10/20/16 The manager on duty tonight is terrible at this location. We have visited this location and the one in Cambridge and tonight was by far the worst service we have ever received. I ordered a steak Med-Well and it was delivered basically rare or med-rare (it was def red inside, not pink). No one checked in on us for the next 15 minutes. I ate the other portion that was cooked more. When my server returned I told her the steak was undercooked, and she said they'd make me another small piece instead of taking my plate (which I was only 1/2 finished). She then told the manager. He decided they were NOT going to correct it by making a fresh piece and did not compensate us in any way for the error. They took away what was left of my dinner and handed us the full bill. In my opinion it is ultimately the managers JOB to make sure that the customer leaves happy. It's pretty bad when the Mgr of a restaurant doesn't know that the waitstaff need a manager's support in situations like this. The mgr here did a poor job of supporting his waitstaff and a poor job of making sure the customer was happy. This guy should re-evaluate how he treats employees and customers. read more

Tasty ass enchiladas will always remember them . They give you pretty big portions as well !!

We had a great lunch of a combo meal and a seafood quesadilla. The server was awesome and there was no wait! It was such a good experience! read more

Border Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

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Best ever. They are still giving complementary tortillas and salsa. Just don't order the house margarita ; it can be watery. Pay the extra buck and get some good tequila and you will love it. read more

This is a great place with a heck of a southern style with great food if u don't enjoy something they will fix it right up for you read more

Border Cafe - Pina colada - Mexican Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

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I am giving this place 3 stars as an average rating for our group of 3 adults and 2 small children. Kids liked their meals of taco and chicken fingers. However, they didn't/couldn't begin to eat all the French fries. Good? Maybe, but personally I see a plate with tons of FF as an excuse to charge more for what you ordered. Son loved his meal. (He never met a meal he didn't like!) Daughter wasn't crazy about her enchiladas. And I hated my burrito. Nicely served with beans and rice but taste was just "wrong" and there was virtually nothing inside the wrapped tortilla! Seriously like almost nothing!! Physically the restaurant was very nice. Service was great. Price was great. Just the strange taste and an empty burrito!!! read more

The customer is always right... I came here at 830pm on a Wednesday night, and 2 people of my party of 3 were present. When I said that I'd have a party of 3, they would not seat me and told me they would not seat an "incomplete party." Now, I can see if I had a prospective party of 14 and only arrived with 2, they might be hesitant to seat me. Many tables were open, and there was no one in the waiting area to be seated. When I next said fine, that my party would only be two people, they still would not seat us. A manager flew out from behind the hostess station and confronted me, and for every clarification I asked about their seating policy, he only repeated "we make no exceptions." Ultimately, I felt that the manager at Border Cafe did not want my business. I could have been the last party to show up for the night, and that's 90 dollars that was spent somewhere else. I come to a restaurant to be treated and catered to, not reprimanded like a 5th grader who chewed gum in the classroom. I've been here once before, and yes, the food is salted within one inch of its life. I won't be back! Saugas, MA, people...not Times Square. read more

Ever since Covid, this place has gone downhill. Aside from taking away half their menu, the waitresses don't know what they are doing. I come here all the time and it's safe to say I'll probably have to start driving the extra 30 minutes to the Border Cafe in Burlington. Today I ordered a chicken quesadilla, usually I am allowed to get a kids chicken quesadilla since I have a medical condition that doesn't allow me to eat a lot, but the waitress gave me attitude and wouldn't let me get it. I then ordered a blackened chicken meal to go for my mom when we got our food. I waited 30 minutes after I finished eating to receive my food and it never came. When I got the check the to go order wasn't on the receipt and the waitress said "oh i forgot to put it in." No sympathy or anything she just asked if we wanted her to put it in now. I wasn't waiting another 30 minutes to receive my food. When I told the manager what happened she seemed very uninterested in the service we received and basically acted like "why are you telling me this?" I don't really care that much about the quesadilla because I know that is out of my waitresses control, but to not put in the food and not even apologize is what made me angry. We come to Border Cafe all the time, at least once a week and every time it's like something else happens that makes us not want to come anymore. Do not come to this Border Cafe if you want great customer service! read more

