The Border Cafe

32 Church St, Cambridge MA 02138 Today's hours: 12:00 pm-1:00 am bordercafe.com (617) 864-6100

Cuisines and Dishes at The Border Cafe:

Cajun & Creole
Tex-Mex
Mexican

Menu for The Border Cafe

Non Alcoholic

Orange Juice $2.25
Fresh squeezed
Bottled Spring Water $2.75
Aqua panna brand

Non Alcoholic - Soft Drinks

Coke $1.98
Diet Coke $1.98
Sprite $1.98
Orange $1.98
Ginger Ale $1.98
Iced Tea $1.98
Hot Tea $1.98
Coffee $1.98
Decaf $1.98

Cajun Appetizers

Cajun Popcorn $5.98
Shrimp fried, spiced with cajun seasonings and served golden brown with our own bayou sauce
Blackened Chicken Fingers $5.96
Using a time-honored cajun technique, boneless chicken tenders are marinated, spiced, seared on a cast-iron skillet and served with a cajun marmalade sauce
Camptown Shrimp $6.99
Shrimp steeped in a hearty new orleans style sauce and accented with negra modelo beer. Reduced to a spicy, rich, brown sauce, it is then placed atop grilled french bread with an extra piece to dunk with
Crawfish Ettouffee $6.85
Crawfish tails sauteed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and seasoning combined to form a rich brown gravy over white rice
Louisiana Gumbo: By The Cup $2.47
Louisiana Gumbo: By The Bowl $3.95

Mexican Appetizers

Guacamole $3.95
Our own guacamole made from scratch with whole avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, and seasoned as in old mexico
Pastelitos $5.95
Flaky pastries filled with a chicken-cilantro mix. Made in-house and served with a chimi verde sauce
Chorizo Mexicana $6.83
Authentic mexican chorizo, tomatoes, onions, and mushrooms baked with bubbling poblano jack cheese. Served with fresh, warm flour tortillas
Chorizo Flambado $6.94
Homemade cajun sausage baked with green chilis, tomatoes, and monterey jack cheese. Served with fresh, warm flour tortillas
Chili Con Queso $5.98
Dip our crisp, fresh-made corn tortilla chips in this hot, spicy cheese dip and you're hooked
Tejas Chicken $5.96
Chicken tenderloins lightly fried and dipped in our secret tejas sauce accompanied by bleu cheese dressing & celery sticks.
Border Chili $4.97
A hot and spicy bowl of texas chili topped with cheese and sour cream. Chopped onions available

Vegetarian Appetizers

Vegetable Quesadilla $7.48
Lightly grilled fresh vegetables medley in a steaming cheese quesadilla
Guacamole $3.95
Our own guacamole made from scratch with whole avocados, tomato, onion, cilantro, and seasoned as in old mexico

Salads

Mesquite Grilled Salmon Salad $8.78
Mesquite wood fired, lime-soy glazed, fresh salmon fillet, over field greens with a citrus vinaigrette
Shrimp and Crawfish Caesar Salad $7.85
The traditional caesar salad with a xajun twist. We top our caesar with sautïed gulf shrimp and louisiana crawfish
Caesar Salad $5.75
The traditional caesar salad. Crisp romaine tossed with caesar dressing, croutons, and parmesan cheese
Caesar Salad With Grilled Chicken $7.46
The traditional caesar salad. Crisp romaine tossed with caesar dressing, croutons, and parmesan cheese
Caesar Salad with Blackened Chicken $7.46
The traditional caesar salad. Crisp romaine tossed with caesar dressing, croutons, and parmesan cheese
Blackened Salmon Caesar $8.78
Fresh salmon fillet seared with traditional cajun spices. Served over our classic caesar salad
Mesquite Grilled Chicken Fajita Salad $7.47
Marinated chicken or beef, mesquite grilled and placed on top of crisp lettuce with vine ripened tomatoes, shredded cheese and sautïed onions
Route 66 Chop Salad $7.66
Mesquite grilled chicken tossed with iceberg lettuce, red onion, a corn and black bean relish, fresh red peppers, monterey jack cheese, diced avocado, crispy tortilla strips, and our kickin chipotle lime sauce
Steak and Bleu Cheese Salad $8.88
We toss our greens with crumbled bleu cheese, mushrooms, red onions, tomatoes, and red peppers, then top it off with mesquite grilled steak. A texas taste combination
House Salad $3.98
Fresh lettuce mix with tomato wedges, smoky bacon, and two cheeses
Tostada Grande $7.88
Our special chicken or pulled beef with black beans, cheeses, lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole, red onions, mushrooms, and peppers piled into a crispy tortilla shell

