Border Cafe

what im going to do here its not tolk abolt food but is something serious im filling discriminated by the manegement of this place I work in a restaurant bissenes end Im trying to get a job , i spolk to the maneger crisceni for some reason she didi not want to tolk to me in persan but she told me they not hiring but they have a saining diferent and i dont know if is because im black and imigrent she don t want to intervel me i hope it not but i dont know more

I've been going to Border Cafe since 1993. Affordable & tasty food. Great chips & salsa. Tons of refills. Addicted to shrimp & crawfish quesadilla. more

Pro: There must be something about this place given the long line that stretches outdoors on Friday and Saturday nights. The margaritas are great and the food is cheap and tasty. The parade of chips & salsa is never ending. I didn't even realize they served Cajun food. Without fail, I always order the enchiladas. I'm never disappointed! Con: They're strict about not seating you until your entire party is there and it's extremely crowded on Friday and Saturday nights. They do give you one of those beepers so you can wander around the Square a bit, but the wait is usually 45 min-1 hour. Mysteriously, this place is still always full of large groups. I'd rather just go here with a small group on a weeknight for a big margarita. Insider's tip: They offer you a side of jambalaya or rice & beans with your meal, but you can also request a generous portion of steamed vegetables or fried plantains as a side. Pros: great drinks Cons: long wait on weekends more

We looked around Harvard Sq. for a relaxing (affordable) place to eat and stumbled into the cafe. Packed with people which is usually a good sign. Prices very reasonable and service was quick and friendly. Cool atmosphere and wonderful food. Pros: great food, prices and service. The best we had in Boston. more

Ok so this is actually a review on the Border Cafe in Saugus (I haven't been to the one in Cambridge, but they're probably just the same). I love it here because the food is quality mexican with good space and atmosphere. The chips are perfectly cooked and warm when you get them, and the salsa is super tasty (and chunky, which is a must for me). I could just come here and eat the bottomless chips/salsa all night, with some margs or coronas of course. But the best dish is the half grilled chicken and half steak tacos, served on a sizzling skillet with perfect soft, warm tortillas in a bowl. The restaurant is also fairly inexpensive so it's great for a fun night out with friends or family, or for a more casual date. Pros: fun atmosphere, great mexican Cons: can get a little untidy, but it's authentic mexican style! more

Ah, Border Cafe. I love that somehow, though I'm sure you are always swamped in the kitchen, that your proteins are always cooked perfectly - my food always arrives piping hot at the table, any the chicken always had a great sear on the outside, but is perfectly juicy on the inside. Next, don't even get me started on the condiments/sauces! My favorites are the mango salsa - perfectly sweet mango cubes with just the right spicy/citrus-y bite to them, the perfectly sweet-spicy-garlicky chipotle lime glaze for the plantains, and the Cajun spiced marmalade, just to name a few. The tortilla chips here are not just a starter, they are a way of life - freshly fried throughout the day, they pair exceptionally well with the guacamole, which I would personally prefer a bit more on the chunky side, but that's just me. As far as downsides - there are not a lot of exciting vegetarian options here. Most of the choices are heavy on cheese and light on creativity. I also almost always get not-the-best service here. As soon as I sit down, the staff is always all over my group, asking in rapid fire succession what we want to eat and drink. While I know what I want as soon as I walk in the door, not everyone does. It gives off a sort of food factory, turn-and-burn kind of atmosphere. Later on in the meal, the staff is nowhere to be found, especially when I am looking for another drink or more condiments. And because they won't take reservations or even call-ahead seating, I just stay away on Friday and Saturday nights for any size group, and I don't bother taking more than 6 after 6pm any night. It's too tough to find a seat, and there's almost never space at the bar to sit and wait. Pros: Well-prepared proteins, freshly made tortilla chips Cons: Vegetarian options, service, no reservation policy more

I always order the same thing: Chicken Enchiladas Margarita's are awesome too!! more

I was so disappointed when I went there. First of all, ordered a Margaritta and the waiter insisted on seeing my ID, which I had left in my other purse back at my apt . A little rediculous because I'm far beyond the legal age and that was quite obvious. So my boyfriend walked back to the apt to pick up my ID for me (He's the only good part of this bad experience). As I'm waiting for his return, the waiter saw me waiting there for almost half an hour and never once asked if I would like to order any appitizers or another drink. I guess if you sit their alone you wont get any service. Pros: Its Mexican Atmosphere and Location Cons: Terrible Service and Worse Food more

This Harvard Square favorite offers delicious and inexpensive Mexican and Cajun food in a fun and lively environment. Students, tourists and families flock to this Southwestern-themed restaurant which is known for its gigantic frozen margaritas and large portions. The meal starts off right with a basket of warm tortilla chips and tangy salsa which are irresistible. The appetizers, including the chorizo with tomatoes, onions and poblano jack cheese; and the Cajun popcorn shrimp do not disappoint. And Border Cafe features an exhaustive menu that has something for everyone. Favorites include the sizzling chicken, beef or fish fajitas; the chicken guadalajara filled with red peppers and spinach; the shrimp and crawfish quesadilla; and the mesquite-grilled swordfish steak with Jalape?o butter. There is also a dazzling array of salads and a large vegetarian menu. Though far from highbrow and a bit noisy on weekend evenings, the Border Cafe offers good food and fun in the midst of Harvard Square?s more serious restaurants. more

