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Border Café
Categories: Restaurants Tex-Mex Restaurants Cajun/Creole Tex-Mex, Cajun/Creole [Edit]
32 Church StCambridge, MA 02138
Neighborhood: Harvard Square
(617) 864-6100
- Nearest Transit:
-
Brattle St @ Massachusetts Ave (86)
Massachusetts Ave @ Holyoke St - Holyoke Gate (1, 68, 69)
Harvard Upper Busway @ Red Line (71, 72, 72/75, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 86, 96)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 1 am
Fri-Sat 11 am - 2 am
Sun 12 pm - 12 am
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
926 reviews for Border Café
Review Highlights
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"This place is a godsend in Harvard Square." In 95 reviews -
"The chips and salsa they bring you are totally addictive." In 221 reviews -
"Love the queso dip and the corn and black bean empanadas." In 12 reviews
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- A Yelpy Insight: Vegetarians go nuts for this spot. See more places they like.
926 reviews in English
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Review from Caroline M.
Boston, MA
4/13/2012
Border is great! Anytime on the weekend there is usually a wait, but it goes by fast and once you are seated, you are given chips and salsa and friendly, quick service.
The prices are great, especially considering the amount of delicious food you are given, almost always leave with leftovers.
Another plus, I had a friend who worked here and he said the kitchen is AMAZINGLY clean and that all of the staff are very sanitary, which is always nice to hear.
Fun place, great food. -
Review from Lia B.
Cambridge, MA
5/20/2012
I used to come here about once a week with friends because Border Café is open so late, but we stopped going because it just wasn't worth it. The food is consistently greasy and strange. The music is loud, and people at the bar get rowdy sometimes.
The decor is kind of cool, and if you're looking for place to eat past midnight, the late-night menu is actually better than the dinner menu.
I probably won't be back. -
Review from Jim L.
Waltham, MA
5/10/2012
I have a theory about Tex Mex places -- never go to a place based on friends that recommend the Margaritas. The food never lives up to the review, because the person making the recommendation was too focused on the drinks to notice that the food sucked.
So it is with Border Cafe. Having spent seven years in Cambridge, this was a de facto go-to place, but the food was consistently sub-par -- not very flavorful and overcooked, two bad tastes that taste worse together. It wasn't terrible, just not nearly as good as you would expect from a place that is always so crowded. I'm sure the Margaritas were good (after all, we kept going back), but man cannot live on sweetened tequila alone. -
Review from Gina B.
4/23/2012
I live in Texas and visit Boston fairly often, so I'm coming in with a bias toward good Tex-Mex. Border Cafe isn't bad -- for Massachusetts, it's probably some of the best you'll find. Their salsa is fresh, the margaritas strong. Sometimes that's all you need.
The last time I went, I ordered cajun food, it being crawfish season and all. I got the crawfish etouffee, and while it was not the best etoufee I've ever had, I enjoyed it. My boyfriend ordered the Gulf Coast Enchiladas -- enchiladas stuffed with crawfish and shrimp and topped with creme and crab meat sauce. They were delicious but after three bites, they were too rich for him to finish.
Our service at the table was great, but the hostess wouldn't seat us with an incomplete party. While it was pretty busy, I still don't like this rule. It's incredibly frustrating to see other parties get seated before you, only because your friends are 10 minutes behind. Also, they play a lot of crappy, mainstream country music, which doesn't jive with Tex-Mex/Cajun vibe. They should look into a more authentic regional music selection (and thus not offend any true Southerners...) -
Review from Ian C.
Cambridge, MA
5/21/2012
Border Cafe is a lot of fun! I used to come here every Sunday because they were the only late night place with a decent food selection.
Their food tends to be on the greasy side, but if you make it in time for their not-late-night menu, you'll be able to get better (less greasy) food. Their chips are delicious (albeit a bit salty). I'm excited to go back and have something from their normal dinner menu. -
Review from Chris C.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good basic Mexican at a super cheap price point, though the gumbo would ge great if it wasn't super over-salted. Friendly and attentive device And fun decor.
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Review from Mike M.
Watertown, MA
4/13/2012
One of my all time favorite spots. Doesn't matter which location, I love them all.
