Coming from Arizona, I miss Mexican food. So while I try not to eat at chain restaurants, I was excited to see On The Border when I went to Miami Lakes yesterday. And when they quickly brought us chips and a great salsa, I was even happier. The daughter got the $4.99 kids meals - drink, choice from around 10 entrees that has both Mexican and Standard kid stuff, one side and an ice cream for dessert. She had beef taco with rice and beans. The beef was really well seasoned, and the plate side was generous. Half came home for her dinner. I couldn't decide between the green chile burrito, the brisket BBQ quesadilla, and the classic. I asked our really great server (whose name I can't remember but I believe she was the bartender too) her recommendation. She gave very informative answers and helped me decide on the quesadilla. The quesadilla was a little light on the meat, but was otherwise delicious. The only downside to the meal was the avocado fries my friend and I shared. The avocado slices were mainly small and thin, so the deep fried batter overwhelmed them. But the couple of slices that were cut fat were great. You could taste the avocado and it was creamy and delicious. Which made the smaller pieces even more disappointing. But on whole, worth going to a chain restaurant
(4)
Julio A.
I have eaten here before and the food is always pretty good but the service the last time I went was horrible. We had to keep reminding the waitress about each request. Our waitress never came back to see if we needed any other drink and the food took too long. Also, we got the 10 mins before happy hour and the waitress didnt want to honor it for our first round. I will not be going back any time soon.
(2)
Armando G.
This is a pretty standard Mexican restaurant as far as the food is concerned. Your meal starts off with the typical chips and salsa which aren't that bad; assuming your meal comes out in a timely manner you won't have to worry about getting full on their free appetizer. I'd say my favorite dish has to be their Brisket Tacos; the tacos consist of smoked beef topped off with cheese and a tangy barbecue sauce. However, the side of rice and refried beans that accompany the tacos are less than good. The beans are usually cold and bland while the rice offers absolutely no flavor. From time to time they also offer an AYCE enchilada plate which is worth trying out, but they to tend to slow you down by limiting the amount they bring out at a time. The service here is simply ok, nothing outstanding.
(3)
Lety A.
It was my first time coming here, and I must say the food was delicious. I got hard tacos, with rice and beans. The food was delicious.
(5)
Cid P.
Service here is so slow that it became weird. Not the obvious "I know you're there I just don't want to help you" slow. Just weird slow. It just doesn't make any kind of sense because everyone I came in contact with was so nice. As far as the star issuance, I'm staying right in the middle because everything from the chips to the drinks were very good. I lived in Dallas for a few years. This is the closest to Texas Tex Mex I have had outside of Texas. More "mainstream and mass produced," of course but, very good none the less. I had never been here. Today I had their Baja Meal which, consists of whatever is in the picture I uploaded. The stand-outs were the Mexican Rice, Refried Beans and, whatever that hard thing with the cheese in the middle was. It was very good. I also had two of their Mexican Mojitos. Yet another interpretation of a Cuban classic. The biggest difference, instead of rum, it is made with Tequila. I am placing these Mojitos up there with one of the best I've ever had. So, long story short, if you're not in a hurry, this is a great spot with good food and drinks. Just don't be in a hurry to go somewhere else while here. It was really that oddly slow. This may explain why a restaurant on a very busy thoroughfare had so many empty tables. Things to note and blah, blah, blahs: * Entrance - Another reason why the restaurant possibly wasn't busy. The entrance is on the main road. You have to walk from the parking lot behind the restaurant to the front. Very confusing and, it isn't really a short walk. You have to walk to get there. * Visit the cows behind this parking lot that Miami Lakes is known for. * Worth mentioning again - Don't come here if you're in a hurry. I could hear a table behind me wondering when the Hell they were going to be able to leave.
(3)
G V.
Think I'd rather do Taco Bell than this venue . On $2 Tuesday the quality of the food is definitely $2 worth . Empty restaurant with maybe 3 waitresses.
(1)
Barbara S.
I like that they have Smart Border menu items with calories listed. Because I wish more restaurants were health conscious like these options I was provided here. Smart Border menu items are tasty too. I am still working on not eating the full basket of complimentary chips and salsa! I am getting better at it! They are so fresh and crispy! The service is a little slow. Took me 50 minutes to be served.
(3)
Fidel C.
This place is very mediocre and the service is extremely slow if you don't sit at the bar, but it is SO worth coming for happy hour! During happy hour on Tuesday (I believe) you can buy delicious tacos at $2. The drinks are also worthwhile because there are $3 2 for 1 beers, $3 shots of fireball, $1.75 tequila shots, and $5 2 for 1 margaritas. There are more drink specials but these are the ones I stick to. Okay, the bartenders are also pretty slow but I put up with it because of how amazingly cheap the drinks are. Sometimes I'll ask for a simple shot and have to wait up to 10 minutes for it while reminding the bartender abour it multiple times. There is ONE bartender I always come for. Her name is Stephanie and she is absolutely amazing. Never needs to be reminded of our orders, always friendly and upbeat, gorgeous lady inside and out.
(3)
Richard K.
I give this OTB an additional half star for obvious improvement after reading the numerous service related complaints. I experienced quite the opposite, in fact the staff seemed very friendly and a manager was visibly involved in the operation. I did somehow end up seating myself after a confusing exchange with the first person I met. The greeter asked who I spoke with and brought me a menu and utensils. More than I likely I had something to do with that. So ... The manager stopped by and asked how everything was! That's a Four star effort in my book. Guacamole was fresh, a little pricey. Fish tacos were very good. Piloting an airliner this evening so could not have any margaritas. Overall, food is what you expect in terms of taste and value for this chain and it appears they are working to address service shortcomings. So, well done!
(4)
Shary A.
We had moved to south florida from Puerto rico a few months back and i was missing having a margarita. My fiance found the nearest On the Border (45min away) for date night and we decided to stop by. The service was great and we had a great time chatting up with a fellow latino- our awesome waiter. He gave us great suggestions since we were new to South florida. We were so hungrywhen we got to the restaurant that we devoured our complimentary totopos with salsa. I ordered the On the Border 18oz margarita and the fish tacos for myself and the brisket tacos for my fiancee. What i did miss was a more lively bar environment like the On the Border back in Puerto Rico. That was the first and only time we went there. Now we live in Tampa Bay area so it's highly unlikely that we will return here.
(3)
Silvia C.
Good service, food is consistant, & tasty. Only thing is its almost always 75% empty but i believe its because of the surrounding more popular restaurants. If you are in the mood for mexican this is a good place.
(3)
Kara T.
Terribly slow service and they messed up my order. No silverware, sparse iceberg lettuce salad, and when we asked for some more lettuce, the waiter brought out old cabbage and said, "this is what they gave me." What? After waiting forever to have our order taken, we asked for checks with the food. They forgot.
(1)
Murielle D.
Want good Mexican food? Well this place isn't great, they took a long time with the food and it was just ok. I will be trying other places for sure, and not considering to add this place to my list of places to continue going to.