Vegetarian Salads

Black Bean Tostada Grande $6.88
We fill a crisp, flour tortilla shell with lettuce, black beans, cheeses, and vine-ripened tomatoes. Garnished with mushrooms, peppers, red onions and guacamole. A meal in itself
Caesar Salad $5.75
The traditional caesar salad. Crisp romaine lettuce tossed with caesar dressing, croutons and parmesan cheese

Vegetarian Entrees

Vegetable Fajita $9.99
A medley of fresh vegetables tossed with seasonings, sautïed and served with black beans and white rice
Corn and Black Bean Empanadas $6.96
Four flaky handmade pastries stuffed with seasoned corn, black beans, peppers, fresh cilantro, and Monterey Jack cheese. Served with roasted red pepper sauce, black beans, and white rice
Chili Relleno $6.88
A large mexican poblano pepper stuffed with cheeses and fried in a delicate batter. Our spicy ranchero sauce makes this dish truly authentic
Bean Burro $7.86
A large, fresh flour tortilla stuffed with plenty of black beans and cheese, all baked in our homemade ranchero sauce. Served with black beans and white rice
Cheese Enchiladas $6.59
Corn tortillas stuffed with cheese and green chilis, covered with our homemade ranchero sauce and baked until piping hot. Served with black beans and white rice
Vegetable Jambalaya $6.92
A medley of fresh vegetables and rice, lightly tossed in our spicy ranchero sauce. A vegetarian's delight
Eggplant St. Charles $7.49
Delicately fried eggplant topped with a blend of bubbling cheeses and cajun spices

Burgers

Hamburger $5.96
Made from fresh ground chuck. Served with a slice of red onion and a heaping portion of crisp fries
Hamburger - Cheese $0.47
Made from fresh ground chuck. Served with a slice of red onion and a heaping portion of crisp fries
Hamburger - Crisp Bacon $0.75
Made from fresh ground chuck. Served with a slice of red onion and a heaping portion of crisp fries
Hamburger - Jalapenos
Made from fresh ground chuck. Served with a slice of red onion and a heaping portion of crisp fries, free
Cajun Burger $6.87
Our mesquite broiled hamburger rubbed in cajun spices and covered with poblano jack cheese. Served with fries
Mexican Burger $6.88
Our mesquite broiled hamburger topped with guacamole. Served with pico de gallo and fries

Cajun Favorites

Chicken and Chorizo Etouffee $9.49
Sauteed chicken and spicy chorizo in a classic cajun ettouffee sauce with sweet onions, red peppers, ripe tomatoes, and fresh mushrooms. Served over white rice
Blackened Salmon $14.78
Cajun spiced salmon fillet, blackened on a cast iron skillet. Served with our own seasoned corn and black beans and jose's rice
Blackened Swordfish $15.95
A fresh 10 oz. swordfish steak dipped in lip searing cajun spices and cooked on a blackening skillet. Served with our own seasoned corn and black beans, jose's rice and mango salsa
Filet Mignon Jim Bowie Style $14.95
Jim bowie loved exquisite food and fine wine. Jose proudly presents jim's personal new orleans favorite. Seared medallions of beef tenderloin, cooked medium, covered with a secret cream sauce with shrimp and fresh herbs
Crawfish Etouffee $9.97
Crawfish tails sautï¿½ed with fresh vegetables, herbs, and seasoning simmered in a rich brown sauce over white rice
French Quarter Chicken $9.96
A sauteed breast of fresh chicken embraced by a tangy lemon pepper sauce
Eggplant Royale $9.86
A bubbling-hot blend of cheeses, lump crabmeat and cajun spices, served over a delicately fried eggplant. This is a creole family tradition as served on royale street in new orleans french quarter
Catfish New Orleans $10.88
A large fresh fillet of catfish, royally seasoned, deep fried with a shrimp and basil cream sauce
Blackened Chicken $8.97
Our tender marinated breast of chicken, blackened on the outside, spicy and juicy on the inside and served with a cajun marmalade sauce
Blackened Catfish $9.86
A fresh catfish fillet dipped in blackening seasoning and seared on a cast-iron skillet
Gulf Coast Seafood Enchiladas $10.84
Fresh flour tortillas stuffed with sauteed shrimp, crawfish and melted poblano jack cheese. Covered with a cajun spiced three cheese and lump crabmeat sauce

