Pure Colorado

Visiting the Iconic Denver Restaurant Casa Bonita

Casa Bonita is not merely a restaurant. It is an event. An adventure. The pink building is a Colorado landmark.

Generations of Colorado residents were heart-sick when the world-famous restaurant declared bankruptcy and closed in 2021, a victim of the pandemic. It’s a part of our shared experience. Our heritage. Like the mountains to the west, it seemed to occupy a permanent place in the landscape.

No ordinary restaurateur or entrepreneur could afford to purchase the building and restore it to its former glory. This was not a mere Mexican restaurant. It’s nearly a theme park. The future dimmed just a little at the thought of such a great loss.

Renovations were certainly needed. And I’ll just say it out loud here. The menu was infamous. Be honest. The food was terrible. As my son-in-law noted, it didn’t matter what you ordered; your plate would be drowned in orange nacho cheese sauce. There were only a few options. None of them good. Except maybe for the sopapillas. But you didn’t go there for the food.

Who could possibly come to the rescue? This had to be a labor of love.

Casa Bonita was featured in a 2003 episode of the animated TV show South Park. When they learned the landmark was going away, Colorado natives and South Park creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker began the effort to purchase the restaurant in the fall of 2021.

Casa Bonita reopened in June of 2023. Matt and Trey were determined to do some upgrades. I am happy to report that they succeeded.

My family went this month to celebrate a granddaughter’s birthday. All of us had been to the restaurant years ago. We were eager to see the changes.

It looked almost exactly the same! Except cleaner. This is a good thing. We were going for nostalgia. It would have been tragic if the South Park boys had remodeled the interior into something unfamiliar. And the exterior is the same pink, with the fountain and the bell tower on top.

I’m happy to report that one important thing changed: the food was vastly improved. Previously, you picked up your chosen tray of slop before entering the restaurant from a pass-through window. This time, we were seated and given menus! The choices included vegetarian and gluten-free options. Our table had the sort of lighting that allowed you to see what you were eating. Always a good sign.

One other thing changed. Matt and Trey are determined to pay Casa Bonita employees a living wage. So the price was a bit daunting. But this isn’t a restaurant you pop in on for a quick lunch. It’s a special-event sort of experience. Out-of-town company, birthdays, anniversaries, that sort of special. Cliff divers, puppet shows, a live mariachi band, Black Bart’s cave, and more. All those folks have to be paid!

One caveat: we went on Superbowl Sunday. I imagine the restaurant was not as busy as may be typical. Not being a fan of crowds, my family was happy with the extra elbow room.

Will we go again? Certainly! Do I recommend Casa Bonita? Absolutely.
​
Make reservations well in advance. It’s that sort of popular.
Casa Bonita

Will Casa Bonita inspire my fiction writing? My co-author and daughter Merida Bass agrees, the Casa Bonita experience deserves to be included in a future Ninja Grandparent Placement Mysteries novel. Currently, the series is set in Colorado Springs. One of our lonely grandparents in need of a family could wind up at the famous restaurant in nearby Denver!
​
Grandpa’s New Year’s Relocation is available now at Basecamp Books and Adventure, and in the usual places online. Grandma’s Valentine Abduction is coming soon! Available for pre-order now.

---