(3)
Ricardo B.
First we get bypassed by the greeter twice! Then I ask her when we were getting seated. She says next. I ask her why we got bypassed and all she could do was bat her eyes and say I'm sorry. So we finally get seated and thankfully our server was very nice. We went ahead and ordered a sampler as an appetizer and enchiladas suizas and a classic burrito for meals. Not only did we get our meals before the appetizer, but the burrito was cold. I returned the burrito of course. Manager apologized profusely and comped our meal. Much appreciated but doesn't make up for the food being bad. We felt bad for our server because she was the only good thing that happened here so we did leave a tip for her. Don't think we are ever doing this place again
(2)
Carmen Olivia M.
I literally live two minutes from this place and have never been except of course for Cinco de Mayo... So last weekend my bf and I were STARVING & it was getting late. We chose On the Border. There were many open tables. We were told to wait 5 minutes, which is already annoying when you see open tables (but then I figured that they didn't have many people working) Well 5 minutes turned into...I don't know 10? Maybe 15? Then we were seated...then no one came to our table lol* EVERRR. I heard the lady at the next table complain about waiting forever for something. Well we waited and waited and then ordered food somewhere else, waited for that food to be ready and then left. No one came to our table not once. Before we left my bf asked to speak to the manager. HA! We waited and waited and waited for the manager that never came and then we left. Maybe it's cause we were just absolutely starving but our experience is horrible. If you're understaffed then tell your customers that the wait time to be served will be longer than usual, something! Anything!
(1)
Andrea S.
The restaurant opens at 11 but when we get there at 11:45 the doors were locked. We should've just left there. However not being from the area and specifically coming for On the Border... We didn't. It took 3 phone calls to reach someone to see if the restaurant was open. They opened the doors for us. In the entire time an hour and a half there was only 1 other party in the restaurant. The food was spicy but good. Average but as to be expected at an On the Border chain. However, we sat at the bar since we wanted margaritas. The bartender wanted to know if we like strong margaritas. We say yes because of course we like strong margaritas. Little did we know.... He ended up charging us $5 dollars for that. I know that sounds like a petty thing to complain about but be straight forward when you're asking if we want an extra shot or not. Not if we "like it strong". We didn't know that we were getting charged extra for that. Wasn't worth the drive. Wasn't worth the money. Wouldn't come back.
(2)
Mirielle C.
I've been here numerous times in the last few years, so I've come to expect the type of service we received today as their standard. The best word to describe this place: "meh". We were seated promptly, waiter was really nice. Our hostess forgot our request for a booster seat, so we asked the waiter. After that, the snag was that my mom asked for her soup to be brought out before her food. She was really hungry. She brought this up to our waiter, who apologized profusely and then proceeded to bring out her soup and refill our drinks, as we had requested. The funny thing is that a table right by ours got their soup before my mom and she had asked for it first, their waiter was the same as ours. Anyways, when the food came out, it was just OK. I had ordered a create your own combo, with a spinach and mushroom enchilada, a guac tostada, and a chicken tinga taco, no rice, just beans. The enchilada came on a plate separate from the other items, the beans were not "smooth" like the refried beans I'm used to, and to me the presentation was lacking. Our waiter brought us refills again in a timely fashion and brought the check promptly too. He again apologized for the snag at the beginning. I read another review which to me was spot on, which said this place is "awkward slow". I couldn't agree more. Everyone is nice but you tend to wonder what's the hold up? This is something that happens often here, and it's not a new thing either because the last time I came before this time, was at the end of 2013 and I felt the same way then too. It's hardly ever breaking at the seams full here either so not sure what's going on, it's likely that they're understaffed. I'll be back at some point but I won't be hurrying back.
(3)
Davis S.
1 star for this crap , I do not recommend this for anything that has to do with your family my family saw no host waited 20 min for a host to then get bad service it was my wife's birthday today and we expected a better restaurant than this they also left out my children without food because the waitress forgot to write it down what they wanted , truly and honestly I'm Pissed at this slow crappy restaurant. Don't come
(1)
Dee D.
Their food is good, I can count on things tasting the same every time I go. The service on the other hand is always great or bad. Last night we were not so lucky. The restaurant was relatively empty and there seems to be plenty of staff. Nonetheless our table never got any refills and we were never checked on. The waiter simply came, took our drink order, came back with drinks took our food order and then brought our food and then magically disappeared. We needed extra napkins and couldn't wave anyone down, and then had finished with our meals and conversation for at least 10 minutes before I was able to get someone's attention for the bill. Made me remember why I opt to never come here.
(2)
Jenny S.
Who's running that place? I went about two days ago at around 930pm (the place closes at 12), and the hostess informs me that the only thing they were serving was happy hour and appetizers. Then someone from the kitchen I think tells her that no, the kitchen is still open. Miscommunication there. Then there were two parties, one of 3 and one of six and that we had to wait for a little while to be seated because there was a party of 10... Just that one party in that big restaurant with lots of empty tables. We ended leaving. I like the food but management is definitely not the best.
(1)
May A.
I work nearby and I like to order food from here to take back to work. They have an entrance just for people who order take out with their own cashier, which is very nice. However, many times I have to just wait and ask for help from another waiter because there isn't anyone at that register to assist with my order. That's another 10 min of waiting. Last time I was there, they had someone new taking care of the take out cashier. She completely messed up my order. I was picking up for 2 people, and she switched the orders on the credit cards after I clearly explained to her which order goes with which card. After maybe spending 20 min with her trying to fix this. She called a total of 3 people to help her fix the error. Still nothing was fixed. FINALLY, she called the manager to fix it, he was able to handle the situation but I feel that I deserved an apology of some sort for spending about 40 min trying to get my order. I understand that she is new, but someone should be training her. Their food is very good, and at a good price. Its a bit spicy, but very good. Even though I like the food, I'm not sure whether I'd go back just because of the service.
(2)
Katrella S.
About to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The chips and salsa are delish. The margarita has a good kick.
(4)
Cristina G.
We came here super excited for Mexican food but instead left a bit disappointed. The place was empty and yet we didn't even get approached by the waitress till about 15 minutes after being seated. Then when she finally comes over and takes our drink and food order we begin to wait for another 10 minutes just for water. When we again ask her to please bring water we get another waiter telling that she is very overwhelmed and to please be patient. I was in complete shock because overwhelmed by what?? From just standing around talking to the other waiters. We were her only table so I don't understand what is overwhelming about bringing water. Then we don't even get the chips and salsa that are complimentary so of course we have to ask for it. I'm very disappointed at the lack of work ethic some people have. At least the food was good so it wasn't a complete horrible night. I will just not be going to this location again.
(1)
Ignacio S.
Food was good but the service was too slow. The impression I got is that the place understaffed, and the waitress forgot some requests. Still had a good time though.
(3)
Rosa F.