I been going to Border Cafe for about 8 years now and have never had a bad experience there. Gets a little crazy and hectic during the dinner hours on a Friday or Saturday but what place doesn't? Couple drinks will keep you busy until your seated.
From the service, to the drinks to the chips and dishes, it's all superb. The chips and salsa alone make it worth the trip. When they serve them nice and hot and covered in salt with salsa, it's quiet the treat. I've had countless baskets before even getting to my dish.
The drinks are all great. They have great flavored Margs and they always seem to be well poured, which I am a huge fan of. Melon Margarita is my favorite. The Sangria is good, but not great. Homemade Sangria is the only way to go if you ask me. They are decently priced to at around $6.
The food is great. My favorite dishes are the Cajun Burger, and the Blacken Chicken Salad.
Cajun Burger is great, rubbed in Cajun Spices w Poblano Jack Cheese. Being Irish I find the least spiciest things spicy. My date made fun of me last week b/c she took a bite and said it wasn't the least bit spicy. Whatever. The Blackened Chicken Salad is also a great dish. The chicken is perfectly marinated with a nice spice.
The tacos are also very good. The seasonings they mix with their meats are very good.
So if your in the Harvard Square, Burlington, Route 1 area, be sure to check out Border Cafe. Good food, and cheap! -
Review from jun k.
Updated - 4/6/2012
Wow.
So,
Came here in a group of 5 around 10pm on a Thurs night. Place was not full, there were at least 4 tables open. The hostess had so much attitude.
"Are you guys here for food or just drinks? If it's just drinks you have to go to the bar. It's our policy."
"What? really?"
"It's our policy.. you can talk to the manager if you have problems with it."
"Okay fine, we'll order food. Are appetizers okay?"
"No, it has to be food items."
"Okay fine."
"How much food are you going to order? It has to be one per person. Sorry, it's our policy."
Are you serious? Okay, i get that it's policy, but did you need to be so rude? Also, it's not like you're super packed - there were so many empty tables. And what are you, the food nazi? I've come here before with a friend and split 1 quesadilla b/c we weren't hungry.
Border, I'll still go to get my chips fix if i need to, but please, you're not THAT great. I do not need the attitude.
We ended up going to Uno's and it was PHENOMENALLY better. http://www.yelp.com/bi...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/20/2012
Easily one of my favorite places to go to.. especially after class or whatever.
I must admit, when I… Read more »
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Review from Kate L.
Chelsea, MA
5/21/2012
Amazing chicken quesadilla as always. NEVER FAILS to be unreal and amazing! Great service and cheap. BUT... I brought a hot tea from Starbucks in b/c it was freezing in the AC and they told me I couldn't come in with it. I was pretty annoyed. I mean, obvi it isn't alcohal and I am a well-dressed adult not some poor person who won't get a drink b/c I have my own tea. ANYWAY, I talked to the manager and to no avail, had to leave it at the front desk. ANNOYED! But will never stop eating there b/c the foods amaze!
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Review from Ami G.
4/8/2012
My husband and I recently visited Cambridge and took a stroll around Harvard Square before landing at my husband's absolute favorite Mexican restaurant ever, Border Cafe. He too went to undergrad and grad school in Cambridge, so a quick lunch at Border Cafe was high on his list in order to satisfy his long-standing Mexican food craving.
Border Cafe is always busy, no matter what time of day. We arrived around 12:30 and it was crowded, but we managed to sneak in and grab a table without a wait. I perused the menu, unsure of exactly what my options were for a good lunch salad. I was happy to see that the menu had its own vegetarian section!
Our waiter was fantastic! As soon as we sat down, a large basket of warm tortilla chips and house-made salsa were placed in front of us. I passed on the chips and salsa this time, since it was a bit early in my day to stuff my face with them, but my husband had no hesitation in diving in!
As he did that, I admired the condiments. I was tickled by the Crystal hot sauce- I have never seen that brand before!
I also took a glance around to appreciate the festive and eclectic decorations!
