What a great spot for a fun and interesting breakfast / brunch. As others here have said, this spot is a CASH ONLY establishment, so come prepared! We had a short wait as the number of tables is sparse...so be patient and have a lollipop. Once seated, the waitstaff was pleasant and always at the ready with a coffee pot to top us off. We did our usual shtick and ordered multiple dishes to split / share: home fries (with queso of course!), Smack Your Ass chorizo tacos and the bacon avocado benedict. The chorizo tacos were a great combination of local, spicy, crumbled meat folded into eggs plus roasted corn relish, taco sauce, cheddar cheese and a cilantro sour cream. These tacos were not overly spicy, but enough to get your nose running and with three on a plate ended up being very filling and satisfying. The bacon avocado benedict was one of the best versions of a benedict I've ever had! It was a perfect combination of tangy guacamole, diced tomatoes (for some added texture), crispy bacon and a poached egg topped with a chipotle lime sauce. The mix of drippy egg, silky guac and bitey chipotle sauce made for one heck of a creamy bite...so glad we split this dish as two halves might have been too much richness in one sitting for one person. Lastly, the home fries with queso were cooked to a perfect crispness drenched in a gooey, flowing cheese sauce. Major theme here on all the dishes...sauce!!! Honestly, if they had a cot in the back I would have laid down and taken a nap since the food coma I was in kicked-in pretty quickly. Luckily, we made it home safe where my couch was waiting for me with open arms (well, cushions to be more exact). Will there be another visit to this spot? You can bet your sweet kick ass chorizo tacos there will be! read more

See all

The food is good, classic diner style, but the prices are not diner prices. We paid $50 for 2 omelettes and coffee.... Don't think it's this place fault as they seem to be struggling due to costs and credit card surcharges. They also will not substitute anything in any dish without up charging, even if you have allergies... just fyi. read more

What a fantastic find! Since the shut down over a year ago, I had refrained from going out for my favorite meal, brunch, and now that I'm vaccinated and things are feeling a bit more safe, I have the weekend mission to eat brunch as much as possible! Borderline Café showed up on my Yelp searches and I was persuaded by the photos of large, hearty portions of food. I was surprised when I walked in on a weekend around 10 and there was an open table and the restaurant is TINY! I had no idea. It is adorable and so inviting and comfy. The staff is super friendly and have a very casual, family-like vibe. Their coffee is horrible (hence the 4 stars rather than 5), but everything else was awesome. My husband had the Huevos Rancheros and I, a veggie omelet and we both left very satisfied and full. I built my own with avocado, tomato and American cheese (my foodie soft spot) and it was absolutely delicious. I'm always grateful when I go into a diner and rye toast is a side option. Yum. I will definitely be back here, I want to try the stuffed french toast next time! read more

Nice clean place, cozy for sure as we ate at a table up in the window. Food was very good but you do pay for what you get so if you're looking for a "value" breakfast, this is not your go-to. But if you want good quality with lots of Mexican breakfast dishes, you'll really like this place! The hash browns with queso is amazing! read more

This is truly a hidden gem in Lakewood. If you didn't know where to look, you wouldn't see it but WOW! Fantastic, fresh, creative food and outstanding service. I had the Bacon Avocado Benedict, another person in our party had the Chorizo Burrito, and the third had Huevos Ranchero Verde with Chorizo. Then we added a half order of Banana Walnut Stuffed French Toast and we all left stuffed and super happy. We went around 1145am and got the last table. They close at 1 so that was a good time. Highly recommend!! read more

See all

Delicious food and good vibes from staff. I would definitely return and people please be kind and wait outside while tables are freed and clear for you! read more

Borderline Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Just a wonderful place. Lovely owner and staff. So accommodating. Truly one of the gems of Lakewood! Have been there a few times, will be back many many more times! read more

Borderline Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

It's good. Average. The seating is limited inside, but during the week they are able to get people in daily easy. If you sit towards the back of the restaurant you almost feel like you are in a "timeout" section - it feels somewhat detached from everything else The portions are ok, food was good, but nothing to be blown away by. It's not the worst, but not the best. read more