I truly love this place ... I got a free Queso with chips after answering the customer service survey (check your receipt)...& it was very good .. In all and all .. Spending $ here is worth it .
(5)
Mike A.
Went for old times sacks. I used to love this place. I lived in the area for 2 years. But the service wasnt as bad. Went very recently service was horrible. The food was good but the restaurant was dirty. Wont be going back. Very disappointed.
(1)
Lynda G.
Used to come here almost every weekend, loved the place. But now the food is OK and the service sucks, the happy hour food isn't good.
(3)
Raphael C.
I love their food but I must say that service at lunch time is the worst ever experienced in any restaurant. Not recommended at all for lunch.
(1)
Carlos P.
Food was okay as we just love OTB, but the service was poor. Wasn't busy so I can't make excuses for the waiter. Dirty glass, drinks took forever, and when you serve hot salsa and chips, drinks are very important. Served queso fundido without bringing the tortillas. Got my fajitas with no tortillas, wait again. "No lettuce on the garnish," came with lettuce. Had to involve the busser and manager to get stuff so my meal wouldn't get cold waiting. No napkin to clean my hands. On and on. Need I say more?
(2)
Kyril Shayne C.
Went there for lunch on a Saturday. Service was quick and good. Food was great. Loved our waitress, melissa! Coronarita is a must-try. Only 4 stars because the bathroom could've been cleaner. I don't know why people are putting bad reviews about this place.
(4)
L S.
this place is sometimes awesome and sometimes just ok. The $2 & $3 apps in the bar are pretty good deal. The reheated old queso dip distgusts me, why do you serve that! we can tell its brown and his been heated way too long!! the mini tacos were pretty good. Love the salsa and the margaritas!
(3)
Josie W.
Still a great place to get a nice meal. Happy hour is nice but the drinks during that time are still watered down (you can barely taste any alcohol in them). They definitely need more help in the bar area as there is usually just one person and it can get quite crowded around 6pm. Everyone there is very friendly though and we enjoy going there.
(4)
Chris S.
Everyone here has an attitude. Good luck finding a decent waiter. Drinks are very weak.
(1)
Ruben V.
We are very fond of On The Border! We ate ate this spot all the time in Texas and we love it! Food and drinks are always banging. They have happy hour deals on drink and appetizers too from 3-7. What more can you ask for! Only thing is closest one is in Miami Lakes and we live in Pines but no big whoop. Go have fun and enjoy!
(4)
Coleman B.
How many times does it take for people here to mention how TERRIBLE the service is for the management to notice. I work in Miami Lakes and my coworkers always (inexplicably) insist on going here and it is always THE WORST SERVICE I HAVE EXPERIENCED. Never smiling, pain painstakingly slow. Food arrives cold, no understanding that people want their drinks before food, takes 20 minutes to get a drink order, 20 minutes to get the check. There are no people in here for a reason. This restaurant is a depressing nightmare. My coworker dropped his glass on the floor smashing it, and the waiter just kicked the pieces aside rather than pick it up. The inside is filthy with dirty, used tables everywhere. MANAGEMENT, THIS IS YOUR FAULT!
(1)
Nelxy M.
Great border sample ... Family place with good environment .... Great happy hour cheap prices
(5)
Leanna J.
I usually enjoy On the Border but after giving this place several tries, I've decided to not come back to this particular location. Ever. I've been to this On The Border four times now, and each and every time I've been here, there are sugar ants on the table. It never fails! This goes to show that they do not thoroughly clean the tables after guests leave. It's such a shame too because the food is decent. The queso is top notch, the margaritas are a good size, and the chimachanga is delicioso. Pero, the wait service is a joke. The waiters are super slow and could care less about the customers. They don't check up for refills, to see if you need any sauces for your food, or even to see if the food is to your liking. After several tries, I won't be revisiting this place anytime soon. On the Border is a pretty good chain restaurant, but you can find a much better location.
(1)
Priscilla C.
I have always loved this place. I used to go to he one they had in Pines all the time. I honestly usually just go in for an order of refried beans and lots of flour tortillas! Their tortillas are AMAZING! The best tortillas ever in my opinion. They are always soooo soft, fluffy, & warm. Guacamole for appetizer is always a must, & the Kahlua Pie for dessert :)
(3)
Sergio F.
Their spicy salsa - spiciest of any tex mex chain restaurant - and prompt service on a Friday night earns On the Border a spot in my "Chains of Love" list! Stopping by for a Baueresque 8pm lunch / dinner, I was promptly seated and my order taken with a smile. Their light, crispy and Complementary! chips were set before me, and my giant chicken borderrito joined them soon after. For my dinner plate side, I chose the fries which I continued dipping in the spicy salsa. Soda refills were on point, and my waitress checked on me making sure I didn't want anything else. When they call it the Big Borderrito they are not lying, as each half was about as big as my hand and stuffed with plenty of chicken, black beans and sour cream. The chicken pieces seemed to need a little more marinating spice, but their salsa came to the rescue. The taste and portion size were absolutely perfect for a day when my only meals were a protein bar and two jugs of Acme brand office coffee!
(4)
Stephanie A.
I want to love this place, but the slow service makes me feel otherwise. The food is pretty good. The taco salad is my favorite so far. The classic margaritas are delicious.
(2)
Adriana W.
We went here last night after the Ale house told us it would be a 45 minute wait. My boyfriend was starving and we just decided to go here. BIG mistake! We were seated immediately in the giggles section because you know this is a major middle school hangout in Miami Lakes I guess. Anyway, the waitress came to our time 15 minutes after we sat down and the chips and salsa guy just dropped that on the table and left. I forgot to mention this was our first time here. So the waitress comes and takes our drink order 25 minutes, 3 - I forgots, 2 - what am I supposed to be doing again and a Patridge in a pear tree later we got our margaritas because the bartender was so busy serving the 6 people at the bar. We decided to stay and try the food. The food was great but the waitress who claims she forgot everything walked passed us several times when we needed things like napkins and more water. We never even got her name. After paying we walked out and saw that all of the waitresses were sitting in a deserted area of the restaurant having a pow - wow like they're at a sleep over. P.S please use a clean cloth to clean your tables because the one your hostess is using is smelled rank! ON THE BORDER = NO BUENO ONE STAR
(1)
Star A.
took take out n food was awful....food was stale n cold we were served rice from the bottom of pan crispy....ordered the ranchilados n size of steak was half of my pinky it crispy dried and over cooked.....they even ran of out cheese for my burger...I waited more than 45 minutes for my food.....
(1)
Amanda C.
Nice waiter and awesome chips and salsa. That is all. The food is not good! You are better off looking for a mom and pop Mexican restaurant that is more authentic. What the food lacks in flavor here it makes up in salt. Dos XXs tacos tasted like fishstick tacos. The best meal on the table was probably my 4 year old's corn dog.
(2)
Aly G.
