Nightlife in Memphis

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.

Kudzu's Bar and Grill's tables and picture-strewn set the scene for social meals over hearty, handheld cuisine. Burgers, sandwiches, and pub-style appetizers jump to the fingertips, whereas salads defy forkless eaters with a deflective layer of dressing. An enclosed wooden patio encourages breezy dining al fresco. The bar often hosts live music on the weekends to compete with the boisterous clack of balls on the game room's pool table.