Nightlife in Jonesboro

The Silly Goose's laid-back atmosphere of candlelight, antique books, vibrant artwork, and non-flammable coat hangers provides an environment for the cerebral tête-à-têtes and swordfighting that'll ensue over your meals. Prime your palate with chicken quesadillas ($7.29) or the melted sausage cheese plate ($7) before moving on to one of the menu's main dishes. The panini selection includes the flavorful pesto parmesan chicken ($7.50) along with the turkey and swiss ($7), or for a sandwich with less panini qualities, try one of the flatbreads ($6.50¬–$7.50). The Silly Goose entree selection features a spicy smoked sausage on baguette with fries ($7) and smoked beef brisket sided with Gouda mashed potatoes ($8).

While plantains make handy banana doppelgangers and semi-decent boomerangs, the sweet and starchy treats shine alongside island spices, savory meats, and sea-meats. Different in flavor and approach from other Latin cuisines, the Rumba Room's slow-baked sweet and spicy array of Cuban dishes is available for lunch (Monday–Friday) and dinner (usually Thursday–Saturday). If you're new to Cuban eats, try arroz con pollo ($8), a traditional, hearty dish of seasoned chicken with Puerto Rican–style rice, black beans, and sweet plantains or ropa vieja, a succulent seasoned and marinated beef slow-cooked until it falls apart. Spelunkers weary of Alabama cave shrimp can taste the real thing with Veracruz shrimp ($10) in garlic salsa, served with Puerto Rican–style rice, black beans, and tortillas. Specialty drinks like the Cuban mojito ($7) or rum runner ($7) present potable solutions to such dilemmas as lack of rum and taste for mint. If you use today's Groupon for lunch, you'll get a free order of light and sweet coquito rice pudding.