Went on a Sunday around 8 pm. We were seated right away and just sat there for 20 minutes without any acknowledgement! Complained to the hostess asked to switch sections and she gave me an attitude. We left immediately! Never going back! Food is good but service sucks! It's sad because there is so much potential there. I can see the business is struggling but now I see why.
(1)
Yusef S.
Food is good service is FUCKING trash!! Brought me wrong order my lady had to wait for my food so that she can eat I agree with a majority of the reviews food is good once you finally get it although I asked for sour cream and finished my food before she brought it out and another waitress had to apologize in her behalf would I come here again ahhhh maybe not! Maybe if I wanted Mexican I would go to cancan grill in Miami lakes they never let me down sorry but I speak the truth and unless the have a huge sign outside saying UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT I might give them a second shot but until then they get only 2 stars
(2)
Al N.
Nothing Mexican about this place. Bad food and watered down drinks. Lame as lame gets.
(1)
MICHELLE C.
Yes, I love Mexican food, authentic or not if it's good I am happy. This is one chain I have always really enjoyed. My previous neighborhood up in Pembroke Pines had one and I would frequent it very often but was told they went out of business, boo! When I saw the sign after shopping all day in this area we just had to go for a late lunch. The restaurant was nicely laid out, plenty room and very clean. From the hostess to our lovely waitress the service was spectacular. Drinks are 2 for 1 everyday, and they make a good margarita. We started with an order of guacamole, which they did not make at the table in which they usually do. It had way way to much lime in it, so much that it overpowered the guacamole, this was disappointing. Then I ordered a combination platter with carne asada taco's, rice and beans. This usually was my favorite dish here but the steak was so overcooked and dry. The flavor was just not there. I am hoping it was just a bad day, because I have never really had a bad meal here before. I will give it another shot if in the area with hopes it will be just like I remember.
(3)
Amanda J.
We are from Texas and have been looking for an On the Border since we got here 3 months ago. Finally, we found this location on Yelp. Before we went we checked out the reviews and we were prepared for some not so great service. We got to OTB and right off the bat the hostess didn't seem to have a clue about what was going on. She didn't know if she could seat us at a booth and have a high chair, so she had to check. We were sat at a booth and waited 45 minutes (and asked multiple times) before we were actually received the high chair. My 2 year old was NOT happy nor was I. About 15 minutes later our waiter, Christopher, appeared and took our drink order. We sat and ate chips for 30 minutes (the chips were gone) before our drinks came out. He brought the queso out and our chip bowl was empty. It stayed that way for about 10 minutes. Again, my kiddos were NOT happy and the adults were not happy. About 25 minutes after that he came and took our order. Again, we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, our luke warm food was brought out. We immediately noticed we only had 2 sets of silverware for a 4 person table. We asked repeatedly to bring napkins and silverware. That never happened so we were forced to share 1 napkin between 4 people. This is another level of bad service, even for OTB. We will not be going back to this location. In fact, it really needs to be shut down because there were no people in this place, yet, the waiters acted as if the place were busting at the seams. Never again.
(1)
Lauren C.
I used to love On The Border in Pembroke Pines and was excited that they would open one within walking distance of my house in Miami Lakes! Welp... I'm not sure what it is, but they could never seem to get it together. The excitement quickly wore off after the food was sometimes cold or just didn't deliver the same great taste I remember at the pines location. I also encountered slow service time and time again in the first couple years they opened. I have since not returned. Huge disappointment! I tend to just stick to Cancun's when I need a Mexican food fix!
(2)
Erick O.
We walk in this place and its pretty empty because the Ale House next door was packed for the Hurricane Vs. Gator game. However, despite this it still takes about 15 minutes for a waiter to come to our table. I had to get up and find a server that would help us. He wasn't in our area but still helped us take our order. Before this are actual server was eating in the kitchen and serving people there food. Disgusting, I told our server and he was flabbergasted and apologized on her behalf. Other servers were in the back eating and cracking jokes. Just very unprofessional, regardless if the food was good or not this killed my experience. Will not come again.
(1)
JoAnna L.
I think 3 stars is fair. My family and I stopped here for an early dinner on a Saturday evening. The staff was friendly and service was quick. My toddler had the grilled chicken, no complaints there. My husband had the chimichanga and was disappointed because there wasn't much sauce on top, but said it tasted good. I had the combo with beef taco, chicken flauta, and an enchilada. The taco shell tasted stale, the flauta was good, and the enchilada was really good! The chips and salsa are very good, and the salsa is a little spicy. The jalapeño margarita tasted like a regular margarita, and for $10, not worth it. It wasn't the best Mexican place, but not the worst. I wouldn't object to going again, but I also wouldn't suggest it....
(3)
gab m.
Possibly the worst service I've received. The servers are rude and super clumsy. I ordered water, it took around 15min before I came out. The food was decent after an hour waiting. The only reason I gave this place a 1 star was of the decent food and bottomless chips and salsa. Other than that, no one deserves such unsympathetic servers and manager.
(1)
Orlando C.
Im conflicted between giving 3 or 4 stars. We've been here a few times and have found that for the most part the service is great. Their waiters are on point with making suggestions and are very friendly. Some areas of opportunity with the service but I would recommend the place.
(4)
Steven D.
Great Mexcan food. I highly recommend ordering the Border Sampler or the Original Queso. For the entree, The Ultimate Fajita and The Big Bordurrito is absolute amazing.
(4)
Steve H.
The good tastes like tasteless American food in a Mexican costume. No flavor in the Tacos (overpriced), the Sampler (large and filling), or the fajitas (very small portions and tasteless - Chili's tastes better and comes with more meat). The waitress was bored and could care less about us. It took us 34 minutes to get our food (I counted). Don't waste your money with this place.
(1)
Kristin C.
For a displaced Texan looking for authentic Tex-Mex (no it's not the same as Mexican) , this sure hits the spot. We had the brisket enchiladas. Although they were more like burritos with a slightly crisp flour tortilla and dry with a sauce on the side, they were still tasty. No one does brisket like a Texan. I also asked for a side of roasted veggies, extra soft. Usually it's so hard for the cooks to get the soft part down no matter how much I explain to the waiters. But the waitress was really sweet to try to get it right. The salsa was addictive with a good ole Texas kick. We will be back.
(4)
Sheila L.
Great food. Great prices. However staff can be a little slow sometimes.
(4)
Erik G.
Food is good and fresh. Tortillas seem homemade. They just take too long to close out a check. If your rushed during lunch be prepared to wait.
(4)
Bradley S.
First lets start with the negative, the wait time was extremely long for food almost 45 minutes!! wasn't terrible for me but my girl friend was a angry (we were going to the movie theater)...but everything else was good the food is great, and the waiters try their best to accommodate to your needs... also the area is pretty nice for any type of gatherings
(4)
Natalie L.
the service is hit or miss. the chips and queso is the best part. everything else is just meh. we go here bc it's close to our house, but it's not our first choice for mexican food. or our second, or third.
(2)
Jeff A.
