Restaurants in Golden

At Old Blinking Light, Executive chef Christopher Hansen and Chef de cuisine Joey Meyer use their talents to craft a menu of southwestern-inspired seasonal cuisine, highlighted by dishes such as signature enchiladas, which tuck beef, chicken, or vegetables in white corn tortillas with red or green chili, pico de gallo, and crème fraîche and sautéed salmon rubbed with New Mexico red chili and served alongside cilantro green rice and calabacitas. Additionally, diners can choose from an extensive wine list with wines by the bottle or glass to accompany meals, or specialty drinks made with juices and sweet and sour mix squeezed fresh.

The interior boasts an industrial feel, with high ceilings supporting exposed ductwork, corrugated metal accents, and seemingly rusted chains hanging from above. Outside, patrons sit at tables with fire pits at the center, into which they can toss food offerings to the gods in exchange for good baseball weather.

Within a rustic interior, the chefs at Cactus Jack’s Saloon craft a menu's worth of casual pub eats, including burgers made from locally acquired ingredients. Outside, on an expansive, sunny deck with rows of picnic tables, servers transport patties made from all-natural Anderson beef and topped with a range of fixings, such as the Red Hot Mama’s matronly jalapeños. The tavern hosts frequent events on its creek-side stage, such as live music, duet karaoke, and open-mic nights.

The realization of a shared dream between two friends, Mile High Vienna Stand serves up Windy City–inspired eats at 5,280 feet, including Chicago-style hot dogs crowned Denver's best in 2011 and 2012 by the Denver Westword. After spending his boyhood summers in Chicago, where he never missed the chance to grab a dog before a ballgame, owner Sonny Jarock was unable to escape the scent that had defined his youth. Eventually, memories evolved into ideas, and ideas into reality in 2008, when Sonny and his buddy, Jeremy Williamson, transformed an abandoned Baker neighborhood building into the first MHVS location.

Since swinging open their doors in 2008, Sonny and Jeremy have expanded to a second location right outside Coors Field, the home ballpark of the Colorado Rockies. On the large patio with views of the first-base entrance, customers can munch on polish sausages, juicy Italian beef sandwiches, and Chicago-style hotdogs before heading into games. Both stands accompany meals with friendly staffers, who are available to dish out facts about Chicago-style food or help solve any pickle-spear-related riddles.

The cooks at each of El Parral Mexican Restaurant's locations follow traditional recipes to yield a menu of Mexican fare. Armed with fresh ingredients, they plate tender steak and seafood dishes and reintroduce taste buds to south-of-the-border favorites, such as tortas and burritos. Behind the bar, bartenders concoct signature margaritas and pour them into glasses rimmed with salt, like the eyelids of a sad teenage poet.