If you've never had authentic New York–style pizza, then what you think is pizza might in fact be a cunningly disguised pretzel. Today's Groupon clears up the confusion: for $10, you get $20 worth of pizza pies, drinks, and more at Giovanni’s Old World New York Pizzeria, valid only at the South Land Park Drive or Folsom Boulevard locations.

Giovanni's has been supplying the oft-lauded New York–style thin-crust pizza and other dishes to Sacramento denizens since opening its first location in 2001. Allow melty cheese to graze over pining tongue buds with the crusty-mozzarella-bread starter ($7.95) before moving on to the meatier terrain of Giovanni's signature Little Italy pie, an ensemble of fresh ricotta, garlic, and spices ($11.95–$24.75)—that like the Brazilian soccer team—plays beautifully against giant meatballs atop a field of crispy pizza crust. The Don Giovanni kick-starts flame receptors with fire-roasted peppers and homemade sausage ($10.95–$21.50) and the pesto pizza exchanges fresh-tomato sauce for a robust blend of basil, pine nuts, and extra-virgin olive oil ($11.95–$24.75). Formulate theories explaining The Sopranos finale as incisors insert themselves into the Sicilian roasted chicken, a chicken slathered in a mixture of garlic, olive oil, herbs, and spices before being fire-roasted to delectable doneness ($9.95 whole, $5.50 half). Vegetable or meat lasagnas ($11.95), heat-packing chicken wings ($14.95 for 20 pieces), and sauceless-pizza varieties are also available.

Giovanni's helpful, friendly staff is happy to bring an authentic taste of the Big Apple to Sacramento's sunny setting. Sip on a glass of wine ($3.95/glass) or attempt a Giovanni's ale or stout ($3.95/mug) and allocate mind matter to visions of old New York, a place where the food was flavorful and you didn't have to pay a meter maid to park your buggy.