Borderline Cafe - Smaller portions - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

See all

Went here for Saturday brunch. Very small but cute space. Pretty extensive menu that seems to have a Mexican vibe, and wall of hot sauce. They also have a decent number of vegetarian and chicken options. A nice local option! Service was great! read more

Almost daily'ed this fine place from '95-'99 before moving away.... some of the best food, kindest staff and courteous locals you'll experience. Glad to see the positive impact Borderline has to this day. And not surprised. Godspeed. read more

My dad and I visited Borderline Cafe per a suggestion from a friend. When we arrived the restaurant was crowded, but we were seated right away. Borderline Cafe is smaller than most resturants but has ample seating and it's great for individuals to.groups of 6. The restaurant decor was cool and the atmosphere was family friendly. They have quite a few menu items so it took a while to decide what we wanted. I haven't really decided on the bacon eggs benedict with a side of home fries and my dad got an omelette. The food was so tasty. my dad enjoyed his meal so much that he said it was his new favorite breakfast place. And I felt the same way. The staff was awesome and very kind. Two thumbs up for sure can't wait to visit Borderline Cafe again. If you've never visited the restaurant before make sure that you bring cash, they are cash only. read more

See all

I found this cute little gem in Lakewood and really enjoyed their breakfast. It was affordable and the service was great. I appreciate the affordability of it. The sandwich was delicious. I'm not really a home fries fan but they were read more

Borderline Cafe - Menu page 1 - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Food was great and service was as well! Would suggest the skillet plate and the Hot chocolate had sprinkles, which was a nice touch.

Nice atmosphere and place to meet for a coffee or breakfast with friends. There may be a wait but the line moves fast and the service is friendly. read more

The food was spectacular and social distancing guidelines were met exceptionally well. The French toast was honestly so flavorful, it's a must have this Autumn. The portions were massive! I ate a single stack (what I refer to them as) and was stuffed. Lol. The pecans add a great textural element and crunch, and while the French toast would have been sweet enough, the syrup was a perfect addition. The home fries while amazing alone were perfectly tasty, the Queso was a great addition! The food here slaps, and the waitress we had was such a sweetheart (and we were lucky enough to get a song just before the live musician started his set)! They also offer carry out which is AMAZING, so you could enjoy the food at home if you are trying to avoid public places at all costs. Would recommend to all! read more

Borderline Cafe - Pumpkin-Pecan Stuffed French Toast and Homefries with Queso - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

This place I thought it was going to be a coffee place. It turned out, it is a really great place for breakfast. Their coffee is super fresh and the waitress was awesome. I ordered a Belgian waffle and OMG it was so tasty. Of course, I added a side of bacon because breakfast is not breakfast without bacon. I'm sorry for all of you vegetarians, vegans, etc. I definitely recommend coming to this place if you want a really good breakfast. They also except only cash, so you might want to go down to the convenient store to grab some cash from their ATM. It is not very big however, the atmosphere is cozy. read more

Borderline Cafe - There is no big sign for Borderline Café it is connected to the cookie place insomnia cookies - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

See all

Ever heard that expression "A little hole-in-the-wall place"? Well, we found a place just like that, and it's a nook I intend on spending more time at. The Borderline is so small, you might miss it. They take cash only, so make sure you stop at the ATM first, but bring an appetite too, because the food is really special. Most of the fair has a Southewestern flair, and a lot of it is breakfast related, but man, was it flavorful and tasty. I got some breakfast tacos that blew me away, and my wife got sliders (that she was kind enough to let me sample,) which were also major league tasty. One point about this place; the staff. Nice, helpful folks who were kind enough to make food suggestions after we told them about my wife's diverticulitis issues. They were great. The food does take a minute as their kitchen is small, but let me tell you, it's worth the wait. Parking is spartan, with some street parking and some around the corner, but it's worth the trek for this tasty gem. So, if you're hungry, get a pocket of cash, and head for the Borderline! read more

