We are Jersey natives and started eating at the Boarder Cafe in jersey. We now live in Maryland so this location is the closest! It is worth our drive! We love it! Big affordable portions! Amazing left overs. We love a good Marg. read more

Solid Tex Mex place great for a quick sit down lunch. Went with a work group, 2 of us had salads (1 salmon, 2 chicken) and one person had the fajitas. Service was friendly and fast, food was good. Seems similar to Jose Tejas (a chain in NJ). Good choice so lunch, beers, margaritas or dinner. read more

Always a great experience here. My girlfriend and I always get the fajitas for two and it is great tasting. The wait staff is always kind and helpful. Overall this is a great place to eat and it is family friendly. read more

Visited for the first time . I feel this place leaves a lot to be desired. Upon entering the establishment I walked to the hostess stand and was not acknowledged. I took it upon myself to find a place at the bar. There is only seating at the bar top. They have "long table tops" which have no seating, you have to stand your entire visit unless you stalk a seat at the bar. Customer service here lacks and as a customer and food blogger that is something I'm very big on. Any who.. I ordered Mango Margarita. Besides the cup being filled sky high with ice and the drink being gone in a few sips, the flavor was very watered down and wasn't too pleasant to the taste buds. I decided to order food as well: blackened chicken and steak fajitas. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED! The "blackened" wasn't blackened it was BURNT to a crisp. You couldn't even taste the flavor of the chicken because of it. The portion sizes were extremely small for the price and the entree. Compared to other Tex-mex restaurants they have a lot to work on. Until Next Review, @kickinitwithki on IG read more

Border Cafe - Mango Margarita - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Have to say Im actually impressed with the service, acknowledgement of the staff, and also the quality of the food here. Came in when the restaurant opened which was 4pm during the week days and was greeted promptly. Seated by the window which is something I like personally so that was a plus. Our server was also cool and real informative. Helped me and my brother with a recommended dish being that this was both of our first times here which was the "Burro". Have to say I liked my man's pick for newcomers. Mine was the "Pulled beef burro" with the Jambalaya. Man it's delicious and real fulfilling, almost didn't finish my whole plate but I managed to just leave a spoonful of Jambalaya. That burro was filled with tender beef, a good amount of cheese, Im not sure what the sauce was but enough of that and the rice was pretty good it's self. All in all, everything was delicious and let me add definitely affordable for that amount of food. My order came to $15 If I had to change a few things it would only be to add more soft drink options and an actual "Sweetened Ice Tea". Add more entrees like before too cause I heard the menu was shortened due to when the pandemic started. Other than that everything is good. Staff and atmosphere will keep customers coming. Thanks Border Cafe for my Tex Mex experience here. read more

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We went here today for lunch and thought the place was very cute from the outside. When we went inside it was just as cute with gas lanterns and good music. We ordered the steak fajitas half and half one serving and split it for $14.99. The chips and salsa promptly arrived but really needed some help. The salsa was very flat, we needed to add salt and hot sauce to it and the chips were very thick. I know it's just a personal taste but I do like thinner tortilla chips that are seasoned with salt. When the fajitas arrived they did look appetizing. Although there was only four slices of steak and four slices of chicken with onions. For $14.99 I thought I was going to definitely get more than 8 slices. It came with a side of salsa, sour cream, cheese and we had to pay a dollar for one scoop of guacamole, which I thought was completely ridiculous. You also get a choice of black beans and rice or jambalaya for your side. We chose the black beans and rice. They were average black beans nice and creamy but lacked seasoning, however, the rice was well seasoned. What was very nice was the tortillas were made in house and were quite tasty. If I had to pick a winner for this meal it would have been the tortillas other than that the meal was just average. read more

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I was warned the Border Cafe was not what it used to be and I found out for myself. The recipes have changed for sure. We ordered the seafood enchilada and the chicken quesadilla. The seafood enchilada was seasoned differently and is smothered with a different and unpalatable cream sauce. The chicken quesadilla was underwhelming and bland. Is it under new ownership or management? How could they mess up such a good thing smh. read more

Good food and plenty of it. Came out fresh and hot!. Great servers who were accurate and personable. We loved the Empanadas, Creole Shrimp, Shrimp Tacos, Seafood Enchiladas and Don Julio margaritas. Nice family friendly atmosphere and reasonably priced menu items. Always a hit here! read more

