The Mediterranean Sea shaped some of the world's most ancient civilizations, which gathered by its shores to dive for the delicious kebabs, hummus, and calamari growing beneath its crystal waves. Transport to this legendary culinary coast with today's Groupon at Mediterrano, located in Ann Arbor. Choose between the following options:

• For $20, you get $40 worth of Mediterranean fare during dinner.
• For $10, you get $20 worth of Mediterranean fare during lunch.

Sprinkling Old World dishes with a pinch of modernity, the seasoned chefs at Mediterrano transport taste buds on a whirlwind menu tour of the 14 countries on the Mediterranean coast, from the south of France to Greece, from Spain to north Africa. Dinners trot the Mediterranean shore, beginning with roasted medjool dates served with savory chorizo, applewood smoked bacon, and romesco ($9.75). Sink carnivorous canines into the grilled lamb souvlaki, skewers of succulent lamb marinated in fresh rosemary, garlic, lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil playing coy flavor games on a bed of cinnamon basmati rice pilaf while vegetables and tzatziki look on ($17.99).

Midday munchers can snack on mutton in its most portable form with the lamburger, served with three sauces and a Greek village salad ($12). The escabeche of gulf mahi-mahi—soaked in a citrus-and-ginger marinade and perched in a nymphless meadow of mixed greens, chili-roasted portobellos, and roasted red pepper—is a low-fat dish perfect for diners looking to drop a belt or hat size ($16.99 at lunch, $18.99 at dinner).

Drink in Mediterrano's extensive wine menu, dotted with classic French favorites, such as the 2007 Gerard Bertrand pinot noir ($8.50 a glass) as you observe Mediterrano's elegant enivrons; the dining space is flooded with the exotic aromas of Mediterranean spices, pungent garlic, and freshly baked bread, and teeming with antiquated antiques, eye-popping art, lush green plants, and sea-blue booths. The Mediterranean melting pot boasts a well-lit, extralarge free parking lot capable of housing fleets of coach buses or repelling blood-sucking vampire coachmen. Mediterrano accepts reservations for parties of all sizes and upholds a casual dress code.

Reviews

OpenTable reviewers give Mediterrano Restaurant a 4.1-star average. More than 20 Yelpers give it a 3.5-stara average, and TripAdvisors give it a four owl-eye average.

• It was fresh, creative and well presented food. Definitely worth a whirl. – Liz W., Yelp, 11/15/10
• We had a wonderful time and will definitely return for another visit. –TheTravelingProf, TripAdvisor