Borderline Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Great old fashioned breakfast diner. Great ambiance, friendly and attentive waitress. Great coffee read more

Borderline Cafe - Biscuits and Gravy with jalapeño biscuits - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

We started with breakfast at a highly rated breakfast joint in Lakewood, Ohio which was on our way to our next destination.  When we got there we almost left because we didn't realize that they only took cash and that metered parking was the only parking available.  (This was our fault though, the website clearly states cash only.) Luckily we had $30 cash and just enough coins to fill the meter long enough for breakfast.  I have to say we were very happy that we didn't leave.  My Hubby opted for the philly cheesesteak benedict and I got the banana nut stuffed french toast, we also shared a side of their home fries.  All of it was absolutely delicious!  The only thing we would do differently next time is add queso to those home fries because the queso was delicious and the potatoes could use some seasoning! We will definitely be back next time we are in town with cash and coins in hand! read more

Borderline Cafe served me, hands-down, the BEST breakfast I have EVER had. So you might be wondering why gave only 4 stars.... The cons of borderline are that it is cash only, it is a VERY small space (don't even try and go with a group larger than 4 or 5), and you have to wait a pretty long time to get seated. There is nowhere to put your name in, as you just wait outside in a line for a table to open up. All that being said, it is so worth the wait!!! The food is AMAZING! All of their stuffed french toast is to die for. The home fries (with QUESO!?) are delicious too! Service was great and I can't wait to return for some more of that french toast! read more

Love everything about Borderline Cafe but especially the wonderful staff and food. Everything is also very clean.

Enjoyed breakfast this morning. We arrived at 10am and waited about 40 minutes outside. It was a rainey morning so it's a good thing there are awnings in front of all the businesses. They don't take names but do a good job of checking with everyone outside. The food was worth the wait. I had the Philly eggs Benedict. It was excellent. Daughter had the bacon avocado eggs Benedict and she like hers too. My wife had the smoked sausage cheddar and mushroom omelette. It was excellent. We all shared a half of the stuffed French toast with berrys. It was was great too. Service was quick considering how busy it was. We will definitely be back when we visit again. read more

So good! This has such a homey diner feel! It has great food options from the classics to a few of the more "fancier" or "modern" picks. The staff are always kind and diligent read more

The food was excellent. I had the bacon Benedict. It was prepared perfect. The fruit was fresh and very good. My husband had the bbq hash and he loved it. The menu has a lot of choices. The muffins looked amazing. I will definitely try that next time. They are grilled. Coffee was plentiful. It is a very cute place and staff is very friendly. We will definitely be back. It is a very small place and you have to wait outside. The wait was short. There is street parking and it is free on the weekend. read more

DOWNSIDE: It's cash-only, so make sure you visit an ATM first. UPSIDE: Everything else, but let me focus on the waitresses... This was the first restaurant I visited since I went to the ER three weeks earlier for what turned out to be two major flare-ups of something called diverticulitis. This was my first attempt at ordering food in my newly restricted diet (no nuts or anything with seeds). I mentioned the diverticulitis in passing to our waitress and she said her mom had the same thing, so she was able to help me navigate their menu as far as what I could and could not eat. Another waitress overheard this and pointed out what else I had to watch out for, such as the home made guacamole having bits of tomatoes in it (again, seeds). I ended up getting the breakfast sliders, which I shared with my husband. Very good people work here. read more

See all

CASH ONLY ALERT!!! Worth the stop at the ATM. Hasbrowns are to die for. The steak and egg sliders are my favorite but today I ventured away from those and did not regret it. Order anything here and you'll be more than satisfied. The service staff is small and so is the dining room but they hit you with mountain sized flavors in every dish. The pride they put into every dish is tasted in every bite. read more

