Prepare your best Eric Cartman impression because soon you’ll be able to make a reservation at Casa Bonita without needing to rely on luck from a lottery.
Owners Matt Stone and Trey Parker revealed in an exclusive interview with JS that the iconic Lakewood restaurant will open to the general public on October 1. This marks the first day when reservations will be accessible to anyone looking for a blend of delicious food, entertainment, and a lively ambiance. Reservations can be made starting September 16 at casabonitadenver.com.
Since its post-pandemic return in June 2023, Casa Bonita has been a highly sought-after dining spot in Colorado. Until now, securing a table meant entering a lottery in hopes of receiving an invitation to purchase tickets, which covered entry, a meal, and access to attractions like Black Bart’s Cave and the iconic cliff divers at the waterfall.
Stone and Parker acknowledged that the prolonged limited access was not their original plan, but it was necessary to fine-tune the operations of such a unique establishment. Over the past year, they have made significant changes during the soft opening phase.
Starting October 1, Casa Bonita will no longer require pre-paid tickets. Instead, guests can make reservations similar to any other restaurant. The buffet line has also been eliminated, with patrons now being seated and served in a traditional dining style. At the end of the meal, guests will receive their check and pay.
Although the format has changed, the pricing remains the same. Adult entrees range from $29.99 to $39.99 depending on the time of day, while kids’ meals are priced between $19.99 and $24.99. While servers at Casa Bonita receive a flat hourly wage, guests will have the option to leave a tip if they choose.
Stone and Parker acknowledged that the buffet line was a nostalgic element of Casa Bonita, but it was not conducive to a positive customer experience.
“It was causing so many problems,” Parker said. “It was the reason people ended up sitting down and their food was cold. Also we didn’t love watching people experience Casa Bonita (while) they’ve got a giant tray of food in their hands.”
“It was keeping us from making food as good as possible,” Stone added.
The removal of the ticketing system was also a necessary change. After consulting with experts, Stone and Parker decided to treat entry to Casa Bonita more like an amusement park or zoo, a concept that was challenging to explain to the public. By aligning Casa Bonita’s identity as a restaurant and adjusting logistics accordingly, the operation became more efficient.
The broad opening of Casa Bonita has been eagerly awaited by both the owners and local enthusiasts. Stone and Parker, known for creating the popular TV show “South Park,” acquired Casa Bonita in 2021 and invested $40 million in its refurbishment.
Interestingly, they reopened the Pink Palace two decades after featuring it in an episode of “South Park,” which propelled it to international fame. Stone and Parker drew from their experiences for a recent episode where Cartman reopens a hot dog stand, inspired by the Coney Island Boardwalk in Bailey.
Over the past year, the owners have made adjustments to various aspects of Casa Bonita, from the timing of shows to food service, as more guests have visited the establishment. Stone mentioned that Casa Bonita currently serves 11,000 to 12,000 diners per week.
“We thought we needed a couple weeks to figure that out — and we needed a solid year,” Parker explained.
Parker likened the experience to staging a Broadway show in that the owners couldn’t have predicted certain challenges until they saw how all the components worked together in real time. Stone and Parker made their theater debut in 2011 with “The Book of Mormon,” but coordinating Casa Bonita was “way more difficult,” they said.
“It’s like putting on a Broadway show that’s also a restaurant,” Parker said.
“In some ways, it was we’re restoring something, so you go, ‘OK there is a form and a template,’ but it was less of a template than we thought,” Stone added. “Theater is a well-worn art form and Casa Bonita, there’s only one in the world like that.”
Despite the challenges, the owners have been heartened by the positive feedback. Stone noted that the response from guests has been overwhelmingly favorable. Surprisingly, many adults have made reservations and chosen to dine without children, showcasing the strong nostalgic connection to Casa Bonita.
“There’s so much nostalgia around the place that a lot of that goodwill we’re feeling isn’t all our doing. It’s just restoring something and a connection to the past,” Stone said.
Tips for Securing a Reservation
Even as reservations open to the public, demand is expected to be high. Stone mentioned that Casa Bonita has already served 500,000 guests. With over 900,000 addresses on Casa Bonita’s email list, many long-time fans may still be waiting for their chance. Those who received invitations to purchase tickets via email can continue to make reservations until September 30.
Furthermore, individuals who signed up for the newsletter will have the opportunity to join a “founders club” with exclusive benefits such as priority access to reservations and events, a personalized membership card, and discounts at the Casa Bonita Mercado, both online and in-person.
Local enthusiasts eager to secure a table are advised to consider dining in small groups, even as small as two people. This is because there are limited large tables that tend to fill up quickly.
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“You could never build Casa Bonita today the way it is. With fire codes and whatever, they would never let you build it like that with so many nooks and crannies,” Parker said. “It also made it so there are no large tables. I think we have two 10-tops in the entire restaurant. There’s tons of two-tops and four-tops that will be empty a lot, and it’s not a matter of let’s put these two tables together. No, because there’s a giant piece of rock right here you can’t.”
Many small tables offer excellent views of the cliff diving show, which Parker described as one of his favorite attractions to revamp “from kitschy crappy to kitschy classy.” This transformation involved enhancing sound and lighting near the 30-foot indoor waterfall, creating new routines, and sourcing specific 1970s-era swimsuits to maintain the authentic vibe.
“From moment one, we were like that’s the new Casa Bonita. Everything needs to come up to that level,” Parker said of the revamped dive show. “It’s still silly and fun and whatever, but it’s treated with respect and that’s what we had to bring everything up to.”
As Casa Bonita celebrates its 50th year, Stone and Parker aim to maintain operational efficiency while introducing seasonal and holiday elements to the venue. They expressed gratitude for their fans’ patience while committing to ongoing enhancements to elevate the guest experience.
“We don’t have any details about it, but we’re trying to spread it out and make this 50th year kind of memorable, maybe start some traditions that continue,” Stone said.
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