Dining Out Boston

In earlier posts I pledged that the next time I went out for Mexican food I'd try one of the many reader suggestions for a finer dining experience, but, well, sometimes your boyfriend just wants to go to Border Cafe.

Not that Border Cafe is strictly Mexican (Tex-Mex or Southwestern is probably more accurate) and not that there isn't something to be said for cheap magaritas, fajitas, and well-mixed guacamole. Border Cafe is always busy, always loud, but always a bargain, with a menu where almost everything is under $10–very unusual for a sit-down restaurant in Cambridge.

We met up with several of Bunches' high school friends around 6:30pm and spent about an hour at the bar, sipping Dos Equis and waiting for the rest of the buddies to arrive. In spite of its laid-back, spring-break atmosphere, Border is a stickler for the rules: no alcohol without with a valid ID, no seating without the full party. Hanging out at the crowded bar at the center of the restaurant, however, is not an entire drag as the bartenders are attentive and the free chips and (very) salty salsa plentiful.

Around 7:30pm we sat down at a long wooden table in Border's basement, where every bit of wallspace is adorned with colorful lights and Corona paraphrenalia. Aftering ordering another round of drinks, we debated between reliable tacos and enchiladas or Border's equally cheap specials like the pan-fried eggplant and blackened swordfish. In the end the old standbys won; I went with two fish tacos with black beans and rice ($7) and Bunches had the chicken fajitas and jumbalaya ($10). I didn't anticipate or need the catfish to be quite so heavily fried, but the light coating of melted jack cheese prevented it from being overly greasy. A small array of fixings like lettuce, tomatoes, salsa, and guacamole tasted very fresh and made the two taco servings more substantial.

Our waitress only checked in on us at the very end of the meal to collect plates and hand us the bill, but I couldn't blame her too much because we certainly weren't paying for great service. On that note, you might argue that one could get similar food without even the pretense of gratuity at a Boca Grande or Anna's Taqueria; however, I point to Border's livelier atmosphere, slightly more specialized cuisine (re: fish tacos), and liquor license to justify the additional expense. It's perfect for loud groups and non-serious discussion, but go elsewhere if you can't wait 45 minutes for your burrito.

The Info
Border Cafe
32 Church St., Cambridge
617-864-6100