I do not yet have children, but this is a public service for people who do. For dining en famille, I have not seen a better value than the Border Cafe. Their children's menu is ridiculously cheap. I'm talking, if you paid with a $3 bill you'd get change cheap. And what you get for your money is a huge plate of decent food (quite a selection as well), a drink, plus dessert. It's less expensive than going to McDonald's, and, for the moms and dads (and aunts like me), they serve alcohol which is always a plus. Anticipate a wait on a weekend night. And get an order of the queso dip, it's quite delicious. The Border Cafe: giving people incentive to spawn since 2009. read more

Paraphrasing Bronte: Whatever our souls are made of, [The Border Cafe's] and mine are the same. I'm sure that's what Emily had in mind... cajun and tex-mex fusion. Border, I still love you. The SCIENCE of assembling a FAJITA: (Prep by tossing shredded cheese onto sizzling fajita plate of chicken and onions and allow cheese to melt) Acquire tortilla. Lay flat, preferably on plate. Shmear (yes shmear) on sour cream. Add 2-3 pieces of large blackened chicken, 3-4 pieces of smallish chicken. Select pieces with cheese melted on top. Add 4-5 onions. Toss on pico and spoon jose's rice directly on top of the pile of deliciousness in the tortilla. Pick up gingerly. Immediately shovel into mouth, avoid dropping any filling or you lose. In this economy, the only thing I can truly rely on is the inexpensivity of the Border Cafe, smiley service, and gargantuan portions of spicy heavenly Cajun Tex-Mex. P.S. The queso dip and I are involved. Fact. read more

I actually enjoy going to this place because the food is good && the drinks are fun... but everytime i go here... something goes wrong. I've been here maybe 5 times && every time i find something in my food. I always order the taco salad with chicken. First experience: found a bug in my salad. second experience: found a pubic hair in my salad. third experience: my friend's chicken was undercooked fourth experience: i found a longggggg hair on my food. && this last experience takes the CAKE.... 5th experience: GLASS IN MY SALAD My tongue was all cut up with deep cuts from the glass. It took 5 hours to stop the bleeding. && all they were willing to do was pay my bill. I don't know.... if you wanted to keep a customer... i'd do more than that, but thats just me! It's unfortunate because I actually like this place. read more

I have to compare the combo fajitas to the margaritas combo plate in revere ....BORDER 2 THUMBS UP...MARGARITAS 2 THUMBS DOWN..I was so disappointed one night my boyfriend and i had decided to meet a friend at margaritas, and thought we'd order the chicken/steak combo fajitas because they were soooooo good at Border you would think they would be even better at margaritas...well we were wrong..The portions were so small and cooked too much it left my boyfriend and I feeling bloated and greasy..good thing they didnt give us a lot of food, I didn't feel so bad not eating all of it.... Border on the other hand was great, prepared just right larger portions , very fulfilling as well as satisfying. and do not be afraid to drink either,seeing the large portion of food come to the table and knowing your only paying around 20 or so bucks, the drinks are cheap too...Overall great night.. read more

It's one of my girlfriend's favorite restaurants so I've (regrettably) been here a few times. Sure, I'll admit, her review would include either 4 or 5 stars. But not mine! I'll be fair and admit the food does not disgust me, and the price is reasonable (although not worth the wait on busy nights). I've never truly walked away from there satisfied. The food is "Meh" / "Blah" and does not remind me of Mexico at all (even though my girlfriend claims it's REAL MEXICAN). The seating policy is ridiculous (if there are tables available, no one else in the waiting area, and 75% of a party is there - SEAT THEM!) It's incomprehensible that this is not the protocol. Apparently, the restaurant does not offer takeout. No big deal, I can live with that. But I found out when I called to order tacos for twenty people. I thought they might make an exception so that they could bring in the business $$$ (maybe it's some sort of legal policy so there was no exception made) but the least they could have done was recommend another restaurant nearby that offered what I was looking for. There happens to be a Qdoba IN THE SAME PLAZA and a Chipotle right next door - that offers exactly what I was looking for, so I spent my money there. I would have expected the manager to refer me there (since it's right next door) but instead, the manager allegedly knew of no nearby restaurants that could serve me. I considered giving this restaurant 3 stars, but I just can't bring myself to do so. read more

