Mazatlan II
Heading south on 27th Street in Lincoln, Nebraska near the intersection
with Superior Street sits one of my all-time favorite Mexican restaurants. The restaurant located on the east side of
the road is called Mazatlan II, and it has a sister restaurant named Mazatlan
in south Lincoln. The restaurant is
located in a newly built strip mall whose architectural theme is reminiscent of
Tetris. There are large different
colored square patterns dispersed along the street facing side of the
strip-mall. Mazatlan II is located in
between a tanning salon and a bank, which should bring in a lot of customers
but the four other food/beverage establishments here no doubt affect business. 
It
seems like the business here is steady but never very busy, I cannot remember
ever having to wait, whether for lunch or dinner. The bar greets patrons on the right as they
walk into a tidy and colorful little restaurant which smells of tortillas and a
multitude of spicy sauces. There is a
small waiting area to the left with the bathrooms sitting behind the bar and
host station. Usually you will be
greeted by one or two extremely friendly waiters, Ramon is the younger stout
one and Enrique is the older man with a raspy voice. To the left of the bathrooms and behind the
host area sits the dining room. There
are four long tables for larger groups located in the middle and booths
surrounding the perimeter of the dining area.
Kitchen doors break up the booths near the host station and a playfully
constructed wooden roof sits over each booth.
No matter where you sit the smells, sounds, and tastes are
incredible. Delicious chips and salsa
are handed to you as fast as you can eat them before your entrée selection
requires full attention. 
Yet for
me the reason this place is so special is because it has become somewhat of a
family gathering place. My family lives
spread out across the state of Nebraska, some close others hours away. It started probably five years ago when we
happened upon Mazatlan II after a Husker game and we were promptly seated and
well fed. Now every time my stepdad
comes to Lincoln there is no question where everyone is meeting for
dinner. My brother-in-law is even quite
good friends with a few of the waiters.
I love this place not because of their food, though it is good, I love
it because it synonymous with good times and people I love. Mazatlan with is quick service and friendly
staff has become an extension of our home kitchen table, a place where we can
all still unite over a good meal.
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