Bistros are remarkable in that they somehow manage to be both fancy and casual at the same time, much like a necktie with Taz on it. Feel gussied up without too much fuss with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of gourmet fare at Dwight's Bistro in Jacksonville Beach.

Dwight's Bistro, owned and operated by Chef Dwight Delude, is a member of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, an international society carrying on the culinary tradition of 13th-century goose roasters through artfully conceived and intricately assembled cuisine. Settle into the savory menu by splitting an order of the garlic and shallot butter-basted escargot ($13) with a snail-loving supper companion, or indulge in the gleeful garden flavors of the fresh mozzarella ($17), available with vine-ripe tomatoes in olive oil. Handmade pasta dishes include creamy carbonara ($24), while elegant animal-based entrees such as the two marinated and grilled quails ($28) please palates of all sizes, shapes, and sounds. Exact revenge on bullying crustaceans from your childhood with Dwight's Bistro's house specialty, the jumbo lump crab cakes with tartar sauce ($32). All entrees are served with grilled vegetables and homemade pasta.

Dwight's Bistro boasts dazzling Mediterranean-inspired décor, with intricate mosaic tiling covering each surface of the eatery's walls and ceiling, and an open kitchen where chefs concoct the culinary creations. Seize the opportunity for a sophisticated supper, and celebrate another summer free of a dolphin revolution with the decadent delights of Dwight's Bistro. Call ahead for reservations.

Not valid on holidays.

Reviews

Dwight's Bistro is a member of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs and a 2009 Top 25 Restaurant in Jacksonville Magazine. It received four-star average ratings from Citysearchers and three Yelpers. Eighty-four percent of Urbanspooners like it:

• Unwaivering [sic] from modern, over-complicated attempts, Dwight represents everything that is true in a memorable dining experience. – IRE22, Citysearch