I sent my food back. Haven't done that in years. Chicken tasted like they boiled it. Service was slow, restaurant was empty. The only thing good about this place is the chips and salsa.
(1)
Christy G.
Horrible service! We were a party of 10 and everyone's food came out at a different time. The customer service was horrible. Our food was cold. It was my friends bday and her food came out last when everyone else was done. Never coming here again. Never!
(1)
Allen N.
I love OTB. Best salsa! I love their burritos. Price: A Food: A Service: A- Atmosphere: B
(5)
Frank M.
Not bad for a mex restaurant. .. but the service have to improve. Parking sucks
(3)
Jing W.
Very good food, and service. Their cocktail is very nice, and I like their shrimp and brownie. It's close to Main St, not crowded. I went there twice. Once inside, and once outside. Both were very good.
(5)
Ruth H.
You know this place is done right when it is approved by none other than the Most Interesting Man in the World, Dos Equis. The chips are tasty, unlike Chili's, and the salsa is a bit spicy, but served in the best way: complimentary. The menu contains what may be one of the best inventions of the 21st century: avocado fries. If youre into authentic Tex-Mex food, you will enjoy this bright, sunny Miami Lakes location, right in the middle of town - literally! (see map - top right).
(5)
Kevin C.
Having just moved here from Texas it's pretty sad to say that the best Mexican food in South Florida is a Tex-mex chain restaurant. However I will continue my journey searching for really good Tex-mex in South Florida and I will let you know if my opinion changes.
(4)
Jose B.
The service is good. But the food is horrible. At least not to my liking
(1)
Adam S.
Terrible service. This is my first Yelp review. I signed up just to write it. First time I went to this place, we ordered an appetizer and they never brought it. Tonight is my second time there. Once we sat down, 10 minutes passed and we didn't even get acknowledged. 2 waiters passed us and looked and not even a word. For Mexican food, definitely go to Cancun Grill nearby. The food is waaaaayyyy better and the service is always great.
(1)
Jose S.
Couldnt wait to get home to post this. Just left the restaurant and it was bad. and i mean bad as in bad. No welcome greet when you walk in and no hospitality. The service and food was slow and my main dish had no flavor. (The guacamole was good though.) Dont bother ordering the weak margaritas either. overall im highly disappointed with the place. I guess thats why it was empty.
(1)
James E.
the foods good theres a bit of a wait time but its overall good
(3)
Cheri A.
Good atmosphere. Good service, although a little bit of a "car salesman" vibe with all of the attempts to upgrade us to alcoholic drinks and guacamole. Mediocre food. Chips kind of thin, salsa ok. Not enough vegetarian or vegan options.
(2)
Wendy H.
Good chips and salsa. I love ordering the border sample as my meal because I like having a sampling of food. I always order the quesadillas with steak instead of with chicken and they always appease me. It is a huge platter so it is definitely enough to share. The margaritas are decent and sometimes they are 2 for 1.... There is nothing to truly rave about but in general a good Tex Mex place when you are in the mood for just that. I gave it 4 starts because when I want Tex Mex this is the place I think of.
(4)
Evette A.
After a small wine tasting nearby, we decided to head over to On the Border since it was walking distance and they ahd TV's for C to watch the rest of the NFL Draft. We sat down at the bar and ordered a round of the house margaritas for the 3 of us. I've had better margaritas before, but it was refreshing. After we chugged those down, we found out that the drafts were buy one get one free. We love our deals, so we ordered a round of Dos Equis. We weren't there for very long and we didn't get any food, but we had a great time enjoying this happy hour and eachother's company. We asked for the bill and were floored when we saw it. I was so surprised that drinks for 3 of us, were $21.00. That was the cheapest bar tab I had ever seen. I know that these highly commercialized restaurants such as this never really has the best food, but the happy hours are great. We will definitely try to make this a weekly tradition with my lovely friend B.
(4)
Maxine V.
My friend wanted margaritas so we came (in a large group). The service at the bar was average. I had a sangria. It was good, very sweet though, which is not my preference. No one ordered food; we just ate chips. The salsa was very spicy. After a little bit we switched to queso dip which was tasty. Since this place is not a round the corner I will not be coming back to try any food.
(3)
Jay J.
It wasn't good. I thought that the chips and salsa were not good. The service was only OK and the portion size of the food, for the money was skimpy! I'm not from here and find that ANY authethic Mexican restaurant is 100x better than this place!
(1)
A S.
Awesome Mexican food! The Salsa sauce is a best seller and so is the freshly made guacamole. Definitely a recommended place!
(5)
Lissette C.
Mircrowaved Mexican. I'll stick to Can-Cun, at least it has a better ambience and more than 10 people in it.
(1)
Olivia L.
Try the guacamole that they make fresh at your table. Delicious!
(5)
Yesy F.
Disgusting!
(1)
Joe C.
Been to this restaurant many times for 2 reasons. Carne Asada and the Borderita Grande. Both are excellent and consistent every time. As far as the service, I would give it 3 stars. It's very hit and miss. From the host/hostess not being there when you arrive, slow wait staff, and just an overall lazy attitude it's just not a good dining experience as gas as service goes.
(4)
Al J.
Great place, great food, great drinks! The service is great. Sometimes the hostesses seem like they're dragging their feet but otherwise everyone here go out of their way to be helpful.
(5)
Fernando and Melissa H.
The chips and salsa are great and we love the $2 margaritas. Best appetizer to try is the ultimate loaded queso. This restaurant is located directly on Main Street in Miami Lakes which is in walking distance to the movie theater. Every 5th of May they have a big bash to celebrate the Mexican holiday "Cinco De Mayo" and usually have drink specials etc.
(3)
Christie B.
The fresh guacamole served in a large mortar began a most interesting and wonderful dining experience. The food, the ambiance, the company was wonderful. Lots of people and great service. Large margaritas and the 3-person Mariacchi guys made this evening very festive and I will definitely return, soon! My son lives in the area and I'm sure he will make this a regular dinner experience!
(5)
Jose P.
This is really a 2.5 BUT I rounded up. I am not the biggest fan of sit down chain restaurants but my niece really wanted to hit up OTB so I decided to join her and her fam. I had not been there in years but I do remember they had an awesome queso dip. Well either their queso dip was the bomb back in the day or my taste buds have played a dirty trick on my memory all these years or it has always been ok and my taste buds have just changed through the years. I want to think it's the first, though. We visited this location on 2/6/10 around 19:30 and there was no wait which I was pleasantly surprised about since it was a Friday night. The establishment was clean and most tables were filled. Their menu was standard and we decided to hit the queso for starters. It was ok to good but not everything I had thought it was going to be......I was a little disappointed :( They do bring out salsa and bottom less chips. We never tried the salsa and the chips were good but some were too salty and greasy. The rest of my meal consisted of the Create Your Own Fajitas, which was much better. The chicken, tortillas, rice, and veggies were VERY tasty. The gauc and rest of condiments were just ok. It would have been a nice one two punch if the condiments were just as tasty. The rest of the table had the Border Sample, which comes with a sampling of chicken quesadillas, steak nachos and chicken flautas, served with guac, sour cream, pico de gallo and original queso. They thought it was pretty good except the flautas were a dud. Service was good when it was around but spotty I thought, at least for how busy it did not seem. At the end the company I was with made the experience much better, not the food. I think I am good with OTB for another few years for sure.