Even though it was a busy time, My party got seated within 5 minutes. Our table was wobbly, so our server thankfully fixed that once she noticed it. She was extremely friendly, and food came quickly as well. It was pretty average price wise, but it was also very good. Kinda hard to hear people beside me because it was extremely loud, but again that might've been because it was such a popular time for people to get lunch. Would definitely recommend the Border Cafe for big parties. read more

Quick in and out. Prompt food. The best spot for Tex mex when you're hungry. Food is st the table within 15 minutes of sitting down. Margaritas are on point. read more

Border Cafe - Beef burros with rice and beans - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

I'll start with the worst thing i can say about a restaurant. They don't have dessert. Like. What?! This place has a funky mix of Cajun and Tex Mex. A lot of our face Tex-mex options were missing but there were lots of other things, like jambalaya, gumbo, and catfish fajitas. I had the pastelitos, which are like small empanadas. They were on the appetizer menu and come with a side of some sort of green garnish. They were really good. I also had the chips and queso which I liked, but Hubbo thought it tasted like the stuff in the Tostitos jar. Of course, I love that stuff, too. (Every table gets free chips, btw, and these were served hot with salsa- nice spice.) He got the Chorizo Mexicano, an app with sausage, cheese, mushrooms served with tortillas. Pretty tasty and the tortillas are freshly made. The big winner was the fajitas. The meat had a bit of smokiness that was different from any other fajita. Overall, we were completely enthralled with the food here. Until dessert time. read more

Trust all the positive reviews! I swear that half the town was here on a Tuesday night (see pics). It's Tex-Mex, as written in huge letters on the outside wall, so know that going in. Just starting with the complimentary chips and salsa, I knew we were in for a treat. The salsa was so good with more sweetness than heat. We ordered the Route 66 Chopped salad and single order chicken fajitas. The salad was amazing! Wonderful combination of flavors with a dressing that added a little sweetness. I was a little surprised at the sweetness, but really enjoyed it. The fajitas were seasoned nice with fresh sides of cheese, pico, rice and beans. The rice was really flavorful. The service was great with a very friendly, attentive staff. Very good first experience. read more

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Fantastic food, great prices, always good service. Border cafe is busy for a reason...this is a great place to have a gathering of friends and/or family. read more

We miss the preCovid menu! Every time we come in we expect to see our old favorites and they aren't there. Something as simple as your Cesar salad can't be that difficult to get. I don't believe there is a supply chain issue on lettuce. Please bring back the full menu! read more

Blackened chicken fajitas. Get them. So good. Enough food to last for the winter. Charming Tex-Mex decor, wide selection of Mexican beers and margaritas, and perfect salty-corny chips with salsa. Will be coming bac read more

Border Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Absolutely disappointed on my last visit to this restaurant which will probably be the last time that I will be coming. I highly recommended this restaurant to friends as we were traveling and were going to be passing by this location. We came on a Thursday around 2PM with a party of six. First off, the hostess refused to sit us until everyone was there although 2/3 of the restaurant had empty tables. While we waited for our party to arrive, there were no chairs for you to sit on except the bar. I sat my kid in one of the stools and an employee told us to get off as kids are not allowed to sit there. That was understandable but where do you expect a young kid to sit when there are no chairs and the restaurant refuses to sit us even though it was empty? Now for the food, the last time I came, I got the gaucho chicken which was amazing. This time, it was utter disappointment. The chicken was so small and the rice was so salty that the kids meal had bigger portions. In addition, the kids fajita came with pico de gallo that was spicy and served in regular dishes which the kids refused to eat. This restaurant went downhill and I would not recommend it based on my experience. The only positive thing is that kids meal is $4.99 and they give you decent portions. read more

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Came here and got the seafood enchiladas. I'm not the biggest seafood person, so this was a big venture for me. It came with shrimp, crawfish, and crabmeat. Personally, it was a little too fishy for my liking and the shrimp were very small. Instead of black beans and rice I went with the jambalaya and it was extremely good. They bring chips and salsa to the table, which is nice and the chips are really good. We also ordered the queso dip, which was well worth it. It is a large serving of queso. The service was great. Never an empty beverage. The venue was clean, spaced out, and orderly with country music playing in the background. I'm sure this place was even more fun prior to covid. read more

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Always consistent and reliable. Food is well-prepared and nicely presented, margaritas are delicious, staff is friendly, attentive and professional. One of my favorite places. read more