As I slowly continue the tour of Saugus Route 1 eateries, the monstah bus ended up here at the Border Cafe. Showing up on a wednesday before 6:00, we arrived to a nearly packed restaurant. Both Heather O and myself were a little surprised at the amount of people there, but the place is big enough that we had no wait for a table. The dining area is pretty loud and country music is played through the speakers throughout, but we could still hear ourselves and enjoy each others company. The tables were good in that the two of us got a four seat table with enough room to spread out and have a conversation. Nothing worse than going to some fru fru place where you are so close to your neighboring diners that you feel the urge to pick at their plate when their done. Anyway, nice tables, though the place is loud. The drinks were really good. We tried the sangria and margaritas. The opinion was that the sangria was yummy and the margaritas got the job done. The food we had was ok. They start you off with a basket of chips and salsa, pretty standard for a tex-mex joint. The cajun popcorn shrimp appetizer was really tasty when dipped into the sauce provided. Well worth it. I had the cajun burger for my entree. I figured it would have a little kick from the cajun seasoning, but really it just seemed like a normal burger you could pick up anywhere. Heather O's quesidilla was not very good and was only slightly picked at throughout the meal. She mentioned that she should have got the salad. This place is a casual sit down restaraunt good for families (we saw many kids of all ages) to share a reasonably priced meal (fifty bucks for the 2 of us). We'll probably be back, but we're going for apps and drinks next time. read more

I can't say enough good things about this place! Servers are friendly and efficient. I often bring my kids here and the servers are always great with them. The food is phenomenal! Everything I've ever ordered, I've liked. Yet to find a bad dish yet! The hot fresh chips with the fresh salsa alone is a reason to go! Prices are totally reasonable, especially for the large portions that they serve. The drinks are top notch. Best place to get a margarita! Anytime we want to go out to eat, we go to the place wither the big fluorescent EAT sign! read more

I find Border Cafe to offer consistently tasty Mexican-American fare. The menu is rather extensive with lots of appealing options. I love the warm tortilla chips and salsa that the servers bring to the table immediately. They always offer to refill. You can order guacamole to go with it, which is yummy. Their margaritas are good and offer a variety of tequilas to include, unlike other similar restaurants. Service was quick. Definitely a good choice if you are near Rt 1 Saugus. read more

Border Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

Border Cafe is one of the best places in the Americas. Period. Consistent excellence in service, old world charm and the food is flawless each time. It is a family run place with the same waitstaff for years and an excellent bartender who remembers everything about you. They are wonderfully discreet and gracious hosts, making each visit feel like a very special occasion whether it is or not. Someone commented about the stuffy clientele. Its true, the wealthy elite are there constantly, in fact just about every other time I'm there Donald Wong is there along with other famous people looking for a lovely night out. I just bring a good friend or two and enjoy. It is very inexpensive, so it does attract a certain crowd. The sagebrush bouquets are freshened up weekly. Tex (the owner) designs them himself each week, and then greets you at the door to welcome you into the lovely ambiance. There is loud music but it in no way takes away from the experience... Just bliss. The backroom is even lovelier than the bar, read more

The NEW IMPROVED BORDER CAFE!!!! Yes! They finally have air ventilation! I am talking air vents with fans! And a lot of them. The old Border I would come out smelling like tortilla chips - I am not kidding. Parking is also way better and so far they really seem to have it together. The best part of Border Cafe is that the food is great, but the prices are even better. The majority of your entrees are under $10. Yes thats right under $10. Which for the most part you don't see anymore. You also get unlimited chips and salsa - which is pretty staple but still fun. The sodas are huge and for some reason their soda tastes better than any other restaurant. Food has a mix of Mexican food, or Cajun. Which is great because I love Cajun food. I see most people ordering Mexican food, but trust me venture over to the cajun catfish with rice and beans, or the crawfish. Portions are very generous, and margaritas do their work, and well. Only downfall is the place is so popular there is often a wait, but if your with a group 4 or under you normally wait somewhere between 5-15 minutes. Larger groups may have to wait longer. Five stars for the combination of: food, price, portions, and service (oh and the new air system too). That's my story and I'm sticking to it. read more