For cheap Tex Mex and a cheap Margarita. This is the place! The border cafe has something for everyone including run of the mill Tex Mex and some interesting Cajun dishes too. This place will not break the bank either so expect to wait at the bar and enjoy a marg before dinner. On the weekends this spot is overrun with college students and locals who want to pull in the free chips and salsa by the pound! Don't miss the $5 Margarita, the fish tacos or the border chili! Pros: Cheap Eats Cons: Can be a bit of a wait and it gets LOUD! more

So, I accidentally left my credit card in the restaurant and immediately went back to retrieve it. For some unknown reason, the manager took it home, and I needed to talk to the other managers. At first, the first manager denied knowing any waitress who looked like my description, I showed him the bill with her name printed on it and he then changed his mind. Yet, he did not answer my question about the credit card although the waitress said that she had given the card to another manager. In the meantime, another manager somehow got involved, but had no clue what steps to take, and the first two managers simply disappeared for a while. I left the restaurant to return the next day. No phone call the next day, no voicemail about the credit card, no apologies, whatsoever. I had to go to the restaurant 3 times to retrieve the card finally! The managers are so disorganized, don't communicate with one another, and are simply rude. Not professional at all. more

Been twice and both times had very good experience. First time we had a wait of 15 minutes and the second time we were brought right to a table. I purposely chose to eat mexican the first time, burrito was OK, chips and salsa and margaritas were very good, service great. Second time through, we were seated promptly, served promptly, food right out of the oven, atmosphere is just right. I recommend highly. Pros: Service and price Cons: parking more

This last Saturday we were a party of 11. We reached the restaurant at around 9:15 pm. They gave us a buzzer and the manager at the door told us to wait for 30-45 min. We stayed at the bar until 10 pm. We asked for the status of our table. At this time we talked with the ?manager? (or someone who said he was in charge) and told us to wait for 15 minutes more. At about 10:20 pm we were told that we still had to wait 10-15min to get the table. Since he was very rude and we found unacceptable his excuse for making us waiting for that long and watching other people being sited (there were empty tables but they were separated and they could not put them together) I asked for a complain book or similar. At this point he became more aggressive, he laughed at us and he mentioned that they did not have such thing. I felt stupid since in many countries you can always ask for a complain book so I asked to talk to someone over him. He said there was no one over him (Andy Olson) so he gave me a personal card with the name of some man (Robert Murphy) who represents (probably) Border Cafe. More amazingly, 1 min later a younger man with a blue shirt told us he was the manager. I do not have words to describe ?this manager?. When I asked him to identify himself he only wrote his first name in the back of the card so I asked him to give me his full name, because there could be many ?Johns? in the restaurant. He answered me taking back the card and breaking it in two peaces in front of me and one of my friends. more

I have been coming to this restaurant for 4 years.Tthe food is pretty good and worth coming back for but the service, especially from the manager, has convinced me to never go back there again. I was sitting with friends and ordered my favorite meal and my wife forgot her ID so she couldn't get a drink. this is completely understandable why they refused to serve her a drink. what made it an unpleasant experience was when the manager came up to us and said ""move your drink away from her she keeps reaching for it and i don't have time to keep watching you."" Cons: SERVICE more

This has been my favorite restaurant for ten years. But as sad as it sounds I, a regular customer even after I moved to the west coast, had a major setback in what I think of the place. Pros: Great Fajitas Cons: Bad attitude, rude manager more

I've been to Border Cafe many times and I've always gotten my money's worth. The chips and salsa are really good and they give you huge portions of everything (from drinks to food) for relatively cheap. There's nothing particularly outstanding about the food, but it's good, and anyway - you're not paying loads of money for something fancy. I will say it's probably my favorite Tex-Mex place in Boston (though there don't seem to be too many to choose from). Other reviewers were right in saying that on weekends, it can get really loud and it's hard to hear the people you're sitting with. But it's a fun place with a lively atmosphere and my friends and I have always had a good time here. Plus, it's located in Harvard Square which is a nice area to roam around after a big meal. Pros: Food is good and comes in large portions Cons: Can be very loud during weekends. more

Food is excellent Tex-Mex and is the only place in Boston I've tried which makes 'authentic' margaritas... more

Food is excellent Tex-Mex and is the only place in Boston I've tried which makes 'authentic' margaritas that are comparable to ones I've had in Dal... more

Food is excellent Tex-Mex and is the only place in Boston I've tried which makes 'authentic' margaritas that are comparable to ones I've had in Dal... more

I love the fajitas and the margaritas. The atmosphere is fun, too, but the wait can be a little insane for... more