I decided to take a vegetarian salad off the menu and tweak it a bit so it would be just right for me. Another reason I hearted our waiter was when I told him my order was a bit complicated, he told me not to worry a bit. After I delivered my order, he told me that was easy! I love when waitstaff are so open to accommodating fussy guests!
I ordered their vegetarian black bean salad without the flour shell it typically comes in, without cheese, without mushrooms, and without dressing. I asked for an extra side of salsa to use as dressing instead. With all of those alterations, I ended up with exactly what I wanted: black beans, salsa, guacamole, tomatoes, lettuce, red onion, and green peppers. Vegan, gluten-free, and delicious!
Since their salsa is amazing, and their guac is equally stellar, this salad was packed with spicy Mexican flavor. My husband did not believe me when I said salsa was a bomb salad topper, so I offered him a bite to test it out. He was, to say the least, blown away! He finally caved in and expressed to me how it clicked for him with that bite- he now "gets" why I use salsa as salad dressing, especially along with avocado. As I have always said, he too admitted it tasted like the inside of his beloved Chipotle burrito.
Border Cafe was wonderful about crafting a meal for menu that I was happy with. Again, it never hurts to ask for what you want, because you just might get it, and it just might be delicious!
This is an excerpt from my blog. . . for photos and more visit www.dashofcurry,com -
Review from p'raka ..
Brighton, MA
5/8/2012
Normally I would have given this place 4 stars for just being cheap and tasty mexican. The five stars is from my recent experience here. I went with a friend who has several dietary restrictions and not only was the waiter extremely patient and friendly, he also sent over the manager who spent time going over the menu options that were available for my friend. I really was not expecting that level of accommodation and it just blew me away. I've been coming here since my college days and I'm glad they seem to be getting more awesome as time goes on!
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Review from Ethan A.
Boston, MA
3/26/2012
I was pleasantly surprised with this place. A quick ten minute wait on a busy Saturday night was fine, and out server was great. He took initiative to ask about our allergies when we order menu items slightly customized, and looked into the prepwork behind the food to ensure they met the requirements we had. Glasses were refilled right as they were emptied. Food arrived quickly and freshly prepared.
I was hesitant because the crowd seems a little broski for me, but it was a bit more diverse. Its also hard for me to find a "mexican" vegetarian dish without cheese, but that was also not a problem. While not my standard fare, I'm glad to know I can rely on this place should the mood strike for tex mex in Harvard Square. -
Review from Darci N.
Somerville, MA
2/29/2012
Service: Expecting a wait on a Saturday night, I was content at the quoted 40 minute wait. Happy to belly up to the bar for a long awaited margarita, the 40-ish minutes passed pretty quickly. I'm not a big fan of the set up for seating though - we were given a buzzer, it rang, and then we were given a piece of paper with a sticker on it and sent downstairs? From there we had to wait for our table to get cleared before we were seated and moved out of the staircase.
Our server was noticeably rushed, and table-time was minimal. No big complaints in terms of service, it just felt as rushed as he looked. He did manage to slap down some chips & salsa right away for us though, so kudos to him.
Drink: 1 star. I am admittedly a bit of a snob when it comes to tequila/margaritas, so I was highly disappointed at the minimal and cheap selection of tequilas and in the overall poor quality of margaritas. I asked for mine "on the rocks" (which she said was an option!) and she proceeded to dump frozen mix out of the blender into a glass with ice... um. Quality aside, it didn't taste terrible, and I learned my lesson - don't believe what people tell you about the margaritas at Border Cafe.
Food: Chips & Salsa on the table - automatic star. I'm a huge fan of places that recognize you may have been waiting and get you something fast. I've had better chips, but you get what you pay for. I was starving, so I ate with no complaints. We started with the guacamole, which was mediocre, and I had a vegetable quesadilla. The food portions are enormous, so definitely go hungry. In general though, nothing to write home about in terms of flavor. -
Review from Glenn N.
Cambridge, MA
3/14/2012
I am very picky about my Mexican cuisine. After growing up in the Midwest on Taco Bell and ChiChi's, I lived for several years in the Southwest and got a taste for truly authentic food. I don't go for the bland refried beans with ground beef seasoned with generic chili powder slopped on top of a pile of tortilla chips. By no means is Border Cafe amazing Tex-Mex fare, but it's a step above alot of places I've found in Boston. I have tried pretty much everything on the menu and often go for the swordfish and mango salsa. It's more of an east coast take on Southwestern food and I just flat out love it.
