Customers will probably know they will not go away hungry when the complimentary load of freshly baked bread arrives. This is the type of white bread that impressed me more for its freshness than its flavor, but compared to most restaurants this was enough.

Bennett's rotisserie roast chicken is the specialty of Lottinvilles

The one dish that has always been reputed to be Lottinvilles' specialty is Bennett's Rotisserie Roast Chicken, a slow cooked half or whole chicken with garlic and rosemary. Although it came with the bones intact, this was not an issue when I tried to eat it with a knife and fork since the meat practically fell off the bone before I could even touch it. I would say if you want that last ten percent of meat you will have to resort to eating it with your hands, but otherwise this was chicken fit for a "civilized" and upscale restaurant (all of it was very good, though, including the part I could not cut off with a fork). Somehow I really liked the idea of using my fingers to eat the food at "Cascata," so it was a very good experience.

Side dishes with the chicken were Mashed Potatoes with garlic and Corn Pudding. I am big on green vegetables, and was disappointed that none were served. I thought both of the vegetables were OK, though, considering that they seemed to be concentrating on providing good flavors rather than providing customers with a "balanced" meal from all the food groups.

One of the employees said the hardest part of the move to the new restaurant was bringing the cooker for the rotisserie chicken, since it is quite large. Obviously, though, customers are very happy this was done. Steaks and ribs are cooked over pecan wood at Lottinvilles, and I think this is part of an effort to give customers food that is a little different than is found at the average restaurant.

My first visit to the old "log cabin" restaurant was prompted by an old menu my family had that listed BBQ king salmon, but I found out upon arriving that it had changed to Atlantic salmon (i.e. farm raised). The current menu states that they serve "Pasqual's Grilled Fresh Salmon," but I do not know what type of salmon is used. I think if they used king salmon, though, they would have to charge a higher price than is on the menu.

In order to try some seafood, though, I made a choice that I ended up regretting, the Sriracha Tuna Salad. One menu I saw listed it as "sushimi ahi tuna," and this was probably the first sign that I should not order it since I think it was supposed to be "sashimi" (sushi) style. The tuna was almost raw, and the waitress said this would be similar to the sushi served at Japanese restaurants. Instead it was similar to the rare tuna served at Lakeside Fish Grill (customers can specify how rare they want it at either restaurant), but I thought Lakeside did a much better job than Lottinvilles. A warning on the menu stated that "consuming raw or undercooked seafood may increase the risk of foodborne illness," and this did little to make this a more enjoyable experience. I know that at sushi restaurants, where the food is totally uncooked, the chefs are trained in preparing raw fish to minimize the bacteria contamination, and they serve ginger along with it to help ward off any ill effects. I did not suffer any ill effects from the tuna at Lottinvilles, so it was more than likely handled the way it should have been. I just thought something was amiss in the way it was prepared, because it did not have a good flavor.

I was able to taste the Blue Corn Chicken Enchiladas, and I thought they were quite good, although not as good as in New Mexico. The black beans gave them a nice twist. I was told that the Reuben sandwich was even better, although I did not try it.

The Tomato Basil Soup was a big hit--one of the best I've had.

Lottinvilles has a fairly large menu, although not when it comes to alternatives to beef or chicken (as I found out when I tried to order fish). I think the best strategy, though, is to order items for which Lottinvilles is known. Some restaurants can do everything well, and I think Lottinvilles does a few things well. At least now they have one of the most pleasant settings in the OKC metro, so you will feel as if you are in a "fine dining" restaurant.

The "log cabin" at 900 S. Kelly was the long time home of Lottinvilles

The prices are still comparable to many of Oklahoma City's "casual dining" restaurants, so it is still very affordable. The portion size was about right on the meals I have had, so I do not have any complaints about charging too much for food I end up having to take home.