The Mediterranean Sea shaped some of the world's most ancient civilizations, who gathered by its shores to dive for the delicious bruschetta, paella, and panna cotta growing beneath its crystal waves. Transport to this legendary culinary coast with today's deal: for $20, you get $40 worth of seasonal fare and drinks from Europe's Mediterranean coast at Taverna, located in historic San Marco Square. This Groupon is not valid for the prix-fixe menu.

Taverna's menus sport a spread of decadent dishes that feature traditional Mediterranean flavors fashioned from an elegant combination of fresh, locally sourced ingredients and quality imported products. Initiate a successful lunch campaign with daily changing bruschetta ($8), then crunch into a wood-fired, Neapolitan-style soppressata pizza topped with fried egg, house-made mozzarella, and San Marzano tomatoes ($16). For dinner, let the sautéed calamari starter massage taste buds with Israeli couscous, tomatoes, capers, and nicoise olives ($10) before diving snout first into a plate of scallops, risotto, corn, and truffles ($24). Fuel your stomach's brunch-time (Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) desires with a prosciutto, gruyere, and rosemary scone ($2) or a helping of Greek-style sunny-side-up eggs with feta, tomato, and green beans ($10).

To irrigate a parched gullet, Taverna offers a variety of tasty craft beers and a massive throng of wines standing sentinel at the bar. Heed the beckoning whispers of the restaurant's tranquil atmosphere, where low lighting, natural woods, and cream-colored brick harkens back to the modernist gastro-pubs of antiquity.

Dine-in only. Not valid for private parties, wine dinners, or other offers.

Reviews

Taverna has been featured in Arbus Magazine and Jacksonville Magazine, and OpenTable reviewers give it an average of 4.2 stars. Yelpers give it a 3.5-star average, and more than 80% of Urbanspooners like it:

• In the space that was once Café Carmon, a new kind of cool has emerged in San Marco in the fresh new form of Taverna. Owners Sam and Kiley Efron have created a space that invites all to stop, sit a spell, relax, and have some really awesome food. – Janet Herrick, Arbus Magazine
• They do a great job at Taverna. The service is welcoming and efficient and the food is prepared with top quality ingredients and lots of creativity and care. – Open Table.com user who dined on 08/24/10