(3)
Janessa A.
Went here today for lunch for the first time, it is just recently opened very cute and new inside. The service was really good, the food was great. They bring u tortilla chips with salsa which is a medium spicey I would have to say. I ordered the chicken and shrimp fajitas with the tequila lime sauce--yum-O!! It was fresh, delicious it was 13.99 while my boyfriend ordered the spicy buffalo chicken flatbread tacos which was very good indeed $9.99. My plate came with tortillas, rice, refired beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacomole and vegetables. For dessert we ordered the sopapillas which are mexican fried pastries topped with cinammon sugar served with chocolate dipping sauce and honey on the side...very good we loved it couldnt even finish it. The drinks also look great didnt have a chance to try but will do same next time I come back. Honestly, as much as Cancun has been a mexican staple in miami lakes for years, Im starting to think that On the border is taking over, with theyre good service, quality food, and its newly renovated, you cant go wrong.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
Beth S.
Coming from Arizona, I miss Mexican food. So while I try not to eat at chain restaurants, I was excited to see On The Border when I went to Miami Lakes yesterday. And when they quickly brought us chips and a great salsa, I was even happier. The daughter got the $4.99 kids meals - drink, choice from around 10 entrees that has both Mexican and Standard kid stuff, one side and an ice cream for dessert. She had beef taco with rice and beans. The beef was really well seasoned, and the plate side was generous. Half came home for her dinner. I couldn't decide between the green chile burrito, the brisket BBQ quesadilla, and the classic. I asked our really great server (whose name I can't remember but I believe she was the bartender too) her recommendation. She gave very informative answers and helped me decide on the quesadilla. The quesadilla was a little light on the meat, but was otherwise delicious. The only downside to the meal was the avocado fries my friend and I shared. The avocado slices were mainly small and thin, so the deep fried batter overwhelmed them. But the couple of slices that were cut fat were great. You could taste the avocado and it was creamy and delicious. Which made the smaller pieces even more disappointing. But on whole, worth going to a chain restaurant
(4)Julio A.
I have eaten here before and the food is always pretty good but the service the last time I went was horrible. We had to keep reminding the waitress about each request. Our waitress never came back to see if we needed any other drink and the food took too long. Also, we got the 10 mins before happy hour and the waitress didnt want to honor it for our first round. I will not be going back any time soon.
(2)Armando G.
This is a pretty standard Mexican restaurant as far as the food is concerned. Your meal starts off with the typical chips and salsa which aren't that bad; assuming your meal comes out in a timely manner you won't have to worry about getting full on their free appetizer. I'd say my favorite dish has to be their Brisket Tacos; the tacos consist of smoked beef topped off with cheese and a tangy barbecue sauce. However, the side of rice and refried beans that accompany the tacos are less than good. The beans are usually cold and bland while the rice offers absolutely no flavor. From time to time they also offer an AYCE enchilada plate which is worth trying out, but they to tend to slow you down by limiting the amount they bring out at a time. The service here is simply ok, nothing outstanding.
(3)Lety A.
It was my first time coming here, and I must say the food was delicious. I got hard tacos, with rice and beans. The food was delicious.
(5)Cid P.
Service here is so slow that it became weird. Not the obvious "I know you're there I just don't want to help you" slow. Just weird slow. It just doesn't make any kind of sense because everyone I came in contact with was so nice. As far as the star issuance, I'm staying right in the middle because everything from the chips to the drinks were very good. I lived in Dallas for a few years. This is the closest to Texas Tex Mex I have had outside of Texas. More "mainstream and mass produced," of course but, very good none the less. I had never been here. Today I had their Baja Meal which, consists of whatever is in the picture I uploaded. The stand-outs were the Mexican Rice, Refried Beans and, whatever that hard thing with the cheese in the middle was. It was very good. I also had two of their Mexican Mojitos. Yet another interpretation of a Cuban classic. The biggest difference, instead of rum, it is made with Tequila. I am placing these Mojitos up there with one of the best I've ever had. So, long story short, if you're not in a hurry, this is a great spot with good food and drinks. Just don't be in a hurry to go somewhere else while here. It was really that oddly slow. This may explain why a restaurant on a very busy thoroughfare had so many empty tables. Things to note and blah, blah, blahs: * Entrance - Another reason why the restaurant possibly wasn't busy. The entrance is on the main road. You have to walk from the parking lot behind the restaurant to the front. Very confusing and, it isn't really a short walk. You have to walk to get there. * Visit the cows behind this parking lot that Miami Lakes is known for. * Worth mentioning again - Don't come here if you're in a hurry. I could hear a table behind me wondering when the Hell they were going to be able to leave.
(3)G V.
Think I'd rather do Taco Bell than this venue . On $2 Tuesday the quality of the food is definitely $2 worth . Empty restaurant with maybe 3 waitresses.
(1)Barbara S.
I like that they have Smart Border menu items with calories listed. Because I wish more restaurants were health conscious like these options I was provided here. Smart Border menu items are tasty too. I am still working on not eating the full basket of complimentary chips and salsa! I am getting better at it! They are so fresh and crispy! The service is a little slow. Took me 50 minutes to be served.
(3)Fidel C.
This place is very mediocre and the service is extremely slow if you don't sit at the bar, but it is SO worth coming for happy hour! During happy hour on Tuesday (I believe) you can buy delicious tacos at $2. The drinks are also worthwhile because there are $3 2 for 1 beers, $3 shots of fireball, $1.75 tequila shots, and $5 2 for 1 margaritas. There are more drink specials but these are the ones I stick to. Okay, the bartenders are also pretty slow but I put up with it because of how amazingly cheap the drinks are. Sometimes I'll ask for a simple shot and have to wait up to 10 minutes for it while reminding the bartender abour it multiple times. There is ONE bartender I always come for. Her name is Stephanie and she is absolutely amazing. Never needs to be reminded of our orders, always friendly and upbeat, gorgeous lady inside and out.
(3)Richard K.
I give this OTB an additional half star for obvious improvement after reading the numerous service related complaints. I experienced quite the opposite, in fact the staff seemed very friendly and a manager was visibly involved in the operation. I did somehow end up seating myself after a confusing exchange with the first person I met. The greeter asked who I spoke with and brought me a menu and utensils. More than I likely I had something to do with that. So ... The manager stopped by and asked how everything was! That's a Four star effort in my book. Guacamole was fresh, a little pricey. Fish tacos were very good. Piloting an airliner this evening so could not have any margaritas. Overall, food is what you expect in terms of taste and value for this chain and it appears they are working to address service shortcomings. So, well done!
