A postcard from Casa Bonita
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The cliff divers captivate Casa Bonita visitors every 20 minutes. Photo: Emma Hurt/Axios
While Casa Bonita remains accessible only via a closely guarded ticket lottery, it is consistently packed, even on a Wednesday night.
The big picture: I scored one such ticket to the "greatest restaurant in the world" with a group that included native Coloradans who hadn't yet revisited the reopened version — and newbies who had never been (nor seen the infamous "South Park" episode).
Verdict from a native: "It is exactly how I remember."
Verdict from a newbie: "I am so stimulated I don't know where to look."
Zoom in: One can easily spend hours inside the revamped (tipping-free) restaurant. The every-20-minutes cliff diving, arcade, puppet show, Black Bart's cave experience and Sorsoro's magic show are engaging for all ages.
- Yes, but: Beware the financial toll of the tempting "El Mercado" gift shop. (You can also visit that online.)
As for the food? "I wouldn't go because of the food ... but I wouldn't not go because of the food," said one member of my group.
- "Good, not great," said another. "You pay for the attractions."
What we're watching: Casa Bonita's owners and "South Park" creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone told the Denver Post last month they hoped to open reservations broadly in "late summer."
💭 My thought bubble: I've truly never been to a restaurant like this one. The randomized lottery system is frustrating and unpredictable, but based on the crowds, it seems to be working.
- And I'll neither confirm nor deny that my dog now wears a Casa Bonita collar.