Sometimes I don't want 5 star dining. Sometimes it's my wallet that doesn't want it; sometimes I just have oysters and foie gras fatigue. (Well, not really, but work with me here). Sometimes I just want cheap food. The Border Cafe is a good place for cheap food. You can't beat $6.00 (approx) for 2 enchiladas with rice and black beans (or jambalaya, if choose). First start with a margarita of your choice. "Regular," strawberry, frozen, on the rocks, with salt or without. No margarita machines here. Just usually a good, not necessarily strong, margarita. Easily slurped down, and sometimes too quickly. Once you are seated, slurping your margarita, the server brings (usually) warm, salty tortilla chips and a moderately spiced, fresh salsa. Scarf them up, and you can ask for more. The Border Cafe is definitely one of those angel-devil places: you know -- there's an angel sitting on one shoulder urging the salad and catfish fajita and a devil on the other shoulder lobbying for chorizo mexicana and cheese enchiladas. Truth is, they are all good. OK, you can say, who can screw up a cheese enchilada. So true. But I'm very picky when it comes to salad, and the Border Cafe has a great, fresh, too large salad. Split it with your dining companion. I usually adhere to the classic Italian view of fish -- it should never be on a plate with cheese. Similarly, if I'm not at a fish place, chances are, I'm not ordering fish. Who knows how long it's been not flopping around? Surprisingly, the Border does a great job with its catfish. Both the blackened catfish and the catfish fajitas are great. Fresh fish, spicy spices --- it works. Back to those enchiladas. So bad for you, but soooo good. What's bad about melty cheese? After all those chips and splitting a salad, I usually eat one enchilada, and wrap the rest. My last visit's left-overs gave me two post-Border meals. OK, I do eat small meals. Do they have dessert here? Who knows. Cleanliness? Well..... I wouldn't bring a germ-o-phobe to the Border, but I wouldn't bring them to Mexico either. Service -- a little too fast, but always good. So, head to this Border or not? I say yes. Cheap eats and great drinks! read more

I like the food -- can't stand the NOISE. I hate to wait so I avoid busy places like this on Friday, Saturday Nights. This place would be a great stop during the day -- but the NOISE. It is always like Chucky Cheese in there, with balloons, screaming kids and who ever you are with better like being yelled at, because to talk is impossible. Too Bad -- could be great. read more

Went today for lunch. Place was packed. House made tortilla chips and salsa were very good. The main coarses were average. Service was good. Prices were good read more

Border Cafe - Gulf coast enchilada - Mexican Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

Dined here last evening and the portions are so big for a good price!!! First off, my waitress Jennifer was amazing. Super attentive and brought everything out quick and at the right time :) My partner ordered a burger and I ordered the 10oz salmon. Hands down best fries ever. Salmon was super buttery and delicious. We will be back read more

The Border Cafe is not quite what one would call "fusion," but its menu offers a mixture of Tex-Mex and Cajun meals in an environment that will make you feel as if you'd crossed the border into Mexico. The food is OK, if that's what you like, though I'm not particularly impressed. The big problem with the Border Cafe, however, is that it's ALWAYS packed and its ALWAYS noisy. Also, there's no air conditioner, so dining there in the summer is like having tea in hell: way too many people packed together like sardines in a room with no a/c and little ventilation. Even the wait staff is miserable in the summer. Really, I'm not a fan of the Border Cafe. I've gone there several times with friends and family, at their behest. If given the choice, though, I'd much rather go somewhere else. read more

