I don't like to make bad reviews but they have no manager or email to contact them when there is an issue. I sat the bar during Sunday brunch at 3 pm no hello, no thank you no service, food is always good but bartenders have an issue of communication to busy to pay Attention can I have a small guacamole w chips received full order after asking during the meal when I asked about on the bill It was removed but grumpily, I asked for a Spanish coffee and received a coffee mug w Kahluha in it no whipped cream felt a little jacked when I asked I was told that's a Spanish coffee I should of sent it back it just made feel upset I should of sat a table instead of a the lack of service bar. read more

Recently dined at the Border Cafe in Saugus. Waitress was quick to take our drink order, attentive but not over bearing. The food was very good, had the burro with beans. Chips and salsa are very good. The queso dip is good, little too many peppers in it for my taste but still very good. Manager stopped by and checked in on us as well as wishing us well as we departed the building. Highly recommend. read more

I ordered the Chicken Guatalahara and it's absolutely breathtaking!! It was cooked perfectly. All of the ingredients are extremely fresh, the prices are spot on for how much food you get and the service is top notch. I would absolutely recommend this place to anyone looking to spice up their pallet. read more

Been to both Cambridge and Saugus locations. Cambridge has a funkier vibe, but both have the same tasty menu and great staff. Cold beer, excellent food, huge portions, fun folks! YUMMO! Super fresh chips with great salsa too. read more

We went there this afternoon what a mistake . This use to be a really good Mexican cafe not any longer. The chips are too thick and flavorless. The beef fajitas we over cooked, tough actually crunchy beef yuk! Th onions were over spiced send under cooked. When we told the waitress who was very nice and sent over the manager he offered to cook it again but I said not to bother. I think the cook has changed or some this is wrong in the kitchen My husband and I use to really like this place what a disappointment . We will not be returning here again . read more

Service there today was horrible .. original waiter was ok and then had to leave for some reason ... then 2nd person (female) was ever so rude and was rushing us on what we wanted for our main course as we were still waiting for an appetizer that NEVER SHOWED up ! Also took almost 15mins for drinks (non alcoholic & alcoholic) to show up. Was highly disappointed with the experience tonight as we've been going there for a long time. read more

The ground beef chimichanga gave me salmonella poisoning soooo no I don't think I'll be going back.

Good food at a reasonable price. Kids meals are only $3 which is refreshing. Be prepared for constant auditory bombardment. This place is LOUD. We went on a Saturday evening so this is probably worst case. Did I say it was LOUD. read more

Love border cafe. I get the fajitas almost every time we go and they are delicious! Last time I went was with a group of 8 of my family and my cousin has a weird thing with silverware so we asked for plastic ware and the manager literally walked to the store next to the restaurant IN THE RAIN to get him a plastic fork and knife. Needless to say; they are willing to go above and beyond to give good service. read more

Best place for mexican food on rt1. PERIOD. always consistent and priced right

This restaurant is great! They have the best service at any restaurant I've ever seen. If you go around noon on the weekends you can get your food in less than 5 minutes. The fajitas are really good, chicken or beef. The blackened salmon is delicious. The chicken bandera comes with a grilled avocado that melts in your mouth. They also bring hot chips and salsa when you sit down which always get devoured. I definitely recommend Border Cafe. read more

This is my favorite place to go for tex mex. You'll probably gave to wait for a table but it's so worth it. The busier it is the better. It's loud but never to loud that you can't hear your dining partner. The corn chips and salsa are the best I've had.... anywhere. The food arrives hot and with pleasant service. The prices are great for the large portions. We frequent the Boarder Cafe in Burlington but the Saugus location is just as good. read more

The Border Cafe has and always will be one of my favorite restaurants! I absolutely love the food here. I won't lie, I have only ever gotten one thing on the menu-the chicken quesadilla-because it is the absolute best! I love it and cannot bring myself to ever order anything else...it is THAT good! Now, I have tried bites of other meals that friends or family has gotten such as the beef fajitas (excellent), the jambalaya (great), and the Mexican and Cajun burger (both wonderful). Every time I go, I order the cajun popcorn shrimp as an appetizer and it is the best popcorn shrimp I have ever had! They are fresh, perfectly fried and seasoned, and the the dipping sauce is amazing-I could drink it! It is a must try! The complimentary hot, salty tortilla chips and fabulous, fresh salsa is a highlight of The Border! They are so good that we usually end up eating two baskets of chips and two cups of salsa! The atmosphere is fun and relaxed. I love all the fun signs and paintings on the walls. It is family friendly and a really great place to go. It is also a great deal! Fantastic food for a great price! read more

It is exactly the same place, except it's on the North side vs. the South side. I thought for sure it would have been bigger to accommodate the large crowds that herd in every night of the week. There is always a wait! The parking lot is better than the old one, but not much bigger and parking is still a problem. The chips and salsa are really good, especially when they're just out of the oven. The food is so-so, mostly blasted with cheese and then more cheese. You're sure you ordered a chicken enchilada, but got a cheese enchilada instead. The prices are inexpensive, but I would rather pay more for a better quality of food.. read more