The atmosphere is very frat-boy at times which can take me back. So it can be crowded and noisy. The service has always been quick and friendly.
I give this place four stars because it's convenient, has decent enough food and is a really good spot to meet up with friends. -
Review from Ann C.
San Jose, CA
3/31/2012
It's magical in my tummy!
I love this place because it's good for both vegetarians and meat eaters! They have a whole page with vegetarian listings, so you don't have to scan the menu and read every description only to find out the beans are made with meat. I like places like this because then I don't have to feel like "the vegetarian" and my omnivore friends can order what they want. Everyone is happy!
The free chips come warm and crunchy. The salsa isn't my favorite, but that's a personal thing and I definitely eat it happily anyways. I also love their huge cups for fountain drinks so I don't have to bug my waitress for refills.
Obviously I can't recommend meat dishes, but my boyfriend loves the Cajun food. So far he's tried the Blackened Catfish, Catfish New Orleans, and Crawfish Etouffee and has said "Oh man," with a huge smile after every first bite. He says they make the fish meat "soft." All the plates came with flavorful rice, beans, and a piece of THE BEST CORNBREAD EVER (see description below).
For vegetarians, I highly recommend the corn and black bean empanadas, they are DELICIOUS. Unfortunately, they have cheese in them so they aren't vegan. They are full of protein and come with a nice red pepper sauce, along with rice and beans. You get four, but they're packed with protein and will probably fill you up after just two. You know what that means? LEFTOVERS! Two meals for $7. Also, a waitress recommended the corn bread and OH MAN it has a dreamy soft consistency like cake! It's also somehow crispy on the outside... I absolutely love it! I've also had the Black bean tostada salad (or something like that, I don't remember the exact name). It doesn't even need dressing and comes with a scoop of guacamole on top. It also comes in a huge, beautiful tostada shell, but is hard to take home/eat as a left over.
I love the eclectic, vibrant feeling, especially downstairs. I definitely would recommend coming for lunch or an early dinner, especially if you have kids and don't like a loud/bar atmosphere, as it sometimes gets upstairs at night.
Oh, and did I mention the prices are incredible?!
Love it. I'm devastated that I didn't discover this place sooner because I'm moving soon. Also, I'm looking forward to tomorrow just for eating my leftovers! -
Review from Matt H.
Boston, MA
3/17/2012
This is what Chili's strides to be... Unapologetic classic tex-mex complete with the cheesy decor... It's existence is an anomaly in Boston. I've been here 30+ times and always leave happy and overly full (with leftovers).
Jump on the catfish fajitas or the gauchos chicken... You're welcome. -
Review from Celia Z.
3/4/2012
It's shocking that this place has nearly 900 reviews; after all, besides its descent prices, loose atmosphere and two-story space, there really isn't much special otherwise.
The free nachos were straight out of the fryer, but to me, they lacked taste and seasoning. The guacamole was good but then again, who isn't a fan of guac? Have any event with avocados in the dining hall, and it's gone in minutes. The fajitas (I got the one with blackened chicken) was tasty but then again, I usually am not too picky about my fajitas. When it's warm and sizzling and placed right in front of you with a beautiful plate of condiments, who can resist, even if the taste is just above average?
We went around lunchtime and were in and out within an hour. On a Friday or Saturday night, better have reservations or expect an half hour wait. It's a convenient, inexpensive dinner and drinks place, but that doesn't justify the glorified nature of food these days. Sadly, another Harvard Square restaurant missing the mark. -
Review from Fadi Q.