See all

This place has incredible food and very friendly staff! We ordered the stuffed French toast and the bacon avocado benedict and both were delicious. I absolutely love that they offer many of the breakfast items in a half and full order, as the half order of French toast was decadent and satisfying without over stuffing me or giving me a sugar crash. The bacon avocado benedict was light but filling. The ingredients were high quality and fresh. The cinnamon roll we got to go was huge and definitely worth the $4. Be sure to arrive early because they only have 22 seats, and it's a first come, first serve line wait, so large groups had to wait an hour or so to sit together, but my party of 2 only waited about 15-20 min. There's not a lot of shade or room to hang out in line, so my one recommendation to Borderline would be some sort of buzzer or waitlist system so folks could go grab a coffee while they wait without losing their place in line. Highly recommend to all! read more

Borderline Cafe - Seating area - small - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

OMG - literally the best eggs Benedict I have ever had. Menu is not too big which made ordering easy. Service was fast & friendly. My girlfriend had waffles and they were also super good. Can't wait to come back again! read more

Borderline Cafe - Eggs Benedict - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

See all

It's pretty hard to find the perfect breakfast spot with the right amount of charm, quirkiness and delicious food. Well I have good news for you folks looking to start your day off in a very "Lakewood" way... Look no further! Borderline Cafe is the perfect spot to get all the breakfast "feels" and more. Cozy up in a corner nook at this spot and just watch Lakewood come to life outside the window. Okay I'm getting up to head over there now that I've made myself hungry. read more

I've walked by this place many weekend mornings and finally set out to give it a shot. There's always been a line out the door (especially during the summer months) so I figured it had to be pretty good. With that in mind, be prepared to wait a bit to be seated. There's not much room to wait inside, so dress for the weather because you might be standing outside the door for a while. The inside is cozy. It's a small shop but they do well with the space. We were seated at a small table for 2 right in the front window. On a sunny day you'll bake in that spot and I could feel myself getting a bit too toasty. Borderline Cafe's tex-mex menu has a mixture of breakfast and lunch options. Wasn't feeling crazy on breakfast food so I ended up getting a chorizo burrito and a side of potatoes as well. I was a little disappointed by the size of the burrito so I'm glad I opted for the extras. The food was good but I actually enjoyed the potatoes more than the main entree. It's cash only so be sure to hit an ATM beforehand. With the popularity of this place, the servers were running around like crazy trying to get everyone's table taken care of so it took me asking a few times before they remembered to get me a refill on my drink. I'll stop back in if I see there's not much of wait. read more

Borderline Cafe - The chorizo burrito garnished up Christmas tree style. - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

See all

Borderline was solid but I guess I haven't been drinking the koolaid as much as everyone else. Don't get me wrong- I don't think you'd be disappointed and I would definitely return to try more of the menu but I don't think it's as rave-worthy as everyone else does I guess. I think maybe my lack of enthusiasm comes from how highly hyped Borderline is. Nothing was wrong with it but I wouldn't say it's in my top breakfast stops list. They're closed Monday and Tuesday so make sure you check the day. I've heard getting a seat on the weekends is a nightmare because the line is so long. We probably waited 15ish minutes on a Wednesday but it was also winter break so I'm not sure if that's typical. The servers were running around like crazy to keep the place moving and none of our wait was excessive. I got the veggie quesadilla plus bacon and it was tasty and I appreciate that it comes with sour cream and salsa - I hate when they don't. read more

Borderline Cafe - Potatoes and chorizo burrito - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

See all

Sweet local spot with great food! You won't be let down here. Mom and pop vibes. Neon sign in the front window.

Great breakfast! Small place and waiting situation could be better. But everything about the breakfast I had was great!

Very rarely now in days do you find excellent service, especially from wait staff, but that is not the case here. Our waitresses today were awesome, very bubbly and friendly. Great staff. Great food. Great experience. You can tell that a lot of the locals come in for breakfast, and I can see why. read more

Alright I think I just have to admit to myself that I'm not a big fan of the eggs benedict. I've really tried hard to like it but the runny yolk is just too rich for me. Despite that, I must say, borderline cafe's avocado benedict might be the best I've had. The cilantro lime hollandaise did it I think. The home fries were delicious too. It is a pretty small restaurant. I was there really early on a weekday and it was already half full by the time i left at 8. Service was great. One of the sisters came by at just the right moments and my coffee was always refilled and full. I think I'm gonna just have scrambled eggs next time, but I will certainly be by again! read more