Border Cafe - Cheese Enchiladas - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

The Food is good. You receive a good portion. It is getting to be a cookie cutter type of service. They serve a large amount of people. Age group would be from pre-teen to 70 if mobile. Price is mid range. read more

I've eaten here a few times while visiting my dad, basically because its what my dad knows and for lack of other Mexican restaurant options. And after most visits the food is just ok and not very memorable. After this last visit, I don't think I care to return. Which is a shame, because the Border Cafe located in Cambridge, Mass is actually really good. Food is always consistent and that location is always packed with up to an hour wait. We ordered Blacked Catfish, Blackened Salmon, Filet Mignon Jim Bowie Style, and the fajitas with Blackened Chicken. There is a sharp difference between blacked and burned. All the blackened entrees, were burned to point of them probably being carcinogenic. I've ordered these dishes before in Cambridge and the preparation has always been good. But, the Delaware Border Cafe just doesn't seem to get it. And those shoestring fries served with the Filet, just horrible... hard and crisp. I didn't think it was possible to mess up french fries, but apparently it isn't. read more

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Very very very good! Have been dining here the past 20 years since they opened and it's consistently some of the best Mexican food in this part of Delaware. I've tried most everything over the years and each dish, from the savory tacos and enchiladas to the rich, flavorful mole and tamales, has been excellent and filling. Sometimes I bring out-of-town folks who want something different than the same chain places they're used to and the vibrant, colorful decor and warm staff make you feel welcome. Really enjoy our meals here. read more

Strong frozen margaritas with house made sour mix with real citrus juice. The quesadillas, blackened chicken fajitas, and new Baja shrimp tacos are all fantastic. Super quick service and sometimes a 15 minute wait. A good dinner spot for after a shopping trip to Christiana Mall. Loud and lively atmosphere with a great value. One of my faves in Delaware as a Delawarean. read more

Border Cafe - Camptown Shrimp - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

I've had almost everything on the menu. Try the gulf coast seafood enchiladas, or shrimp tacos! They are phenomenal.

The service we had was spectacular! It was our first time eating here and the food was delicious!!! My kiddos can't wait to go back to the "EAT" restaurant. We will definitely be back :) read more

Border Cafe - Fun atmosphere! - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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Great food and service. Very loud in there so I don't go there anymore. I don't like yelling and it's hard to hear conversation. But if you want great Mexican, come here. read more

The best service . The worse food. The tejas chicken seemed like it was boiled. The fajitas chicken were just tenders not sliced , cold. The shells were hard. The quesadilla was hard with hardly anything in it. This is the first time we ever had this happen here. The queso dip is alway good but the chips were burnt. read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Delaware, because it has cheap food that is very tasty. When you first sit down, you will be served chips and salsa. The chips are good, not excellent. My husbands eats two containers of the salsa. I usually have catfish. I asked for it not blackened, with a grilled order of vegetables, and a piece of cornbread. The salmon salad and the gaucho chicken are good, too. I used to eat the fajitas, but I am trying to eat healthy. They cook everything perfectly. The chefs are consistent. We don't have to wait a lot of time before our meal comes out. But we arrive early, before there is a line to be seated. This place can get very crowded. The service , for the most part, is good. We have some servers, like Jaz (bubbly) and Justin (good menu recommendations) who we always ask for, because they are excellent. It can get very loud in here, but not deafening. The inside of the place is very casual. You would not want to take a date who likes refined places. read more

Like every other Delawarean I too have driven back and forth past the giant EAT sign and wondered why I haven't stopped in sooner. The sign is such an iconic landmark that most ppl call it the EAT place. I absolutely loved the atmosphere here. There is something special about it with all the twinkling lights and heavy wooden tables and chairs. The bar is relatively small but the dining room is huge. The servers are all in white coats and aprons and very professional. I so badly want to give Border Cafe more stars but the fact is the shoestring French fries that come with most of the grilled items and which they give you an enormous pile of are horrible. My dinner companion and I both had the Cajun burger and it was one of the best burgers we both ever had. But nothing compliments a burger more than fries. Why would you mess that up? The fries were so dry and hard that I deemed them inedible. And I, lover of all things potato, would never leave a plate of fries on the table. Border Cafe, I beg you to change this. read more