Earth, TX
2/19/2012
I haven't been there for a long time but I used to go there frequently when I lived in Boston
First comment about other bad reviews
#1 expect the wait on a busy weekend
#2 why do you even bring a kid to this place on a weekend night? I think that's bad parenting
#3 if you have super long wait, go outside and walk around for a while
#4 oh you're a fan of the place and give 2 out of 5 stars for one not so great experience? you're being unfair
#5 for anybody giving 1 out of 5 stars, the place needs to fall on your head before you give such a low rating
ok done with my rant and now for the good stuff
#1 fresh made chips and salsa for everybody no extra charge, just for that you should definitely check this place out
#2 the crowded college atmosphere is great for the young people
#3 the margaritas are much fun, I'm not pro about them so not sure if they're top notch but everybody i used to go with loved them even with some of my picky friends
#4 food is excellent, maybe not everything on the menu is great but we've tried from the fish, fajitas to burgers and I was never disappointed
#5 for a busy place like this, the pricing is just right -
Review from MESSY L.
Nashua, NH
4/11/2012
Spectacular tasting food with unbeatable prices -especially considering the location.
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Review from Rob M.
Framingham, MA
4/24/2012
good burger fun place but never seen a busier place same with their other two locations tried to come at 7 and couldnt get a table had to come back after 10. Tried to bring my fiancee here twice and cant get a table always an hour wait.
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Review from Matt T.
Boston, MA
3/2/2012
I found it strange that I was battling between a 3 & 4 star review for the Border Cafe since I love going to the place so damn much. The chips & salsa are the tits, and the food is really good and well priced overall. I've frequented the Harvard Square & Burlington locations quite often and will continue to go back frequently.
I suppose when I think about packaging it altogether though, the service truly is sub-par for the most part. Both locations are quite large, so it feel like the wait staff may be a bit on the short end in terms of service. I'm pretty big on the service aspects of a place, but again, I love the food, so I'm going to let it slide.
The biggest drawback has to be the weak margaritas. You get one of those giant, thick glasses and think it's going to be a fountain of joy, but just ends up being 1 splash of tequila mixed in with a high concentration of mix & ice.
That said, I do truly love the enchiladas & fajitas. They're delicious. You will have a fun time if you look back and think of two or three things that would have most likely increased the experience overall. -
Review from Lauren E.
Updated - 2/5/2012
I've been a faithful fan of Border Cafe for the past couple of years. Such a fan, that I have given this place 5 stars on two separate occasions. So it upsets me that I have to write this review, but I felt the service we had tonight was inexcusable.
My bf and I went here for an early evening dinner (before the Super Bowl started), and the place was nearly empty. Even though no one was there, we felt rushed tonight.
Our server was Samantha H. (according to the name on the receipt). After she got us our drinks, she asked us if we were ready to order. I said we needed a couple of more minutes.
When she came back, instead of asking us if we were ready, Samantha seemed rushed and asked us, "So what would you like?" I didn't think much of it then, because we were ready to order.
Later after I finished my enchiladas, there were tomatoes and lettuce leftover on the plate. I don't like tomatoes, so I pushed aside my plate to my bf (who was sitting perpendicular to me) because he wanted to finish the veggies. As he was picking on it, she came by and just grabbed the dish and left quickly without asking if we were done. What happened to asking if you're all set with your dinner??? Even if it appears someone is done, I thought it was common courtesy to ask. Guess not.
I'm all for fast service, but something about tonight we felt rushed. I would've been slightly more forgiving if it was a busy night, but the place was so empty.
I also had another separate incident at Border Cafe where our server forgot about us and no one came to our table for a good 10-15 minutes to take our order.
What happened to Border Cafe's service? I've had better experiences. I don't know if I'll be going here as often as I have in the past.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/29/2011
Yeah, this is THE place to go to for Mexican food in Harvard Square. Border Cafe is my safety spot… Read more »
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Review from Blair H.
1/13/2012 1 Check-in Here
Where else, in Harvard Square, can you sit down, have a decent meal (swordfish tacos) for $11, and have a beer for $4?
I see you have your hand up. Oh, you just have an itch?
Exactly. Nowhere. -
Review from Jon W.
Somerville, MA
3/16/2012
Margaritas are watery (and they use Triple Sec - which is revolting) and the food is unsanitary. I've seen cockroaches at this place, I hate the smell that emanates from your clothes after you've left, and the food isn't that good.
The worst thing I saw was during Christmas: there were dangling Christmas lights hanging from the ceiling scraping in the food that the servers were carrying over their heads to the patrons. I will never return here. -
Review from Michelle S.
