Spicy sauces are great for deterring children from licking frozen poles, substituting lost winter coats, and swiftly ending staring contests. Explore the most delicious use for piquant condiments with today's deal: for $20, you get $40 worth of traditional Mexican fare and drinks at Salsa 17 in Arlington Heights. Chef Jose Luna brings three generations' worth of Mexican foodie forebears to each carefully crafted meal. For dinner, his guacamole is prepared right at the table ($8.95), and is just one of a plethora of entry-level options ($7.95–10.95). Jose uses years of experience playing Operation to silently extract menu guesswork with a selection of chef's specials ($13.95–23.95), such as the birria de borrego, a lamb shank braised in birria sauce and served with chipotle mashed potatoes and sautéed vegetables ($20.95). Add extra flare with one of Salsa 17's mole sauces, traditional Mexican concoctions containing up to 20 or 30 ingredients. Six pages of dinner options ensure that no appetite exits with its former owner, and a Mexican hot chocolate offers the perfect transition back into frosty thoroughfares and the cocoa-less monotony of everyday life ($3.25). See the website for full lunch, dinner, and desert menus. Reservations can be made online.

Reviews

The Daily Herald and The Local Tourist featured Salsa 17. OpenTable reviewers give Salsa 17 an overall average of 4.1 stars, 100 Yelpers give it an average of four stars, and 82% of Urbanspooners recommend it.

• The fun starts with an extremely knowledgeable staff that knows each menu item inside and out. The first thing you must try is the guacamole. Why? Prepared tableside, this super fresh dip can be catered to your liking. More garlic or less jalapeño, no problem. – Hungry Z., The Local Tourist
• Our waiter was awesome. He was very informative and helpful when picking out our entrees. The margaritas were wonderful. A great place - will go there again and again. – An OpenTable reviewer who dined on 11/27/2010