Great casual place with tasty meals... The margaritas are just right, not too sweet and they certainly contain alcohol My favorite is the Chimichuri steak, tender flank with an awesome sauce. The kids enjoy it too, the staff is always responsive to them, that makes it easier on us. Enjoy read more

Mm! Really great tasting food! Crawfish dish was nothing short of amazing and the kid's meals are really worth it too. The salmon dish was good too. The appetizer of Camptown Shrimp was good too but a bit too spicy for my taste. Mmmmmmmm!!! read more

What happend to this place? Used to be one of my fav's... last few times I've been there I felt like cattle. Maybe its the new location, but what happened to the catfish bites? They were awesome, now their gone. I wanted to give 2 stars, but felt they deserved a little more than that. I Dont like the way you cant move your chair without hitting they guy sitting behind you, and visa versa. read more

This has always been our favorite restaurant!! The food is amazing and the the servings are huge. We have been going there forever, and now that we live in New Hampshire we still try to get down there as often as possible. We lived in Harvard Square for a couple of years and we would eat there at least once a week. The only downfall is it is very crowded and there is usually a wait but the table turnover is quick so it isn't bad. read more

Place is unbelievable, I usually come here for lunch and dinner on Friday and it doesn't even sent my wallet.

Nothing like this place in Saugus. Fresh food, great service, and the margaritas are delicious. Starting off with hot chips and salsa just adds to the great dining expierience. Get the chicken quesadilla or the fajitas. Huge portions with unreal flavor in every bite you take read more

Waste of time and money. Just sat at the bar, ordered an appetizer and the catfish. Both of them came out at the same time so they said they would take the catfish back and make a new one. I finished my appetizer and they brought the catfish out and it was my same plate but the fried catfish had been sitting under a heat lamp for 15 minutes and it was a soggy hot mess of Greece. It was absolutely disgusting. I told the bartender I didn't want it, she called over a manager, he said he would take it off the bill and then I sat at the bar for another 15 minutes while I waited for him to take it off the bill. When I called him over and asked what was going on The bartender said she forgot to print a new bill. She was completely rude. Overall I will absolutely never go back there again. Too many good Mexican restaurants in our area to be bothered with this place read more

Stupid rule can't seat you till your whole party is here.. Ok but we would like to order appetizer and drinks? Sorry that's are rule.. Just lost the restaurant fifty more dollars!!! Stupid rule read more

Good food. Stupid loud in there. Good place to bring your kids since if they are loud they won't disturb anyone.

My first time in here after years of driving by it & I loved it. The food was delicious, but the service was even better. Our waiter was fast & friendly. I was also impressed with his knowledge of what was vegetarian on the menu, which you don't see enough. I will definitely be back! read more

I love coming to this place,the food is great,the servers are amazing and knowledgeable and best of all the atmosphere is always happy.id recommend this place to anyone read more

The food is great, the wait staff is very friendly and the prices you can't beat. I love coming here for dinner. It can get a little loud and hard to chat with friends but they still get a 5 star. read more

I went here with my cousins yesterday for lunch and my stomach was rumbling as we pulled into the parking lot. There is nothing I love more than good Tex-Mex and Cajun food! However, I am very picky and critical when it comes to cooking it right because I have had the real stuff and once you go Cajun (real Cajun), you never, NEVER go back. The ambiance is fun! I love the country music, I love the dirty western feel, and I love that the place was jam packed! We did not have to wait even though we had a larger party, which was a blessing because I was starving! The server quickly gained the nickname of "Negative Nancy" by my family. My cousin likes to order from the kids menu because she is a vegetarian and likes very plain and simple foods. When she asked for the kids menu, the server hesitantly agreed and then informed her that she would still have to pay full price because she was over 12 years old. That is fine. That is completely understandable. However, he clearly made my cousin feel uncomfortable so she felt pressured to order off the regular menu. She ordered a simple house salad, and when he brought it out, it had bacon bits all over. His answers to many of our questions seemed to be "no" or if we asked for extra sour cream, it is like he wanted to know why! On to the food! If you are a restaurant that serves Gumbo, you bet that I will be trying it! Gumbo is one of my favorite foods, and I get pretty upset when it gets messed up. However, I did not order my cup of Gumbo with high expectations. To my surprise, it was excellent! My only suggestion is MORE andouille sausage! For my main entree, I ordered craw fish etouffe. Now, my expectations were much higher because after tasting the Gumbo, I felt like I was back in N'Orleans! I was not entirely disappointed, but I believe I may have heightened my expectations to far. The craw fish was tasty, although small. They do provide you with plenty of it! The sauce was a bit runny which was a bummer. We paid for our meal once we got our entree's and then we did not see our server again. "Negative Nancy" wanted nothing more to do with us! How sad! It's a good place, a fun place to eat with friends and family, and I will be sure to return when I have a craving for Gumbo and can't see myself running down to New Orleans to get some! read more

