Although Italians originally invented pasta as a fastener to keep Sicily from floating away, they abandoned it for less-delicious moorings after locals on both sides kept snacking their way toward separation. Tether your taste buds to today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of Italian comfort cuisine at Buono Bistro, located in North Andover.

With more than 30 years of experience wining and dining lunch- and dinner-goers in an elegant atmosphere, Buono Bistro continues to dish out gourmet Italian comfort fare crafted from fresh, homemade ingredients. Gratify growling bellies with a lunch-menu appetizer of crispy fried calamari awaiting a skinny dip in a marinara pool ($9), before diving into deep-end entrees such as the baked ravioli, plump pasta pillows stuffed with cheese and smothered in a tomato sauce, mozzarella, and finely minced dreams ($10). Buono's lunch menu also boasts a bevy of paninis ($9), burgers (starting at $10), and taste-bud-approved salads (starting at $7). The extensive cast of talented dinner-menu players includes luscious seafood risotto, a harmonious blend of lobster, shrimp, scallops, and red peppers sautéed in truffle oil and saffron ($27), and the steak a la toscano, a 16-ounce Braveheart black Angus steak from vegetarian-fed cattle, accompanied by mashed potatoes, which provide both flavor and backup vocals ($25). Though this Groupon is not valid for alcohol, pair any meal with a complementary wine for a sweet nectar indulgence, or channel your inner urge for bar garnishes with a cocktail from the extensive martini list.

Robust booths cocoon customers underneath elegant track lighting as the black and tan décor creates a chic space ideal for family dinners, business lunches, or an impromptu monologue reading during a family dinner or business lunch. Ears can be just as entertained as mouths on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, with live music performances by local artists.