Border Cafe

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32 Church St (at at JF Kennedy St)
Cambridge, MA 02138

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(617) 864-6100
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Reviews
( 24 )
( 42 )
( 16 )
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( 11 )

Best

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

Worst

Maybe back in the early 90's this place was good, but with today's quality authentic Mexican food in the area, this place cant keep up. Pros: location Cons: loud, smokey, ...

Border between what and what? 12/9/2002

The staples of a good mexican food (tex-mex) experience are: (1) queso, (2) margaritas and (3) enchiladas. If you agree with me, then best to avoid this restaurant. We moved here from Texas and were anxious to try what was billed as ""the most authentic mexican food restaurant in Boston"". We were more than dissapointed, we were devastated. In Texas, tex-mex is our comfort food. We thought Borders was as close as we would get. Fortunately, we later found some more authentic restaurants in East Boston. Bottom line: if you are looking for tex-mex, avoid Borders. more
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Excellent foofd! Best Mexican ever!!!! 12/8/2002

I have been the to Border Cafe hundreds of times and have never been disappointed by their food or service. Everything on the menu is excellent and I highly recommend their quesadillas. They are to die for. THe service is friendly, fast and efficient. Never too attentive or under attentive. The atmosphere is lively and fun. A great place to go with friends or the family. I highly recommend it for lunch or dinner. You can't go wrong. Pros: Inexpensive, Fast service, Good atmosphere Cons: hard to find parking, long wait at weekends more
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GIVE ME A MARGARITA 12/7/2002

tHIS PLACE HAS GOOS MEXICAN AT CHEAP PRICES. YOU USUALLY HAVE TO WAIT AT PEAK TIMES AND THE BAR IS SMALL FOR WAITING BUT THE ATMOSPHERE IS FUN AND THE FOOD GREAT. YOU CAN ALSO CHOOSE A CAJUN STYLE MEAL IF MEXICAN ISN'T FOR YOU. Pros: INEXPENSIVE, FUN, GOOD DRINKS Cons: PARKING, WAIT TIME more
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To-die-for magaritas and great food 11/21/2002

I just went to Border Cafe last night for about the 50th time. When you walk in the door you are immediately hit with all sorts of wonderful smells that will get you salivating right away. There is often a long wait, but at the Border you can cozy up to the bar and get some magaritas and chips & salsa while you wait. The cajun blackened food is the best I've had anywhere in the Northeast. The chile con queso gets a 10 too. The service has always been good and the food never disappoints. Border Cafe ranks as one of my very favorite restaurants. I want to go back there again tonight! Pros: great magaritas, great atmosphere, best tex mex around Cons: long wait for table more
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Got to try it! 11/20/2002

Excellent, Excellent, Excellent. Great ambiance, great food. Long lines at night so go early, worth the wait. Pros: Ambiance, Food Cons: Long wait more
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Mexican & Margharitas 11/6/2002

The best Margharitas and mexican food around. It's worth the drive into Harvard Square, if you don't live in the area! Pros: Margharitas, quesadillas, price Cons: crowded, downstairs no-alcohol more
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Overrated 10/31/2002

Maybe back in the early 90's this place was good, but with today's quality authentic Mexican food in the area, this place cant keep up. Pros: location Cons: loud, smokey, food more
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Not that great 10/3/2002

It's fun, good drinks, and good mexican. But, it's not the cheapest, best tex-mex, or most fun. Cactus Club is arguably more fun with better drinks based on their string of Best of Boston awards, and Cottonwood has a more sophisticated bar with a little better margaritas. Half a dozen restaurants have better cheaper Mexican and Tex-Mex. It's just not that great at anything. If a good alternative existed in Harvard Squ., this wouldn't exist. Pros: lively, diverse menu, fun for teens Cons: long wait, odd dishes are bad, overrated by students more
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Its all about the chips 9/25/2002

