Casa Bonita: = House Beautiful<br />And Beautiful it still is !<br />I dined at Casa Bonita hundreds of times back in the 70&#39;s and 80&#39;s. They used to be located in OKC, Tulsa, Denver and Dallas. (been to all of them)<br />Only the Tulsa and Denver locations remain.<br />I always thought Casa Bonita was like the dark rides at Six Flags over Texas ! It still is and looks just like it did along time ago.<br />I must say that several years ago the food got lousy back before the restaurant closed. ( The ownership group, Star Buffet, goofed around with the recipes,ruined a great concept and really turned it into a &quot; Panchos&quot;) The longtime manager tried to make a go of it as Casa Viva but was not really too good in my opinion.<br />I dined there again a few years back when I heard it had reopened under the Casa Viva name. Slight improvement but not like the good old days.<br />I have now dined there several more times since Bill Waugh ( The original creator of the concept in 1968) has gotten things going again.<br />(Wish he could get Crystals Pizza going again too ! )<br />I traveled 150 miles to Casa Bonita in Tulsa again yesterday and here is MY updated review....<br />SERVICE: The service at the entrance as you stand in the line was something to be desired. Too much goofing around by the staff.<br />The service after being seated was PERFECT. Still using the flag system although it was not needed. The server was quick, accurate and very attentive. Very friendly too.<br />FOOD TEMPERATURE: PERFECT so hot you had to wait on it to cool !<br />This is a good thing !<br />FOOD QUALITY AND TASTE: Also excellent if you are expecting it to taste like it did 25 or 30 years ago.<br />The tacos are EXACTLY the same as are the cheese enchiladas, beans, rice, sopapillas , cheese sauce at the table and salsa. The beef enchiladas were similar to the way they used to be.<br />MY FAVORITES : Tacos, queso and sopapillas. (best anywhere and EXACTLY LIKE THE OLD DAYS ! )<br />Taco shells were crispy thin and loaded ! ( I am not a big fan of the chicken tacos here but they were fresh and pretty good) The Chicken enchiladas were better.<br />Everything was fresh and I have NO complaints whatsoever as to the quality of the food.<br />It all depends on what you are expecting.<br />If you are going for nostalgia and YOU used to love Casa Bonitas back in the groovy 70&#39;s, you will not be disappointed ! (be sure and take your kids )<br />If you are looking for mexican food like at On the Border or a family owned little mexican joint, you probably won&#39;t like it that much.<br />It is really comparing apples and oranges.<br />CLEANLINESS: Excellent. No critters that I saw. Tables and floors all nice and fresh. Bathroom was spotless. The restaurant itself is really an experience as it always was.<br />Decorated like NO mexican restaurant you have ever been to. It would cost a fortune to start from scratch to build and decorate a place as extravagant and over the top as Casa Bonita&#39;s is.<br />PRICES: 10.99 FOR THE ALL YOU CAN EAT. either Beef or Chicken Deluxe dinner but they are glad to mix it all up if you want.<br />My advise is go hungry and leave stuffed !<br />I really do not understand some of the bad internet reviews I have seen about Casa.(This is TEX MEX) Some of the old complaints from several years ago might have been valid but the last several times I made the 150 mile journey, I have not been disappointed.<br />BOTTOM LINE. If you you used love to go there a long time ago.. you still will !! it will bring back lots of memories and will find yourself anxious to go back