Border Cafe
Cambridge, MA 02138-3730
Phone: (617) 864-6100
- Price:
- $
- Cross Street:
- Brattle Street
- Best of Citysearch:
- Margarita 2007, College Scene 2004
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11am-12:45am, Fri-Sat 11am-1:45am, Sun 12pm-12:45am
Editorial Review for Border Cafe – by Eric Grossman
The Scene
Due to the area's lack of inexpensive dining options, the wallet-friendly Border Cafe is the restaurant of choice among Harvard Square's younger residents. (Translation: expect hour-plus waits on weekends.) Large groups gather at massive tables scattered among the two Southwestern-themed dining levels, while solo diners flock to the tiny bar area and its TVs. At night, indulging in a gargantuan frozen margarita is the favored method of counteracting the high noise levels and hectic environment.
The Food
No one has ever confused the sizzling fajita platters or overstuffed quesadillas with gourmet Mexican fare, but overall quality is good and portions are exceptionally large. (Rare is the table that orders an entree for each diner.) After plowing through a basket of warm tortilla chips and fresh salsa, patrons select from the menu's lengthy listing of standard Tex-Mex (chicken enchiladas) and Cajun (spicy blackened swordfish) dishes.
Hits
Setting the standard for group dining, Border Cafe encourages sharing thanks to huge portions and no plate-splitting fees.
Misses
The menu's Cajun offerings feel misplaced, as it's difficult to enjoy gumbo when nibbling on chips and salsa while surrounded by Tex-Mex decor.
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Insider Tips
The ExtrasVegetarians take heart: The restaurant offers a full page of meatless menu options.
User Reviews for Border Cafe
10/18/2008 Posted by TheReviewa
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!
07/03/2008 Posted by DkTiburon
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.
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