Most modern cuisine is a continuation of classic dishes, just as a computer is a slightly modified typewriter and a washing machine is a river in a box. Revel in palatable progress with today's Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of American fare and drinks at Maize Lounge.

The congenial staff at Maize Lounge, a venture from the owners of Cornucopia, pours a variety of specialty drinks and nourishes patrons with breakfasts and dinners served into the wee hours every night. Bedeck burgers pattied from local, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef ($6.99+) with an array of salad-bar-style condiments, or sample a variety of proteins with a three-slider plate ($5.99) that can include tempeh, kahlua pork, and sloppy joe. Just as Apollonius of Perga discovered the properties of conic sections, patrons uncover the starchy characteristics hidden in hot tater cones ($2.95), which bear contents ranging from rustic home fries and zesty curly fries to shoestring sweet potatoes. A variety of specialty cocktails ($6–$7.50) complements a meal, a night out, or a midnight caber-toss viewing on one of Maize Lounge's large-screen TVs. High-vaulted ceilings and bold, warm colors convey a sense of expansiveness and provide the space necessary for weekly rounds of giant Jenga.