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
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