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 )
( 8 )
( 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, ...

Cajun...I dunno! 8/5/2004

I am from Louisiana, so maybe I am a little biased. They have a lot of claims Louisiana itself but trust me, you haven't come close to what you get down south here. Althougha great substitute, just not what you should believe food down south taste like! more
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Mmmmmmm..... 7/14/2004

This place can get crowded at night, but it's worth the wait. Just wait it out at the bar (if you can get near it) and have a delicious margarita. The food is awesome, I have never been disapointed in the many times I've been there. It's a bit loud at times, but that isn't unexpected. Great place to hang out and have a good, cheap meal with friends. Pros: Delicious, Inexpensive more
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The Best Margarita 4/28/2004

Whenever I go to the Boder Cafe I always order their Gold Margarita beause its the best. The food is great. I love the salsa. The Border Cafe is always my destination at Harvard Sq. then across the street to Starbucks for that on the way home coffee. more
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Yummy!!!!!11 4/15/2004

This restaurant is awesome, great food, great atmosphere, great margaritas (i have a passion for the strawberry kind), I go with friends all the time. We can enjoy a meal, a drink, and feel at home without killing our wallets! Pros: Inexpensive, Great Food more
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Cajun/Mexican Hybrid Restaurant 4/3/2004

I am from the South with a heavy Mexican Population and many restaurants. I have eaten at many Mexican Restaurants and would not rate this one of them. The food is good, but if you are in the mood for refried beans, spanish rice with traditional Mexican Spices (Chili and Cumen), I would not reccomend this restaurant. The spices they use are more geared toward Cajun. Pros: Inexpensive, Something Different Cons: , Paid or Street Parkin more
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Just Enough Heat 3/11/2004

There are a lot of great items on the menu, but nothing surpasses the blackened chicken. It's addictive. And what a great buy! For those trying to curb carbs or just love spicy and really well-prepared vegetables, replace the José's rice and beens with the veggies. The salsa and chips are perfect. The service is very quick. I love this place! The food at the Saugus restaurant is just as good as the one in Cambridge and there is actually a place to park. Pros: Inexpensive, Fast service, Good food Cons: , Very noisy, Often long wait more
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Good stuff! 3/7/2004

My friend and I were seated quite promptly during the lunching hour, and the service was quick. The portions are large, and there is a lot of noise, but that's expected of this type of environment. The food is very good, and the price is right. I would dine here again. Pros: Inexpensive, Quick service, Good food more
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#2 in Margaritas...pffft 3/5/2004

When I saw this restaurant listed as #2 for margaritas I had to save some unsuspecting souls that have actually had a good margarita from this experience. In fact, while I'm at it I would like to save anyone that has actually had good mexican or tex mex or for that matter southwestern food avoid this place like the plague. Being born and raised in Texas I have a pretty good idea what both good tex mex and authentic mexican should taste like, and this sorry excuse for a mexican restaurant simply doesn't qualify. And the frothy top shelf margaritas this joint serves up aren't even bad disco bar good. Undrinkable! And my burrito was served up insome strange soupy concoction. BAD with a capital B! Cons: , absentee service, bad food more
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Inexpensive 2/6/2004

Went to Border Cafe with a group of about 9 people, the last weekend in Jan. We did have to wait and they would not seat us until our entire group had arrived. The place is extremely loud, margaritas are ok but the food was excellent, especially for the price. Everyone in our group was very pleased with their food. I would return. Pros: Inexpensive, Food Cons: , Loud more
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Not worth the wait 11/6/2003

The Border Cafe has what I would call THE WORST margaritas I have ever had in my life. I feel sorry for the people who think these are good; they have obviously been missing out. To make matters worse, there is usually a significant wait to get in. If someone were to open a reasonably good Tex-Mex or cajun restaurant in Harvard Square, they should make a fortune. more
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Great Margaritas! 9/5/2003

Cheap Tex Mex and great Margaritas! Be prepared for long lines on Friday and Saturday nights. Great for an after-work get together during happy hour! Pros: Incredible Margaritas Cons: Long Wait on weekends more
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Best Margarita 9/5/2003

I have been to many Tex/Mex, Mexican, and want to be restaurants and have found the Borders' to be the best. I have been to most of the clubs rated here and even to Mexico and some come close, but the Grand Gold Margarita there is my favorite as well as most people I have brought with me over the past 13-15 years! I've lost track! I like extremely dry Bombay Saphire Martinis, Jack Daniels Sours(Both served the best at the Capital Grille on Newbury St) a fine glass of Merlot, a Samuel Smith Ale and of course, when I'm out for Mexican, the Grand Gold served at the border. Pros: Great food, Great drink, great Value Cons: no reservations taken, parking on Harvard Sq, Corona/Budweiser more
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Border Cafe 9/5/2003

By far the best Margaritas in town. Their chicken fajitas are also pretty incredible. Do not order anything but the house margarita though. more
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Vegetarian Friendly! 8/13/2003

The best part about The Border Cafe, aside from the tastey food, quick service, and ultra-cheap prices, is that they are vegetarian friendly! They have an entire vegetarian section on their menu, and everything is good! Pros: vegie friendly, tasty food, inexpensive Cons: long line to get in, sometimes noisy more
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Good 5/18/2003

This is good tex mex and cajun food. The ambiance is great, it's dimly lit and one can smoke cigarettes. The waiters are always good with refiling chips and water. This is where cool people go and laugh at lame people who go to Iguana Cantina. if you want more authentic (not neccesarily better, just different) mexican go to Casa Mexico in Harvard Square. Pros: smoke butts kid, relaxed atmosphereKid, kid, good prices kid more
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Only go if you're with a big group 4/23/2003

The only plus point about this place is that it's good for large groups. I'm always amazed at the line of people waiting to get into the Border Cafe.. while the bar food is ok, and the restaurant food is bland but passable, I wouldn't say that it warrants the reputation that it seems to have. And the house margaritas are nasty (far too sweet) -- if you have to go, get a top-shelf marg, you'll be happy you did. If you want good Mexican food and amazing margaritas, head to the Forest Cafe on Mass Ave. Pros: inexpensive, convenient location Cons: crowded, house margaritas, bland food more
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Head for The Border!! 2/7/2003

I don't live in Boston anymore, but everytime I go back, the Border Cafe is the FIRST restaurant I head to. Possibly the BEST & CHEAPEST place on earth! Before I moved, I managed to obtain the recipe for their French Quarter Chicken (OMG, it's AWESOME) and now I make it all the time at home. Although, not as good as the Border's, it's the closest thing I've got! Man I wish I were in Harvard Square!! Miss those Margaritas badly!! And let's not forget the homemade/warm chips and fresh salsa!! Pros: Inexpensive, Awesome Food, Warm Chips/Fresh Sals Cons: Very Crowded, No reservations more
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experiencedeater 2/1/2003

Anyone wanting good mexican food should avoid this place. However if you just want to drink this is a good place to hangout more
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Funky Food 1/2/2003

I've been here before, but the last few times I've been the food has been inconsistant... overall not that bad thogh. more
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Cambridge's Best Margaritas. 12/10/2002

Best of the Shores is travelling again. This time in New England - On our way back to NJ from skiing in NH, Jim Pridgen and wife Linda stopped at Borders Cafe for Margaritas, delicious quesadillas and awesome fajitas. Sensational.... The Staff and Mgt were great!! We rate this place ***** 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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