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The Salt Palace all food way over salted Used to be one of the best around Now just a glorified taco bell read more

foods okay portions are a good size but nothing special, pretty busy but nothing too bad thought it would be better food came out pretty fast read more

Border Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Meh. Recent visits have definitely led me to believe that Border Cafe is going downhill (except for the prices). Since the start of the pandemic we have been using Border Cafes convenient curbside pick up regularly and eating in our car. The last few visits have been noticeably different and not in a good way. We always get the chipotle salmon, the price of which has risen a few times in the past six month and is now $24. While the salmon itself is the same size, the amount of salsa on the top has been microscopic the past few visits (like six mini cubes of mango). Combining that with the fact that on the most recent visit the side containers of jambalaya and black beans were only half filled and there was no melted cheese on the beans and the fact that the salmon was overcooked and over-salted makes it clear that something is not right here especially when I look at the pictures of how the salmon used to look. read more

Border Cafe - Grilled chipotle salmon - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

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Food: I've been to Border dozens of times from family events to casual dinner with friends. This was my first time eating at Border since the COVID 19 outbreak, so I was interested to see how this would go. I was so excited and eager to eat that I forgot to take pictures :( We were seated outside with a limited menu. I ordered the strawberry margarita and my boyfriend and I split the fajitas for 2. Everything was really good! The steak was tender and melted in my mouth. The chicken was a little dry for me, but I loved the rice! It had just the right amount of heat. It felt good to be back at Borders. Service: the hostess was very nice and friendly when we walked in. Our server was also very kind. She forgot our silverware but it was a busy night so I definitely wasn't upset about it. Overall I had a good experience. Other: the outdoor seating is in the front half of the parking lot. With the lights and the sunset it was a great Thursday night out. read more

Border Cafe - Cajun/Creole Near Me - Newark, Delaware

Such a disappointment. The server was beyond rude and rushed us out. Plus we asked for margaritas with a Shot of grand marnier or an double and they said no. We asked why and they just wouldn't explain. So insane. So rude. Will never go back. read more

Terrible food! Salty and sparse! Used to be good but will never try again. Great service however! read more

I have not been here for a long time but the food was delicious. At the time you got a full plate of food that was worth the money.

Would love to comment on the food but unfortunately can't because of the atrocious service. Came in at 7:05 and asked for a table for 7, the hostess asked if all parties were present, I informed her that 3 were en route and she asked that I let her know when they arrived. About 2 minutes later they arrived and I let her know. She briefly paused her conversation with the girl next to her to say "okay" and continue about. Over the next hour and five minutes she happily seated multiple parties larger than ours who arrived after us. After 50 minutes I asked the hostess what our ETA was and she clearly looked panicked when she realized she never checked us in. She said "should be soon" and asked "have all of your parties arrived?" And I said "yes, almost an hour ago when I told you that." To which she told me "actually it was a half hour ago" ...I have a watch. I am 100% sure it was 50-55 minutes (I think that qualifies as 'almost an hour as I described it). She walked back to her podium, sat 4 more parties and after another 15 minutes of being ignored we left and got fast food. What a great experience, thankfully we live 7 hours away and won't ever have to give this establishment a dollar. Pathetic. read more

Our first time back to this establishment in several years and sadly the post-pandemic version leaves much to be desired. From the scaled down and abbreviated menu that even our server despised to the 2x prices for 1/2 portions - (that's a painful factor of 4 to the wallet) made this our last trip for a while or until the Cafe can unwind it's reinvention. Overall food quality declined to below average while value slipped to poor. Sadly I have witnessed this transformation in other restaurants that were forced to rethink their entire format due to the Pandemic and economic uncertainty. Fortunately my certainty prevails by choosing not to share my wallet here. #WuhanWhammy #StayingAlive #NoRevive read more

This place is basically Don Pablos replacement. It's not mexican food it's "creole"-american food. But you get sub par food with rushed service. I've never been here before but I could tell walking in, it felt somewhere between an applebee's / texas road house vibe. I wouldn't come here again but I tired it. The food was fine but nothing i'd come back for. The were a lot of employees staffed on a Monday walking all over and just staring at the floor because there wasn't much for them to do since there were food runners... felt kind of weird. Guac for the app, chicken for the entree came exactly as described on the menu just nothing to be excited about. read more

I always enjoy visiting the Border Cafe. L like the variety of choices and the service

The waiter was really professional and courteous. Plus, they brought back French Quarter Chicken!!!