Top of the Town 2011

In Spain, eating tapas is about the experience—a languid mix of hanging out with friends and appreciating good food—and that’s precisely what you get at Boulder’s Café Aion. Chef-owner Dakota Soifer’s simple, rustic menu changes on a whim, but when available, go for any of the house-cured meats; the roast beets with feta, mint, and almonds; or the fried cauliflower with saffron-infused yogurt (which was singled out by Bon Appétit in its October 2010 issue). Better yet: Order all three and a glass (or two) of the not-too-sweet sangría. Salud! 1235 Pennsylvania Ave., Boulder, 303-993-8131, www.cafeaion.com