Mangia Mondays at Quattro Highlights Regional Italian at a Discount

With summer quickly approaching, local foodies are practically foaming at mouth for discounted fare to finally arrive. No need to wait until Miami Spice, Quattro Gastronomia Italiana on South Beach has got you covered.

Each Monday for the next three months, you can nab a three-course meal for $39 (plus twenty precent off special bottles of wine). Mangia Monday's will celebrate a region of Italy each month through a prix-fixe menu. This month's region is Piedmont, where twin chefs Nicola and Fabrizio Carro hail from.

First-course offerings included beef tartare and this tuna salad. The Insalata Russa Del Contadino featured imported Italian tuna, pickle, cucumber, legumes and a quail egg. While entirely edible, this dish was the only one that didn't wow us.

Moving on to the beef tartare; from the perfect grind of filet to the rich nuttiness of quality parmesean, it was hard to share this baby. While celery might not be your go-to tartare topper, the thin slices added texture and melded seamlessly into the dish.

This dish of Carnaroli risotto with Castelmagno cheese in a veal sauce was hands-down the best dish of the night. This deceptively simple recipe often fails in the best of hands. Not here. To achieve such incredible creaminess while still keeping the integrity of each grain of rice intact is a sign of perfect risotto.

Their braised beef cheek in wine with creamy polenta was exactly as to be expected. Silky, fork-tender strands of beef swam in a creamy polenta pool culminating in a successful journey to a happy belly.

The amaretti flan with a caramel sauce was creamy and rich with a subtle nuttiness that kept us coming back for more.

This sweet focaccia filled with gianduia chocolate salsa was light and airy. The accompanying strawberry gelato stole the show with its incredible berry flavor.

The only dish we didn't order off the Mangia Monday menu was the sheep ricotta gnocchi. Having dined at Quattro many times before, we can tell you their gnocchi is incredible.

Bottom line -- there's no need to wait for Miami Spice to catch a great deal on Lincoln Road.

Follow Arlyene Marie Ponce on Facebook and on Twitter @UltimateFoodFan