Ancient Egyptians often threw salt up to the heavens to bring rain, which is why modern humans throw pepper at vending machines to summon Diet Coke. Enjoy a showering of seasonings with today's Groupon: for $25, you get any two entrees (up to a $17.95 value each) and a pitcher of sangria (a $20 value) at Alejandra's Mexican Cuisine & Cantina in Northlake (up to a $55.90 total value).

Melding classic regional Mexican recipes with the spice and energy of a cantina, Alejandra's chefs craft a menu that provides travel-hungry taste buds with a passport to flavor. Jumbo shrimp sizzle with the piquant spices of homemade salsa in the a la veracruzana (a $10.95 value), and the grilled skirt steak tampiqueña satisfies meat cravings with a sliced poblano chile and a cheese enchilada on the side (a $13.95 value). The costillas a la parrilla invite appetites to admire a generous, full slab of Mexican-style barbecue ribs as they lounge saucily on a bed of rice, vegetables, and optional throw pillows (a $17.95 value). Satiate an herbaceous appetite with the chiles rellenos, which offer up a sumptuous stuffing of cheese and corn, encased within a green-pepper shell (a $7.95 value). Or, discover the shredded chicken center hidden beneath the soft surface of classic enchiladas, colorfully topped with cilantro, green onions, melted cheese, and a choice of rojas, verdes, or mole sauce (a $9.95 value). Chilly fruit lends color and a heady sweetness to red wine in the included pitcher of sangria, a vivid and robust concoction perfect for sharing with a date or for distracting a charging bull.

Enjoy an intimate night out at Alejandra’s, where dim lighting glistens off rows of bar glasses and mirrored walls, punctuated by the technicolor brightness of flat-screen TVs and the dark, modern stoicism of exposed brick. Or, plan ahead to catch one of the restaurant's regular events, such as Mexican holiday celebrations or Fiesta Fridays, which include a live DJ, dancing, and spirited games of hot burrito.