I want to love this place because they give you awesome complimentary nachos BUT the food otherwise isn't that great. Expect to get full on their hot yummy tortilla chips and salsa, so be careful. I've been here many many times and I normally order quesadillas but since I'm lactose intolerant, I stay away for my own good.Food is pretty average here, nothing too special. Last time, I ordered blacken chicken and it was pretty dry and the sauce with it was super salty. Service is always great even though it's usually packed at night. Prices are great too along with their HUGE cups for drinks. read more

Does anyone know if Saugus location changed their hours? I went on Thursday a little before 10pm and the doors locked, but their website says they close @ 11... read more

Group of six for under $100, this is including drinks and appitizers. I dare you to beat that with a stick!

Always very very busy during peak nights and times. It is even very busy at lunch time during the week. The chips and salsa are great and all the good selections are excellent. Drink selections are perfect! I always go with the blackened chicken fajitas! The smell you get driving by this location is awesome and is a reminder that I have not been in a while... read more

I always leave here waddling, full to the brim of Mexican goodness. I am an avid fan of delicious Mexican food, and although this is TexMex, who cares, it's delicious! Always order the Bayou sauce to pour on top of your dishes--it's fantastic (and a free side ;) ) read more

If you like Cajun creole food then this is the place. Ive been going there for many yrs and will go back again only its not during a shift change from day to night. I was at the bar ordering drinks and Dinner. 1/2 through my meal I was asked by the bartender to cash-out. So this means I had to open 2 separate tabs, one for day shift and a new one for night shift. Can't someone come up with a system that takes the 2 shifts into account? So rather than opening 2 tabs I paid the one and walked out as I can't submit a 2 receipts to my work for 1 meal. I understand loud and clear that this is about getting your tips and more convenient for closing out your receipts at the end of your shift.... very bad business practice...I thought I was the customer?? read more

Without any doubt, this place is incredible!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It should get 10 stars. First of all, who does HOT chips, fresh from the fryer and great salsa. No one besides these guys. Huge portions, great drinks and quick service. What more can you want for cheap prices. Oh, almost forgot - GREAT FOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hot, fresh and delicious. Consistent every single time I've been there. My only complaint is no takeout. I'd go twice as often. If you've never been GO there, you don't know what you're missing. And to those who ranked this less than 5 stars, grow some taste buds!!!!!! read more

Everyone loves hanging out at Border Cafe not just because they have good foods and drinks but also they offer a low-key and relaxing environment where anyone can come and wind down after a long day at work. Their foods and drinks are very reasonably priced eg. $6 margarita, gourmet Mexican burger for $11. Portions are huge so I always take leftovers home for next couple of meals. One downfall is average waiting time is 20-40 minutes for most nights. read more

microwave microwave microwave another lazy restaurant who rather then train cooks to cook the train them to push buttons on a microwave. whats even more surprising is that locals who have some of the best food in the world at there door step still choose to wait in line for food defrosted and nuked. read more

I eaten here for years. Once they moved across the street the service and food have good down. The bartenders always had attitude but now it is extreme. I had basically no service I had to ask for napkins and utensils. I usually get a quesadilla always a safe bet. Not this time. It was greasy soggy and loaded with salt. No one was around to speak with. I picked at my dinner then requested the manager which said very little. I paid the bill. Yes. They did not comp my dinner. Don't waste your time. Go somewhere else. read more

Hands down the best Tex Mex food in the Greater Boston area. The salad dressings are made in house and are delicious. Jose's rice has just the right amount of heat and flavor. The Chicken Taco's are very reasonably priced, tasty, and very filling. There is nothing i can say bad about this place. I've been going here for years and have never had a bad food item and am always more than full when i leave. read more

Though not an authentic tasting Mexican/Cajun cuisine, Border Cafe is a great no frills place the whole family can enjoy. I had the Cadillac fajitas, dad had the beef fajitas and the boy had the Jim Bowie style fillet. All were tasty. NO complaints. Be sure to try a cup of the Louisiana Gumbo... I had never had gumbo and I'm glad i gave it a whirl. It was seasoned beautifully with a tiny kick of spiciness. Oh, and if you need a tasty beverage to wash down the spicy food, try a giant iced tea, or even better, a margarita! read more

you know, i always liked this place enough. i've never been super inspired by their menu but enjoyed whatever i ordered. i think i liked the chicken soft tacos the best... probably the least interesting thing on the menu, but very delicious. the drinks were always decent. i've always had to wait so long to get in there. not a huge deal cause you can go to the bar, but still, i'm not huge on waiting 30-45 minutes to get tacos. so yeah, i never had anything bad to say about this place until the last time i went. once i got home i threw up all night. it wasn't like i had 75 drinks or anything. i seriously had one margarita that i couldn't even finish until the icy bits melted because it was too sweet (maybe that was the problem). i wasn't excited to revisit the meal i'd just eaten, and i'm also not excited to go back. read more