The chips and salsa are what make this place great. High-quality fajitas as well, but its really the chips. You can survive on a few big margaritas and the endless bucket and be set for the evening! more
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Mexican-keep trying 9/21/2002

While this place has a great location and is a lot of fun, the menu lacks any real authentic mexican( or creole/cajun). It resembles more of the same Massachusetts tex/mex diluted combo. It remains very difficult to find any restaurant that challenges the non traditional taste buds here in Massachusetts. Pros: price, location Cons: parking, menu selection more
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Mexican this AIN'T 9/19/2002

Mass. is known for ignorance in the area of Mexican food, and when I was sent to the Border Cafe by more than 2 or 3 people I my hopes were high. I was suspect the moment i saw the menu, since thier other ""specalties"" were cajun, and creole. A nice try since all these food types are also typcally lacking here as well. The salsa tasted like tomato paste and chili Relleno would have been good had it not been covered with Tomato Sauce! I was hoping for green pork chili or something spicy but not with this dish. There isn't any mexican chili, or salsa for the asking, unless you think tomato sauce with beef is chili. However, the ambiance is fun and eveyone else seems to love this place. It's packed every time I drive right on by, still in search of good mexican food in Boston............ Pros: ambiance, variety, fun Cons: not mexicn, not mexican, not mexican more
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Margarita Ville 9/12/2002

Great food, great service, great price, great for a crowd of people and great margrita's!!! more
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CHA CHA CHA 9/4/2002

Margaritas are great.... all different flavors... good size for the money... and presented well..... they are known for their margarita... and of course, can't beat the prices of the food! more
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Not Worth It 8/30/2002

Chain restaurant that's way too crowded and expensive. Marguerita's are mostly mix and food is bland. Pros: Many around Cons: Bad Food, Bad Drinks, Crowded more
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Don't believe the hype! 8/29/2002

This place is sooo overrated! I had lunch recently at the Harvard Square location and was I disappointed! The place is always loud and crowded and the food was just so-so. As for the margaritas - YUCK! Watery, tasteless and just plain bad. I told the waiter this and he told me that other people had said the same thing (!!) and he would bring me a shot of tequila since they can't add liquor to an existing drink at the bar. The shot didn't help at all and then he tried to charge me for it! What a complete waste of money. If you want good margaritas try Rudy's in Somerville or Fajitas & Ritas on West St. in Boston. Pros: Generous portions Cons: Loud, crowded, bad drinks more
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Can't beat Border Cafe 8/26/2002

A great place for cheap Mexican food and awesome Margarita's! Pros: Good Food, Inexpensive Cons: Crowded more
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Best Margaritas! 8/19/2002

The food is cheap and good and without a doubt this is the best Margarita in Boston. Try the Gran Gold on the rocks with salt. Two will have you feeling very nice...good after a hard week at work. Also, the seafood enchiladas are great! Pros: food, drinks, prices Cons: long waits, crowded more
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Good For Boston 8/19/2002

This is one of the only places in Boston that I can go and be reasonably sure of having a good meal and pleasant service. The enchiladas are great, as good as a lot of the Tex-Mex in Texas. The regular margaritas are okay, but the ones with premium tequila, especially Hornitos, are tasty and strong. Okay, it's not just good for Boston; it's actually good. Pros: Friendly service, Good inexpensive food, Fun atmosphere Cons: long waits sometimes, pricy margaritas more
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It's Tex-Mex, not authentic. 8/15/2002

The Border Cafe has cheap Tex Mex food, not good authentic Mexican food. Nothing special. more
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Best Mexican food! 8/13/2002

Borders is my favorite place for an authentic Mexican meal & a few strawberry margaritas. Always busy, but well worth the wait. Fun atmosphere, good food, huge portions. more
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Menu for Border Cafe


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Editorial

  • 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...

  • 9/19/2007 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: M-Th 11-1, F-Sa 11-2, Su 12-1
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: West Cambridge
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