(4)Shary A.
We had moved to south florida from Puerto rico a few months back and i was missing having a margarita. My fiance found the nearest On the Border (45min away) for date night and we decided to stop by. The service was great and we had a great time chatting up with a fellow latino- our awesome waiter. He gave us great suggestions since we were new to South florida. We were so hungrywhen we got to the restaurant that we devoured our complimentary totopos with salsa. I ordered the On the Border 18oz margarita and the fish tacos for myself and the brisket tacos for my fiancee. What i did miss was a more lively bar environment like the On the Border back in Puerto Rico. That was the first and only time we went there. Now we live in Tampa Bay area so it's highly unlikely that we will return here.
(3)Silvia C.
Good service, food is consistant, & tasty. Only thing is its almost always 75% empty but i believe its because of the surrounding more popular restaurants. If you are in the mood for mexican this is a good place.
(3)Kara T.
Terribly slow service and they messed up my order. No silverware, sparse iceberg lettuce salad, and when we asked for some more lettuce, the waiter brought out old cabbage and said, "this is what they gave me." What? After waiting forever to have our order taken, we asked for checks with the food. They forgot.
(1)Murielle D.
Want good Mexican food? Well this place isn't great, they took a long time with the food and it was just ok. I will be trying other places for sure, and not considering to add this place to my list of places to continue going to.
(3)Ricardo B.
First we get bypassed by the greeter twice! Then I ask her when we were getting seated. She says next. I ask her why we got bypassed and all she could do was bat her eyes and say I'm sorry. So we finally get seated and thankfully our server was very nice. We went ahead and ordered a sampler as an appetizer and enchiladas suizas and a classic burrito for meals. Not only did we get our meals before the appetizer, but the burrito was cold. I returned the burrito of course. Manager apologized profusely and comped our meal. Much appreciated but doesn't make up for the food being bad. We felt bad for our server because she was the only good thing that happened here so we did leave a tip for her. Don't think we are ever doing this place again
(2)Carmen Olivia M.
I literally live two minutes from this place and have never been except of course for Cinco de Mayo... So last weekend my bf and I were STARVING & it was getting late. We chose On the Border. There were many open tables. We were told to wait 5 minutes, which is already annoying when you see open tables (but then I figured that they didn't have many people working) Well 5 minutes turned into...I don't know 10? Maybe 15? Then we were seated...then no one came to our table lol* EVERRR. I heard the lady at the next table complain about waiting forever for something. Well we waited and waited and then ordered food somewhere else, waited for that food to be ready and then left. No one came to our table not once. Before we left my bf asked to speak to the manager. HA! We waited and waited and waited for the manager that never came and then we left. Maybe it's cause we were just absolutely starving but our experience is horrible. If you're understaffed then tell your customers that the wait time to be served will be longer than usual, something! Anything!
(1)Andrea S.
The restaurant opens at 11 but when we get there at 11:45 the doors were locked. We should've just left there. However not being from the area and specifically coming for On the Border... We didn't. It took 3 phone calls to reach someone to see if the restaurant was open. They opened the doors for us. In the entire time an hour and a half there was only 1 other party in the restaurant. The food was spicy but good. Average but as to be expected at an On the Border chain. However, we sat at the bar since we wanted margaritas. The bartender wanted to know if we like strong margaritas. We say yes because of course we like strong margaritas. Little did we know.... He ended up charging us $5 dollars for that. I know that sounds like a petty thing to complain about but be straight forward when you're asking if we want an extra shot or not. Not if we "like it strong". We didn't know that we were getting charged extra for that. Wasn't worth the drive. Wasn't worth the money. Wouldn't come back.
(2)Mirielle C.
I've been here numerous times in the last few years, so I've come to expect the type of service we received today as their standard. The best word to describe this place: "meh". We were seated promptly, waiter was really nice. Our hostess forgot our request for a booster seat, so we asked the waiter. After that, the snag was that my mom asked for her soup to be brought out before her food. She was really hungry. She brought this up to our waiter, who apologized profusely and then proceeded to bring out her soup and refill our drinks, as we had requested. The funny thing is that a table right by ours got their soup before my mom and she had asked for it first, their waiter was the same as ours. Anyways, when the food came out, it was just OK. I had ordered a create your own combo, with a spinach and mushroom enchilada, a guac tostada, and a chicken tinga taco, no rice, just beans. The enchilada came on a plate separate from the other items, the beans were not "smooth" like the refried beans I'm used to, and to me the presentation was lacking. Our waiter brought us refills again in a timely fashion and brought the check promptly too. He again apologized for the snag at the beginning. I read another review which to me was spot on, which said this place is "awkward slow". I couldn't agree more. Everyone is nice but you tend to wonder what's the hold up? This is something that happens often here, and it's not a new thing either because the last time I came before this time, was at the end of 2013 and I felt the same way then too. It's hardly ever breaking at the seams full here either so not sure what's going on, it's likely that they're understaffed. I'll be back at some point but I won't be hurrying back.
(3)Davis S.
1 star for this crap , I do not recommend this for anything that has to do with your family my family saw no host waited 20 min for a host to then get bad service it was my wife's birthday today and we expected a better restaurant than this they also left out my children without food because the waitress forgot to write it down what they wanted , truly and honestly I'm Pissed at this slow crappy restaurant. Don't come
(1)Dee D.
Their food is good, I can count on things tasting the same every time I go. The service on the other hand is always great or bad. Last night we were not so lucky. The restaurant was relatively empty and there seems to be plenty of staff. Nonetheless our table never got any refills and we were never checked on. The waiter simply came, took our drink order, came back with drinks took our food order and then brought our food and then magically disappeared. We needed extra napkins and couldn't wave anyone down, and then had finished with our meals and conversation for at least 10 minutes before I was able to get someone's attention for the bill. Made me remember why I opt to never come here.
(2)Jenny S.
Who's running that place? I went about two days ago at around 930pm (the place closes at 12), and the hostess informs me that the only thing they were serving was happy hour and appetizers. Then someone from the kitchen I think tells her that no, the kitchen is still open. Miscommunication there. Then there were two parties, one of 3 and one of six and that we had to wait for a little while to be seated because there was a party of 10... Just that one party in that big restaurant with lots of empty tables. We ended leaving. I like the food but management is definitely not the best.
(1)May A.
I work nearby and I like to order food from here to take back to work. They have an entrance just for people who order take out with their own cashier, which is very nice. However, many times I have to just wait and ask for help from another waiter because there isn't anyone at that register to assist with my order. That's another 10 min of waiting. Last time I was there, they had someone new taking care of the take out cashier. She completely messed up my order. I was picking up for 2 people, and she switched the orders on the credit cards after I clearly explained to her which order goes with which card. After maybe spending 20 min with her trying to fix this. She called a total of 3 people to help her fix the error. Still nothing was fixed. FINALLY, she called the manager to fix it, he was able to handle the situation but I feel that I deserved an apology of some sort for spending about 40 min trying to get my order. I understand that she is new, but someone should be training her. Their food is very good, and at a good price. Its a bit spicy, but very good. Even though I like the food, I'm not sure whether I'd go back just because of the service.