Greasy crappy Tex-Mex food. Noisy. Crowded. And I wouldn't have it any other way. I have been going here since it opened. I don't go for the food because frankly, I make better blackened chicken myself at home. I don't go for the margaritas, because you can get MUCH better ones at "On the Border" in Woburn. I go because you can be loud with a big group of friends, drink booze, eat greasy food, and have someone else clean up, all for the low price of, like, $30. Also, this is a great place to go with my wife who is originally from New Jersey. They have the exact same restaurant down near her except it was called Jose Tejas. It really helped her adjust to living up here. Parking SUCKS. I hear they may be moving to new digs soon across the highway soon. That would be good because there really is no place to put a car near there anymore. Oh yeah-- my buddy discovered that they will give you entire orders of their chips and salsa to go for free if you ask. GOOD BATCH! read more

AVOID IF YOU: have a migraine/don't like noisy atmospheres, don't feel like waiting for awhile to find a parking spot then wait in the crowd on the weekend, don't like obnoxious country music, are looking for a fine dining experience, hate the smell of fajitas. GO IF YOU: crave delicious salsa and warm chips, like tangy margaritas, want to catch a game (but get there early), don't mind the family crowd, want to dine outside on a warm night, like catfish, want to fill your belly for cheap, are a fan of cheesy quesadilla goodness. read more

Border Cafe is probably my favorite restaurants around. The chips are out of this world (seriously I think instead of salt they use crack because they're addictive), the food is awesome, and it's so cheap. It's not uncommon for 2 people to go there and eat for less than $20. The staff is extremely friendly and everything comes out so quick. Even when there is a wait and they tell you 45min it's very rarely more than 30min. Definitely a huge fan of this place. I will add that I am very disappointed in the recent article that came out about them failing a health inspection. I have not been there since and I am not sure when I will go back but prior to that I loved this place. read more

Back home on vacation. Gotta get some great Louisiana/Texas food, right? Only made 3 trips here during my 2 weeks. All were GREAT! The Swordfish Tacos Veracruz? TASTY!! Spicy mango salsa... woo hoo! Had the Blackened Swordfish as well, and WOW! Just great! The third visit was the Blackened Chicken....and as the others were, just great! Service continues to be top notch! They were very helpful in helping my sister figure out if an item was spicy or not. You gotta try the Gumbo! It's just great! Parking continues to be almost as bad as trying in downtown Boston. If you don't mind a short walk, there is some parking further away (200 feet). I'll be back soon! read more

Love the quesadillas here!! I get Tejas Chicken quesadillas and it taste delicious!! The wait can get ridiculous and there's not a whole lot of waiting area, especially since they've put in two more tables at the end. We usually stalk the bar for seats and it usually works! Mike behind the bar is awesome, always gets out drinks and chips and talks to us when it's not that busy. The margaritas are tasty and boozey! Not bad on the wallet either with the most expensive one being like $9 and the rest range around $5 to $8. We easily get 2 or 3 when we come here. In the summer time they offer patio seating with a nice view of Rt. 1, if that's how you roll. It gets loud inside, if you don't like all the noise try to get a seat down in the waaaaaayyy back, it's a little more secluded. read more

I came here, via a friend's recommendation. The place was quite empty on a Sunday afternoon. I couldn't tell the difference between the jambalaya rice and just rice? I got really confused. I ordered fish tacos, it was meh. And a margarita... also meh. Perhaps, I was a little hard on this place. (I'm from Texas, I can't help it. I'm hard on my tex-mex). It's not terrible and it's reasonably priced. I guess I can't complain too much, as we are pretty far from home. :) read more

3 out of 5 isn't bad, but it also isn't worth an 80-minute wait only to be served by a forgetful waiter. The waiter had good intensions, he wasn't rude or anything, but he was forgetful, which resulted with our table having empty cups and glasses and also a long delay in receiving our bill at the end. Overall, the food is good. It isn't fantastic or to die for, it's just good. If it isn't busy, you might find it worth while...just don't go if it's crowded. read more

I just love the Border Cafe. I'm not sure exactly why that is but I do. There is lots of parking, a great atmosphere, and an outdoor patio. Drinks are great and service is good too. Last time I was there I had the steak medallions (I forget what it's called exactly). The steak was amazing and I'll definitely be back for it again soon! read more