Somerville, MA
4/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
Oh border cafe. The last two times I've given you a chance to woo me you've left me wanting more. I came here with a group on a week night before Christmas and again last month with a group if 5. At Christmas I called the week before to ensure you could take our group of 13, and the operator assured me the it would be no prob on a thurs night. I arrive at 645 to put our party in at 7, and am told 'great, let us know when you're all here'. Little did I know I should have lied and told them that yea all of out party is here now, put out name I for a table. When 12 of the 13 of our party had arrived at 705, I informed the server that we were nearly all here and could be seated. When I asked again at 730, they made it seem like they were doing me a favor for seating such a big group. Food was good, waiter service was good, front end service left a bad taste in my mouth and I won't be booking Border Cafe for another large outing, ever.
About a month ago, I went to BC with my husband and three friends. When our food came out my dh excised himself saying he needed some air. I followed shortly thereafter with a glass of water and a half a plate of fries in case he was hungry. As soon as I stepped out the door, an over zealous host stopped me from taking the water and fries to my ill husband. (he prob wouldn't have wanted the fries, but whatever). When I explained the situation, the guy kept repeating that they'd had stuff stolen and literally yanked the items out of my hands. When I asked him to take the items back to our table, he asked for our table number- as if I know their table assignment system. I was able to speak to the general manager, had fresh fries brought to our table, and took a glass of water outside to my ill husband. Before the fries were brought to our table, I approached another seater asking that the fries be brought, to which she replies, 'I don't know what's going on, I'm a little busy here.'
Seriously, I'm trying to remove an ill person from your restaurant, and you're trying to claim you're too busy to get the rest of my food to my table so I can box it up? Not my type of place.
I'll protest whenever a group of friends wants to go to BC, won't bring any group or friend to the restaurant. The food is descent, the waiters are good, but the front of the house service is incredibly poor. I hope that they don't share in the servers' tips. -
Review from Whitney S.
Mid-Cambridge, MA
4/18/2012
Good for: big groups, enjoying a few drinks and getting a bit rowdy, getting your guacamole fix, eating more than is comfortable.
Not good for: nice clothes that need to be dry-cleaned (clothes always seem to have a certain "Border" smell after dinners there), intimate/private dinners or conversations, true, true Mexican food (call me spoiled by my California up-bringing).
Always a ton of fun though! Great service, never had a bad waiter/waitress. -
Review from Camille R.
Somerville, MA
2/6/2012
First off, you will not find real Mexican or Tex-Mex food here and their offerings of southern/cajun style food throws their marketing scheme in the garbage.
If I walked in here without expecting Tex-Mex, I would say that the food is decent. I had the enchiladas with white sauce - I don't know what inspired that one - with beans and rice. VEGANS: rice is not friendly. And then I returned with a group of friends and had these little vegan croquette things tha were just okay.
The truth is I find these American owned/inspired restaurants to be offensive. They throw these heavy cream sauces on a plate and call it a dish. But maybe it isn't their fault, but rather the patrons who continue to consume these tasteless creations. -
Review from Emily P.
College Station, TX
4/18/2012
I am from Texas so the food here was on par with a decent Tex-Mex chain restaurant. The service was good, the atmosphere was fun, and the food was cheap and filling. I guess you couldn't ask for much more than that in a restaurant.
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Review from Cate B.
Cambridge, MA
5/11/2012
The worst.
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Review from Sara M.
Boston, MA
2/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
I wavered between three and four stars for this place. Four for the prices, no-frills/comfortable atmosphere, and generally decent service... three for the predictably "A-OK" food that is perfectly fine but nothing to write home about.
I've been here multiple times because it is just such a convenient stop for a quick, cheap, sit-down lunch or dinner when you're wandering in the Harvard area. The restaurant is huge so wait times (if you have to wait at all) are rarely long - even on a busy weekend night. Also, despite being consistently busy, the staff never make you feel rushed or try to turn over tables as quickly as possible.