Borderline Cafe - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

My initial impression of Borderline did not represent the restaurant very well, I'm so glad we waited! When you first walk in, there's a tiny little entry with a wall blocking most of the restaurant. If it's crowded (which it was on a Sunday morning around 11), you'll be stuck in a very awkward place. People trying to get in, close the door, wait in line AND people trying to get out. I would estimate there's between 15-20 tables here? The décor is pretty cool. Walls are painted a vibrant, mustard-y yellow color, with lots of accent color (chairs are teal!). The artwork is fresh and original. There is definitely a Southwestern vibe and I was hoping the menu mimicked that. We waited only about ten minutes for a table, but were greeted almost as soon as we sat down. Our waitress was very friendly and fast. I had the Bacon Avocado Benedict. It was so good. The bacon was nice and thick, delicious guacamole mash on the bottom of the perfectly toasted muffin. The egg was expertly poached and topped with a zingy chipotle sauce. I ordered an extra side of sausage and with the side of fruit that comes with it- I had more than enough food. My boyfriend got the stuffed berry french toast and although I did not try it, he said it was really good. Our food came out quickly, but the presentation did not look rushed. Everything was fresh, beautiful and carefully prepared. I was also really impressed with the wall of hot sauce. Not sure why I thought it was so cute, but I liked having lots of options to spice up my brunch. We paid about $31 for our breakfast and milks and were both thoroughly satisfied. Parking anywhere in Lakewood can be daunting, but we were able to find a spot easily. This is definitely someplace we will return! read more

Learned about this breakfast spot on the west end of Lakewood through Yelp! FYI $$ Cash Only $$ This is a solid, small, independent restaurant serving typical breakfast fare with a bit of southwestern influence. Food: very tasty. Bacon avocado Benedict is the stand out-- great combination of flavors and textures. Steak and Egg sliders are good but not all I was hoping for given some of the reviews. Home fries are a well-prepared though simple side; not just some mediocre potatoes they throw on your plate as an afterthought. Sausage patties are flavorful and have a good texture. I hear the omelettes are good too. No complaints about the food. Coffee: very weak. This is the one drawback of this restaurant. However, the servers are frequently offering refills, which is plus for coffee fans with a different palate than mine. Service: friendly and attentive. Value: excellent. You can get a uniquely good breakfast for $10-15. I've only been on Saturdays around 8:00 or 8:30am; after 9:00am the place gets crowded and a line begins to form. You'll want to get there early. And remember: Cash Only (and no atm nearby) read more

*Cash only* We went on a weekday morning because we heard this place gets a really long line on the weekends. That's usually a sign of good things in store. We only had a few people in front of us so our wait wasn't so long. And it was worth it. This place is full of yum, awesome, and more yum. Our table got the Banana Walnut stuffed French Toast, Breakfast Tacos, and Chorizo Burrito. There was not a scrap left behind. read more

Borderline Cafe - Banana walnut stuffed french toast - Breakfast & Brunch Near Me - Lakewood, Ohio

Woke up with a hankering for eggs Benedict on the first day of summer. Did a Yelp search and ended up with BorderLine Café as a top recommendation. I wanted the traditional eggs Benny but I kept reading about their avocado bacon option and how it was the best. It's hard to make a choice like that when you're only imagining the thick lush lemony deliciousness of hollandaise sauce, but I placed my pick up order and headed their direction. I was told it would take 20 minutes but I arrived in 15 and my bag was waiting for me. Oh good lord, even though my mind was set on a more traditional breakfast, this meal knocked it out of the park. The guacamole was just-right spicy, the poached eggs were on point, the bacon was crispy, the lime chipotle sauce was the perfect way to tie everything together. I ate my meal at Lakewood Park. Everyone who walked by eyed breakfast with jealousy. Rightly so. read more

This place is great but not exceptional (for the vegan in the group). Great service, great people, good place read more

See all