Border Cafe - Nice outdoor seating! - Mexican Near Me - Saugus, Massachusetts

Try the Midori margarita's...and you'll be hooked. I love, love, LOVE this place. The chicken fijita's are splendid-everything comes out on a hot plate and you can arrange everything they way you want it. The bar gets pretty loud, but it's part of being there. You don't like noisy, leave. But it's my kind of happy hour place, even if it's not happy hour. read more

Decent Northeast chain Tex-Mex and Cajun food. Moderately priced and ample portions. I never object when some one in the group throws it out as a place to go, a decent 3rd or 4th option. It gets super crazy busy during lunch and dinner. It also attracts a lot of under 12 kids and a parent or two during the day. Margarita's and Fajita's are always a winning combination. Free corn chips with a great fresh made salsa. read more

Good food, family friendly and reasonably priced. Folks love the margaritas. The blackened chicken fajitas are my favorite. They have a great kick. Portion sizes are generous as well. The place gets pretty busy on the weekends and you'll expect to wait. However, the bar area is always open so you can enjoy a few drinks while you wait. read more

Blackened chicken fajitas with Jose's rice... I'm craving it right now. So good. This place is a little hectic because it's so damn tasty and everyone wants in on it. It's always full but service is fast so they get people in and out at a good clip. The food is fresh and hot, and the servers are usually very nice and on top of everything. I just wish they had a better beer selection. All they have is Mexican beer and there are 100's of beers I'd rather have before a Corona or Pacifico. read more

Been coming here for years. Fairly priced. Quality food. Large portions. I dream about the gumbo. Chicken and chorizo in gumbo, nice heat, and no okra .... Just the way I like it. Consistent on every visit. Other favourites ... Queso fundido app, dinner salad with grilled chicken (only grilled chicken I order when I am out) and Catfish New Orleans. My mouth is watering just thinking of it. Always busy, expect a wait if you are going at peak times. read more

We've been coming here since it first opened on the other side of Rt.1 next to the old Hilltop. We've had decades of great meals at great prices. The service is always attentive. Hot delicious chips arrive with salsa as soon as you're seated. The sodas are large and refilled regularly. We've been all over the menu and liked everything... burros, salads, fajitas, etc. (If I personally could have a wish it would be for them to bring back the Pollo Jamon. It was chicken served on a bed of fresh spinach topped with a slice of baked ham and covered with a sweet raisin sauce. I've never had anything like it anywhere else.) The atmosphere is lively friendly casual. Tex-rock and cajun tunes weave through the hum of conversations. Our dessert is when we see how small the bill is, even after all these years. read more

Good enough food. Nice waitress. Ordered fajitas with a huge pile of meat and a plate with maybe 7 diced tomatoes, enough cheese for perhaps 1 fajita.... Requested more cheese and tomatoes....they charged me for them. 2 stars. Don't. Just don't. read more

Mexican with a Creole Kick. BAM! I make it a priority when I move to a new city to find and locate great Mexican cuisine. You never know when you will need a strong margarita. The Border Cafe meet and surpassed those expectations. The menu consists of your standard Mexican fare with a generous helping of Cajun/Creole dishes mixed in for a delicious treat for your belly! The margaritas are excellent. The times I have been here the place has been busy and yes the parking lot is way too small. They only carry Mexican beers too..... read more

Every time I got to the Border Cafe, I think "This time the food is going to be good." Every time, I leave disappointed. I've had most of the vegetarian dishes and they have all been bland, bland, bland. Last night, I decided to try the chili relleno. Look, I like cheese as much as the next person, but the dish was literally a huge pile of cheese and fried batter with only tiny morsels of pepper. I'm talking a HUGE pile of cheese. If I had eaten it, I would have been constipated for a week and forced to take a morning-after Lipitor pill to prevent a cholesterol-induced heart attack. Like other people have said, this place is so loud, it's insane. If you're going on a hot date, avoid this place at all costs. However, it has a nice, warm feel to it, so it would be a good place to go and get drunk with your friends (which plenty of people like to do, judging from the obnoxious diners there last night). The only thing saving the Border Cafe from a one-star review is its atmosphere, tasty chips (but not the salsa), and large sodas. I know-- not much of a saving grace, but it's better than nothing. read more