Fajitas

Beef or Chicken $10.88
First we marinate the beef or chicken in a secret blend of spices, then we grill it over mesquite wood and serve it sizzling hot
Beef or Chicken - Blackened Chicken $10.88
First we marinate the beef or chicken in a secret blend of spices, then we grill it over mesquite wood and serve it sizzling hot
Beef or Chicken - Blackened Chicken (For Two) $20.85
First we marinate the beef or chicken in a secret blend of spices, then we grill it over mesquite wood and serve it sizzling hot
Blackened Catfish $11.45
Our fresh blackened catfish served line dancing under a fresh mango salsa
Vegetable Fajitas $9.99
A medley of vegetables tossed with seasonings, sauteed and served fajita style with black beans and white rice
Rio Grande $15.96
Boneless breast of blackened chicken and choice of tender marinated beef or chicken fajitas grilled over mesquite logs
El Pueblo $15.96
Succulent louisiana gulf shrimp and choice of marinated beef or chicken fajitas slowly grilled over mesquite logs to celebrate the big boss favorite taste combination

Mesquite Grilled

Mesquite Swordfish $15.95
A fresh 10 oz. swordfish steak grilled over a mesquite fire, glazed with Jalapeno butter. Served with our own seasoned corn and black beans, jose's rice and mango salsa
Chicken Bandera $8.92
A mesquite grilled chicken breast seared with a kicked-up chipotle lime glaze. Served with grilled avocado, mango salsa and crispy shoestring fries

Quesadillas

Quesadilla $6.95
Melted monterey jack cheese and salsa, stuffed in homemade flour tortillas
Quesadilla with Pulled Beef $7.89
Melted monterey jack cheese and salsa, stuffed in homemade flour tortillas
Quesadilla with Marinated Chicken $7.89
Melted monterey jack cheese and salsa, stuffed in homemade flour tortillas
Vegetable Quesadilla $7.49
Fresh vegetable medley in a steaming cheese quesadilla
Shrimp and Crawfish Quesadilla $8.93
A delicious blend of two worlds. A fresh flour tortilla is stuffed with shrimp, crawfish, bubbling monterey jack cheese, and our cajun chef floyd's secret sauce. Floyd says he had to wrestle an alligator to get the recipe. Add fresh guacamole $0.95

Specialties

Hurricane $6.86
Hand poured with bacardi silver, bacardi dark rum, bacardi 151, and fresh juices
Sangria $5.50
Made in house with fresh squeezed OJ and gran marnier. Frozen or on the rocks

Mexican Specialties

Gaucho Chicken $8.99
Tender, marinated chicken breast, grilled over a mesquite wood fire with blackened vine-ripe tomato, and a chimi verde sauce with fresh herbs. Served with crispy shoestring fries
Chimichurri Steak $11.98
An authentic argentinean style flank steak grilled over mesquite wood, cooked medium, sliced and served with a choice of our fresh herb chimi verde sauce or a robust chimichurra sauce
Chicken Guadalajara $9.88
A boneless marinated chicken breast filled with authentic chorizo, red peppers and spinach, roasted with poblano jack cheese
Salmon San Sebastian $14.47
Mesquite grilled, 10 ounce salmon fillet, mixed field greens, seasoned corn & black beans and chimi verde sauce with fresh herbs
Corn and Black Bean Empanadas $6.96
Four flaky handmade pastries stuffed with seasoned corn, black beans, peppers, fresh cilantro, and monterey jack cheese. Served with roasted red pepper sauce
Burros $7.86
Choose from our seasoned pulled beef or tender marinated chicken and we'll stuff it into a large, fresh flour tortilla, add plenty of cheese and bake it in homemade enchilada sauce
Soft Tacos $6.85
Two fresh flour tortillas stuffed with choice of pulled beef or marinated chicken and pico de gallo
Enchiladas $6.59
Stuffed corn tortillas baked in cheese & homemade enchilada sauce. Stuffed with cheese and diced green chilis
Enchiladas with Pulled Beef $6.95
Stuffed corn tortillas baked in cheese & homemade enchilada sauce. Stuffed with cheese and diced green chilis
Enchiladas with Marinated Chicken $6.95
Stuffed corn tortillas baked in cheese & homemade enchilada sauce. Stuffed with cheese and diced green chilis
Chili Relleno $6.88
A large mexican poblano pepper stuffed with cheeses and fried in a delicate batter. A spicy ranchero sauce makes this dish truly authentic
Taco and Enchilada $6.89
Combine any of our pulled beef, marinated chicken or cheese enchiladas with a pulled beef or marinated chicken taco
Swordfish Tacos Veracruz $10.88
Fresh swordfish blackened on a cast iron skillet, served in fresh flour tortillas with chipotle cole slaw, pico de gallo and mango salsa. Accompanied with fresh field greens and a mesquite grilled avocado