The menu is so large and diverse that it's pretty easy to accommodate a group of people with distinct tastes. Moreover, despite serving a range of food (Mexican, Cajun, good ol' American), the kitchen does a decent job with every dish I've tried thus far. Between my various visits I've tried enchiladas, tacos, steak, and recently crawfish etouffee. Everything has been perfectly ok and generous in size, so for $7-$10/entree I leave feeling satisfied. If you're looking for locally sourced food or depth of flavor you're obviously in the wrong place. Dishes are overwhelmingly one-note (cheese, sauce, etc.) and don't have much in the way of distinguishable spices, herbs, or other complex flavors. But I doubt that will come as much of a surprise. I was surprised, however, by the fact that they serve at least some locally brewed beverages; my rootbeer came from a brewing company in Ipswich.
Overall, you get what you pay for and for the prices this place offers, I think it's a great value in Harvard Square. -
Review from Jeff W.
Cambridge, MA
Updated - 2/16/2012
The main virtue of this place is that it gives you lots of food (the free chips can make a meal themselves) and drinks (with free refills) for a good price. And all the food I've tried is quite good, as well - the empanadas, enchiladas, catfish, burgers, the eggplant royale (is that it's name?). The house salad is really cheap but it's big enough to be a meal.
I don't like how loud it is.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/2/2012
The main virtue of this place is that it gives you lots of food (and drinks) for a good price. And… Read more »
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Review from Thais A.
12/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
Chips and Salsa
Fajitas
Margaritas
Mexican fiesta in mi pantalones
Yes, yes, yes, maybe...
I'll start off saying that I've never met nicer people in the service industry than the ones at this place. The servers, the hostesses, even the food runners were all exceptionally polite.
On to the food--- Delicious! I shared the fajitas for two with my lovely date for the evening, and it was more than enough food for two. The margaritas were super tasty and the complimentary chips and salsa in the beginning were terrific. Everything was delicious, but when i compared it to the food at Uncle Julio's back in Boca, I felt like the ingredients were just more fresh and crisp there. However, this place is way cheaper than Uncle Julio's and the staff here is friendlier. -
Review from Alan C.
San Jose, CA
2/9/2012
My trip to Border Cafe didn't really start off so great. It was a Friday night, and it was PACKED to the point that they had to have someone guarding the door and there was a line to even put your name on the wait list. It took about 40 minutes until we were called up, and boy was it packed.
Even before we ordered, they were doing things right. They brought us water in huge 2 pint glasses (don't have to worry about refills). In additional, the chips they brought us were really hot and fresh, so they were delicious even by themselves.
I ordered a strawberry margarita and a chicken fajita.
Strawberry Margarita - the margarita came in quite a large glass, filed to the brim. The drink itself was refreshing and really good. For $5.50, it's worthwhile to get.
Chicken Fajita - I didn't realize this until they brought it out, but they made everything separately and put them in their own containers. That meant I would have to assemble the fajitas by myself, which was fine. The chicken was grilled perfectly and everything was wonderfully seasoned. However, Since everything was so seasoned,
the entire fajita was pretty damn salty.
tl;dr - Fajitas are so delicious and flavorful (maybe a bit too salty) and margaritas come in big glasses for a cheap price. -
Review from Celia N.
Central Square, Boston, MA
2/22/2012
One of my favorite places to eat in Boston!
The things I love about it:
1. Free chips and salsa that are totally awesome and addicting
2. Cheap, potent, homemade margaritas
3. Great atmosphere
4. Open late
5. The chicken burro is one of the best things I have ever eaten.
6. Guacamole. YUM.
The not-so-great things:
1. They don't take reservations, and the wait can be really long on weekends. They'll usually overestimate time, though, so grab a drink at the busy bar and hang out
2. Sometimes they don't let me substitute cornbread for rice and beans. Is it really that much more expensive?
Don't expect a relaxing dinner. But it will be fun, cheap, and most importantly, SO GOOD. -
Review from Stephanie F.
Cambridge, MA
1/10/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Border Cafe is one those places that I feel "eh" about one aspect, but then other pros about it balance it out to make it an OK place.
The eh factors are as follows:
- eh quality of food: I've had the blackened catfish, and their fish tacos. Good size portion but something I don't itch for everytime I go back to eat there
- eh guacamole: the price of the guac definitely reflects the quality. Don't get me wrong, it's sufficiently yummy once I add a few more spritzes of lime to it.
