It was a Monday coming off a weekend out of town and a late soccer practice.
With no time — or desire, or food in the fridge — to cook at home, I sent my husband to get takeout while I stayed at the elementary school to watch our son kick a soccer ball around.
I sent him to the new Mazatlan Restaurant that opened recently in downtown Everett at Pacific and Rucker avenues.
He described the new restaurant as having a nice ambiance — colorful and cozy and with a separate full bar. He did say the parking was oddly placed behind the building, but it was safe and close.
He said the service was friendly and provided by a lovely waitress who helped him decide what to order.
I’m glad she did because she came up with some excellent selections.
I got the house asada burrito ($15.29), which was made with beef. You can also get chicken or fish.
This was a high-quality burrito and I also liked that it wasn’t messy. It wasn’t slathered with a bunch of salsa or smothered in a layer of cheese.
The flavors of the rice, beans and beef got to stand on their own. As a result, the tender and tasty beef really stood up to a main stage performance.
The dish came with lettuce, pico de gallo, ranchero cheese and avocado slices and a huge jalapeno pepper, if you are into that sort of thing. Definitely plenty of food.
My husband ordered the borrego ($13.99), an impressive marinated lamb shank that was almost fall-off-the-bone tender. The lamb was delivered in a marinade that packed a bit too much punch for me but was delicious for those, like my husband, who are looking for a kick.
There was pico de gallo, sliced avocado and rancho beans.
Again, it was enough food that we put some in the fridge for later.
Besides, we wanted to save room for dessert.
The flan at Mazatlan was sinfully good: creamy and well-made with no air bubbles and a smooth, rich, not dense, consistency, topped with a sweet, sticky sauce. It’s the kind of thing you want to eat for breakfast but you know you shouldn’t.
The Mazatlan menu has a kids’ section that offers rice and beans, french fries, or your choice of taco, enchilada, tostada or burrito ($4.99) or a hot dog ($3.99). Those with peanut allergies beware: There is peanut butter in the enchilada sauce.
My son enjoyed the side of crisp churros we ordered. These are the equivalent of American doughnuts: fried dough covered in sugar and cinnamon.
This take-out test of Mazatlan made me want to go there and try another of their vast selection, only this time brought to me on a big, hot, heavy plate while I’m sipping a cold beer or a margarita.
Theresa Goffredo: 425-339-3424; goffredo@heraldnet.com.
Mazatlan Restaurant at Everett
1325 Pacific Ave., Everett, 425-404-3084
Specialty: Mexican
Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
Vegetarian options: Yes.
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