Mexican restaurant options in Bowling Green have expanded by one.

From the outdoor seating with umbrella-provided shade to the swirling water fountains, El Mazatlan Restaurant & Grill’s fourth Bowling Green location is a different dining experience than the three others.

The restaurant at 300 Cumberland Trace Road is its largest yet, manager Francisco Canarena said.

El Mazatlan opened its eighth overall location with a ribbon-cutting Wednesday by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Readers may remember the site as the old Catfish House, but what they will find inside and out is the end product of a yearlong renovation. The outside of the building now sports a Spanish-style tile roof and the inside lobby contains a large tube aquarium. 

The building is across the road from The Pawn Company and Harley-Davidson of Bowling Green.

Before the ribbon-cutting, those attending got a building tour. The restaurant has been open for about two weeks following a soft opening, Canarena said. It will employ 50 and is about 6,000 square feet with seating outside for about 100 and inside for just under 400 patrons.

Canarena said business has been good since the soft opening. 

“The food is fantastic and the service is exceptional,” chamber ambassador Skip Wirth told those gathered in the restaurant’s bar area. “They have been open for two weeks and my daughter has already been here three times.”

Approaching the building from the parking lot anchored by the trademark El Mazatlan sign, a patron sees two separate outside seating areas with a combination of chair seating and benches. One fountain along the right outside wall contains several oblong artworks to catch the water. On the other side, the water cascades into a large bowl.

Inside past the aquarium is the largest dining room with a shimmering design on its ceiling. Patrons also can choose two other different sized dining areas or the spacious bar equipped with big screen televisions.

The restaurant is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday; from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday; and from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sunday, Canarena said.

He noted there are some new entrees, including a ribeye steak salad, salmon and ribs, Gulf shrimp recipes and a new fajita pizza.

In another business matter this week, the Kentucky Labor Cabinet announced that it has collected $118,337.13 in unpaid wages in October.

— Follow business reporter Charles A. Mason on Twitter @BGDNbusiness or visit bgdailynews.com.