Number 84: Baklava from Ali Baba Grill
Golden does not have a lot going for it, culinarily speaking. Still stuck in that small-town realm of catch-as-catch-can, folks there can choose from a bunch of chain restaurants, some strip-mall Mexican, a few downtown joints, the venerable Briarwood Inn and then a couple of real oddities, including Empanada Express Grill and Ali Baba Grill, which not only serves the area's best Lebanese food, but perhaps the world's best baklava.
That little picture above? That's the baklava that's worth a ten-mile drive. It's worth a thousand-mile drive. Perfectly baked, flaky, sweet and bleeding honey and butter from between its million layers of filo dough, it's delicate and delicious. Make sure you order your piece before the day's stock runs out. And then sit back on a low couch in the beautiful, raised dining room and enjoy a full meal -- what could be the area's best hummus, anything involving gyros and a cup of mint tea.
And on your way back home, if you're still hungering for more baklava, swing by 8800 South Colorado Boulevard in Highlands Ranch -- where Ali Baba just opened a second location. It's just as far for downtown dwellers, but the baklava is just as good.
Hungry for more? The dishes in our countdown thus far are linked below:
No. 100 Chicken-fried steak from Lola No. 99 Alaskan reindeer sausage from Biker Jim's Gourmet Dogs No. 98 Mac-and-cheese fries from Jonesy's EatBar No. 97 Soft egg ravioli from Prima No. 96 Pho - any pho -- from Pho 95 No. 95 Assiette de charcuterie maison from Z Cuisine À Côté No. 94: Cheeseburger from Larkburger No. 93: BBQ Masher from Cabin Creek Smokehouse No. 92: Apple pancake from the Original Pancake House No. 91: Burrata from Osteria Marco No. 90: Eggs Benedict from Devil's Food Bakery No. 89: Chile Relleno from La Fiesta No. 88: Deviled eggs from Steuben's No. 87: Corn-in-a-cup from Jack-n- Grill No. 86: Enchiladas from Taco House No. 85: Pupusas from Pupusas Sabor Hispano
