During the Classical era, Greece and Persia made almost constant war on one another until the Battle of Thermopylae, when both armies suddenly threw down their weapons and started kissing. Savor the fruits of their Sam-and-Diane relationship with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Persian and Greek fare at Shandeez Grill in northwest Austin.

Shandeez's extensive menu of traditional Mediterranean and Persian fare gives midday office escapees an exotic alternative to fast food. Start a feasting foray with a duo of eggplant spreads (both $4.99): the Persian kashk-o-bademjan combines baked eggplant with dry yogurt, mint, sautéed onion, walnuts, garlic, and saffron, while baba gannouj mixes together tahini, lemon, garlic, and olive oil. Heartier appetites can savor joojeh-kabob ($9.99)—a bone-in Cornish game hen skewered alongside grilled tomatoes and basmati rice—or a gyro platter with greek side salad ($10.99) before getting back to their dust cloud of fighting cartoon characters. Dinner, meanwhile, can be accompanied by a BYOB wine or beer ($2.49 corkage fee per glass, which is not included or valid with the value of this Groupon), then topped with a little herbal-fruited smoke from Shandeez's hookahs ($13.99). Live traditional Persian music adds to Shandeez's silk-roadhouse atmosphere.

Reviews

The Shandeez Grill was reviewed by the Austin Chronicle in 2007. Yelpers give the restaurant an average of four stars, and more than 550 Facebookers are fans.

• …traditional and authentic Persian cuisine that is not to be missed. – Mick Vann, the Austin Chronicle
• The food here is phenomenal! – Natalia G., Yelp