Sabres fans are piled around the bar, drooling over the 50 inch plasma televisions picturing the faces of Ryan Miller and Thomas Vanek. The wait for a table is one hour and you can almost hear the money rolling in.
This cozy restaurant and tequila bar sits in the heart of the Elmwood strip offering diversified Mexican cuisine, steaks and seafood. But that's just the beginning. They propose over 30 different kinds of tequila and their selection of frozen drinks goes beyond what the most advanced blender can concoct.
"I've been coming here since I moved to Buffalo three years ago," said Jackie Malone, a resident of Buffalo. "It's a great spot to meet co-workers after work for a drink or to watch the Sabres play. The food is also amazing."
The environment presents a complete Mexican feel with avocados and cactuses everywhere you look. The bar area is constructed of wood with a pool table, dartboard, and card machine off to the side. The deer head above one wall even seems to be joining in on the party with a red straw sombrero.
The dining area is a compact yet comfy brick-walled carriage house that consists of about 13 tables. Two bull skulls hanging on the wall add to the Mexican vibe.
"Weekends are always crazy around here," said Callie, a server at Cozumel. "It's a great atmosphere and also a great place to work."
The low candle lighting and the use of dark red, mustard and forest green colors create a perfect atmosphere for dining. There is even a "Lotta Hotta Hot Gauge Tamale" hanging on the wall for those that are curious to see how much their mouths can handle before they ignite.
Cozumel's has one of the largest menus around, offering cactus strips, quesadillas, Ensaladas, wraps, burgers, fajitas, tacos and chimichangas. There is even a place here for vegetarians.
"My absolute favorite dinner here that I get every time is the barbeque chicken sadilla," said Jean Farrow, an Amherst resident and Cozumel regular.
How do crab cakes stuffed with Rio Verde sauce sound? Or how about the Pollo Frito - a pan-seared chicken breast topped with potatoes and sausage smothered in a Mexican tomato sauce?
Something is sure to strike your fancy at Cozumel's Grill because not only do they offer more than simply Mexican food (they even have chicken wings) but the prices are extremely reasonable.
"Someone can easily come in here for dinner and a drink and not spend more than $15," Farrow said.
Appetizers are in the $4 to $10 range. Sandwiches are between $7 and $12 and entrees price anywhere from $12 to $22. Anything in the $22 range is something a little on the fancier side, like balsamic New York strip or salmon.
For those of age and seeking the taste of a good drink, Cozumel's has it covered. A Cozumel Cooler is an original consisting of a blend of absolute Mandarin orange juice and a secret ingredient. The bar also brews two of their own original beers.
"I love it here. I started two weeks ago but everyone is really nice and so far it seems like a great place to work," said Marisol, a server.
One last thing that makes Cozumel stand out from the average bar is the patio out front made up of deck furniture, pole lanterns and huts that can make the customer forget they are in Buffalo.
This bar and restaurant is an excellent choice for any dining experience, especially during a warm summer night. The bar stays open until 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 11 p.m. every other day of the week.
"I would recommend Cozumel's to anyone that is looking for a nice evening out with friends or a good dinner with the family," Farrow said. "It's unique in the way that it can appeal to many different kinds of people."