- eh to the seating arrangments in that place: Everytime I've gone with a big group of people I've always had to wait longer than 10-15 minutes. And then when I finally get to sit down, I'm full from all the margaritas I've been drinking and all the tortilla chips I've been snacking on while standing up. and then I ask myself: I waited this long.. for this?
Pro-factors:
- pro drink: HUGE margaritas for the price. While they don't seem to have a lot of tequila in it (not that I can taste) it makes you feel good that you're not paying $10 for the size that you're paying for.
- pro good place to go with a group of friends: While I complained about coming here with a big group of people, it still is a good place to go with such a number. No one is going to complain about the quality of the food, decently-priced drinks... so it gets a 4 star for being a good place to go with groups.
- pro tortilla chips: I'm not sure that they make their own tortilla chips, but they are always heated and are so delicious everytime I go there. -
Review from Elaine T.
1/9/2012
The 3 stars is a reflection of the food. It tasted ok. The steak fajita that my boyfriend got had a weird spice marinade to it. It definitely didn't taste authentic (I'm from CA and know good mexican food). And I can't speak for my food as I got a salad- you can't really go wrong there.
This place is a sure bet for college students as the food is cheap and they give you plenty of food for an entree (enough to split into 2 meals). But I can't overlook the service. I'd give this place 5 stars for the friendly and attentive staff members. However would I come back? Probably not. I think if I was still in college, this would be a place I'd come to for sure. -
Review from Kadin L.
Boston, MA
4/6/2012 3 photos
SPECTACULAR place! Had my first real mexican meal here! Love the fresh chips!! SUPER salsa! I had a beef quesadilla with was phenomenal! And their chicken pastelitos were SO good! Love the cilantro in it! The only thing that's keeping me from giving border cafe 5 stars is how the people in the front are so rude. But the food made up for it.
-
Review from Iwantmore P.
Freehold, NJ
2/11/2012
Ok... Where do I start?
We were forced to wait 80 minutes for a table, and during, KOLLEEN got hit in the head with a tray of cups by one of the backwaiters. And she has a narrow head that isn't easy to hit, due to her natural delivery--this guy was more negligent than Casey Anthony.
And the food is saltier than the sea. The Dead one. Probably to get you to order more mediocre margaritas. Eggggh.
I honestly have no idea why anyone would ever come here. It's like running a marathon to go see Madonna's halftime show--even if you do it ironically, you just end up with an empty feeling on the inside. -
Review from Katie V.
12/3/2011
This place is very cheap and the portions are huge. Which makes me a bit suspicious as to the quality of the ingredients and/or the kitchen labor. But when you want a buttload of Mexican or Cajun food, this is the place to go.
I have tried the fajitas (the portion for 1 is huge and enough for 2) and the swordfish tacos. Both very good and filling. Also have had the etouffe (sp?) with chicken and chorizo and the popcorn shrimp. It's not the most refined cuisine but it's tasty. The drinks are also cheap; the Hurricane is sneakily potent, though almost too sweet (I had a stomachache after) and the raspberry margarita is made with raspberry-flavored liquor, not a fruit puree, so it's stronger than a reg margarita.
Expect to wait on weekends, but the tables turn pretty quickly and the restaurant is huge so it's usually not too bad. Loud, collegiate/fratty atmosphere, but hey, what do you expect in a place that has $5.50 margaritas that's within walking distance from a university? -
Review from Rachel L.
Boston, MA
12/16/2011
Border is my favorite restaurant in the Boston area. It is a casual, American-Mexican restaurant hidden in Harvard Square.
I have been going there for well over 10 years, and I don't think I have ever had a bad experience.
They have the best chips and salsa around. The portions are large and the food is cheap. They also make a mean margarita. I highly recommend the vegetable quesadilla.
The only caution that I have is that during the rush hours (7-9pm) on Friday and Saturday, you will have to wait. Depending on the size of your party, it is usually about an hour. However, if you get there early, or go during the week, it's not a problem. They also wont take reservations.
Otherwise, it is always a fun time.