Sides

Jambalaya $2.99
Spicy cajun style andouille sausage and chicken rice. Large enough for two
French Fries $1.50
Crispy shoestring fries
Mixed Vegetables $1.95
Sauteed with jose's special seasoning
Corn Bread (2) $1.37
Sour Cream $0.95
Pico de Gallo $0.95
Sliced Avocado $0.95
Black Beans $0.95
White Rice $0.95
Jose's Rice $0.95
Cheese $0.95
Flour Tortillas (4) $0.95

Kids Meals - Entree

Chicken Taco $3.98
Chicken Fajita $3.98
Cheese Quesadilla $3.98
Chicken Quesadilla $3.98
Chicken Fingers $3.98
Hamburger $3.98
Cheese Pizza $3.98
Grilled Cheese $3.98

Menu for The Border Cafe provided by Allmenus.com

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Reviews for The Border Cafe

Ratings and Reviews for The Border Cafe

May 28 2012

CJ B. via Yelp

Hit or miss here. Great margaritas and chips! I always get the fajitas though. Parking is an issue in Harvard Sq but a fun time always.read more
May 23 2012

Chris C. via Yelp

Good basic Mexican at a super cheap price point, though the gumbo would ge great if it wasn't super over-salted. Friendly and attentive device And fun decor.read more
May 21 2012

Ian C. via Yelp

Border Cafe is a lot of fun! I used to come here every Sunday because they were the only late night place with a decent food selection. Their food tends to...read more
Jan 21 2009

hardinghouseinncambrdge via Citysearch

This Harvard Square favorite offers delicious and inexpensive Mexican and Cajun food in a fun and lively environment. Students, to...read more
Jan 16 2009

via Citysearch

My family has been going to the Border Cafe in Harvard Square for over 20 years. We are native Bostonians and now California tran...read more
Oct 18 2008

TheReviewa via Citysearch

For cheap Tex Mex and a cheap Margarita. This is the place! The border cafe has something for everyone including run of the mill...read more

From Citysearch

The Scene
Due to the area's lack of inexpensive dining options, the wallet-friendly Border Cafe is the restaurant of choice among Harvard Square's younger residents. (Translation: expect hour-plus waits on weekends.) Large groups gather at massive tables scattered among the two Southwestern-themed dining levels, while solo diners flock to the tiny bar area and its TVs. At night, indulging in a gargantuan frozen margarita is the favored method of counteracting the high noise levels and hectic environment.

The Food
No one has ever confused the sizzling fajita platters or overstuffed quesadillas with gourmet Mexican fare, but overall quality is good and portions are exceptionally large. (Rare is the table that orders an entree for each diner.) After plowing through a basket of warm tortilla chips and fresh salsa, patrons select from the menu's lengthy listing of standard Tex-Mex (chicken enchiladas) and Cajun (spicy blackened swordfish) dishes.

Hits
Setting the standard for group dining, Border Cafe encourages sharing thanks to huge portions and no plate-splitting fees.

Misses
The menu's Cajun offerings feel misplaced, as it's difficult to enjoy gumbo when nibbling on chips and salsa while surrounded by Tex-Mex decor.

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