. The wait staff was super friendly and very attentive. We tried their Manila clam flatbread and scallop risotto dish. Both were really good! – Karen K., Yelp