Tulsa, Oklahoma, home of Oral Roberts University is a sprawling city three and one half hours from Branson, MO and less than two hours from Oklahoma City on Interstate 44. Tulsa, the home of country and western superstar Roy Clark, is known primarily for its oil conglomerates, but one of its buried treasures is the Casa Bonita Restaurant (there is also a Casa Bonita in Denver, Colorado).

Although not heavily advertised, it is VERY popular with the locals, serving approximately 10,000 guests each week.

Unique Atmosphere

Casa Bonita is so much more than just another Mexican restaurant. The decor is basically Mexican Atmospheric - in other words, you feel like you are walking through a Mexican villa - stars twinkle in the dark blue ceiling, a tree limb hangs over your head while in line for your food, an erupting volcano rumbles and glows on the horizon every 30 minutes, and in the Acapulco Room, a 30 foot waterfall cascades gently into a lighted pool. The Denver location even has cliff divers right in the restaurant!

Dining rooms run the gamut from booths in caves to wrought iron patio furniture in the courtyard to formal Mexican eating areas - each with its own unique decor.

Built in 1971 at a cost of nearly $4,000,000, this facility boasts over 30,000 square feet of charm.

Family Fun

Casa Bonita caters to children - and to the child in everyone. The numerous entertainment activities include a puppet theater, a life sized costume character named Bananas, and an arcade whose prominent feature is a Victorian era carousel. Strolling mariachi musicians even strum around the courtyard serenading patrons.

The Routine

Entering the restaurant, you immediately feel as though you are at a "Disney style" theme park. You walk down corridors, twisting and turning until your final destination - the hostess station where you place your order and are given a ticket. You proceed around yet another corner where you enter what looks like a cafeteria serving line - you get a tray and napkin wrapped silverware, then stand in line as the plates come out from the kitchen - piping hot - and placed on your tray. You move down the line further and get your drink, then on to the end of the line where you are taken to your table.

While not the most elegant way of dining out, it is certainly one of the most efficient and, considering the number of guests coming through the facility each week, it is the most practical. It also allows the prices at Casa Bonita to stay inexpensive (and face it, you're not really coming here for the food anyway).

Start your meal off with either a Strawberry Senorita or Chocolate Bandito (both non-alcoholic). Beer and wine are also offered. There are two all-you-can-eat specials: beef or chicken deluxe, which includes a beef or chicken taco, two beef enchiladas with chile sauce or two chicken enchiladas with sour cream sauce, a cheese enchilada, Mexican rice, refried beans, chile con queso, guacamole, sour cream, chips, salsa and homemade sopapillas and honey. Other menu items include chicken, beef or combination fajitas, a taco platter, an enchilada platter, a casa chilada platter ( two beef burritos smothered with beef chili and chili con queso), or an enchilada and taco platter. Casa Bonito also features a lovely taco salad, a nacho salad or a dinner salad. For the gringos in your group there's country fried steak or a fried chicken breast. Of course, there's also a children's menu.

Dessert consists of homemade sopapillas and honey, free with every meal - and served piping hot. In my opinion, this is the best part of the food Casa Bonita has to offer. To order your sopapillas, more of your all-you-can-eat entrée, or anything else for that matter, simply raise the little flag that stands on each table to get your server's attention. The kids love this.

Food prices are very moderate. While not gourmet fare, the food is good, always hot and fresh and nicely presented, albeit cafeteria style. The real charm of Casa Bonita, however, isn't the food, but a combination of all the elements - decor, entertainment, food, and a price that all adds up to a great time and great value for your money.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
We have recently learned that, since this article was written, Casa Bonita in Tulsa, OK has closed its doors forever. We keep the article here for those who to see how it used to be, but please don't plan a visit.

HOWEVER, the Denver, Colorado Caso Bonita still seems to be going strong -- same theme, different locale. There are some differences in the attractions, though.

• Visit the Casa Bonita Denver website.