(2)Katrella S.
About to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The chips and salsa are delish. The margarita has a good kick.
(4)Cristina G.
We came here super excited for Mexican food but instead left a bit disappointed. The place was empty and yet we didn't even get approached by the waitress till about 15 minutes after being seated. Then when she finally comes over and takes our drink and food order we begin to wait for another 10 minutes just for water. When we again ask her to please bring water we get another waiter telling that she is very overwhelmed and to please be patient. I was in complete shock because overwhelmed by what?? From just standing around talking to the other waiters. We were her only table so I don't understand what is overwhelming about bringing water. Then we don't even get the chips and salsa that are complimentary so of course we have to ask for it. I'm very disappointed at the lack of work ethic some people have. At least the food was good so it wasn't a complete horrible night. I will just not be going to this location again.
(1)Ignacio S.
Food was good but the service was too slow. The impression I got is that the place understaffed, and the waitress forgot some requests. Still had a good time though.
(3)Rosa F.
I truly love this place ... I got a free Queso with chips after answering the customer service survey (check your receipt)...& it was very good .. In all and all .. Spending $ here is worth it .
(5)Mike A.
Went for old times sacks. I used to love this place. I lived in the area for 2 years. But the service wasnt as bad. Went very recently service was horrible. The food was good but the restaurant was dirty. Wont be going back. Very disappointed.
(1)Lynda G.
Used to come here almost every weekend, loved the place. But now the food is OK and the service sucks, the happy hour food isn't good.
(3)Raphael C.
I love their food but I must say that service at lunch time is the worst ever experienced in any restaurant. Not recommended at all for lunch.
(1)Carlos P.
Food was okay as we just love OTB, but the service was poor. Wasn't busy so I can't make excuses for the waiter. Dirty glass, drinks took forever, and when you serve hot salsa and chips, drinks are very important. Served queso fundido without bringing the tortillas. Got my fajitas with no tortillas, wait again. "No lettuce on the garnish," came with lettuce. Had to involve the busser and manager to get stuff so my meal wouldn't get cold waiting. No napkin to clean my hands. On and on. Need I say more?
(2)Kyril Shayne C.
Went there for lunch on a Saturday. Service was quick and good. Food was great. Loved our waitress, melissa! Coronarita is a must-try. Only 4 stars because the bathroom could've been cleaner. I don't know why people are putting bad reviews about this place.
(4)L S.
this place is sometimes awesome and sometimes just ok. The $2 & $3 apps in the bar are pretty good deal. The reheated old queso dip distgusts me, why do you serve that! we can tell its brown and his been heated way too long!! the mini tacos were pretty good. Love the salsa and the margaritas!
(3)Josie W.
Still a great place to get a nice meal. Happy hour is nice but the drinks during that time are still watered down (you can barely taste any alcohol in them). They definitely need more help in the bar area as there is usually just one person and it can get quite crowded around 6pm. Everyone there is very friendly though and we enjoy going there.
(4)Chris S.
Everyone here has an attitude. Good luck finding a decent waiter. Drinks are very weak.
(1)Ruben V.
We are very fond of On The Border! We ate ate this spot all the time in Texas and we love it! Food and drinks are always banging. They have happy hour deals on drink and appetizers too from 3-7. What more can you ask for! Only thing is closest one is in Miami Lakes and we live in Pines but no big whoop. Go have fun and enjoy!
(4)Coleman B.
How many times does it take for people here to mention how TERRIBLE the service is for the management to notice. I work in Miami Lakes and my coworkers always (inexplicably) insist on going here and it is always THE WORST SERVICE I HAVE EXPERIENCED. Never smiling, pain painstakingly slow. Food arrives cold, no understanding that people want their drinks before food, takes 20 minutes to get a drink order, 20 minutes to get the check. There are no people in here for a reason. This restaurant is a depressing nightmare. My coworker dropped his glass on the floor smashing it, and the waiter just kicked the pieces aside rather than pick it up. The inside is filthy with dirty, used tables everywhere. MANAGEMENT, THIS IS YOUR FAULT!
(1)Nelxy M.
Great border sample ... Family place with good environment .... Great happy hour cheap prices
(5)Leanna J.
I usually enjoy On the Border but after giving this place several tries, I've decided to not come back to this particular location. Ever. I've been to this On The Border four times now, and each and every time I've been here, there are sugar ants on the table. It never fails! This goes to show that they do not thoroughly clean the tables after guests leave. It's such a shame too because the food is decent. The queso is top notch, the margaritas are a good size, and the chimachanga is delicioso. Pero, the wait service is a joke. The waiters are super slow and could care less about the customers. They don't check up for refills, to see if you need any sauces for your food, or even to see if the food is to your liking. After several tries, I won't be revisiting this place anytime soon. On the Border is a pretty good chain restaurant, but you can find a much better location.
(1)Priscilla C.
I have always loved this place. I used to go to he one they had in Pines all the time. I honestly usually just go in for an order of refried beans and lots of flour tortillas! Their tortillas are AMAZING! The best tortillas ever in my opinion. They are always soooo soft, fluffy, & warm. Guacamole for appetizer is always a must, & the Kahlua Pie for dessert :)
(3)Sergio F.
Their spicy salsa - spiciest of any tex mex chain restaurant - and prompt service on a Friday night earns On the Border a spot in my "Chains of Love" list! Stopping by for a Baueresque 8pm lunch / dinner, I was promptly seated and my order taken with a smile. Their light, crispy and Complementary! chips were set before me, and my giant chicken borderrito joined them soon after. For my dinner plate side, I chose the fries which I continued dipping in the spicy salsa. Soda refills were on point, and my waitress checked on me making sure I didn't want anything else. When they call it the Big Borderrito they are not lying, as each half was about as big as my hand and stuffed with plenty of chicken, black beans and sour cream. The chicken pieces seemed to need a little more marinating spice, but their salsa came to the rescue. The taste and portion size were absolutely perfect for a day when my only meals were a protein bar and two jugs of Acme brand office coffee!
(4)Stephanie A.
I want to love this place, but the slow service makes me feel otherwise. The food is pretty good. The taco salad is my favorite so far. The classic margaritas are delicious.
(2)Adriana W.
We went here last night after the Ale house told us it would be a 45 minute wait. My boyfriend was starving and we just decided to go here. BIG mistake! We were seated immediately in the giggles section because you know this is a major middle school hangout in Miami Lakes I guess. Anyway, the waitress came to our time 15 minutes after we sat down and the chips and salsa guy just dropped that on the table and left. I forgot to mention this was our first time here. So the waitress comes and takes our drink order 25 minutes, 3 - I forgots, 2 - what am I supposed to be doing again and a Patridge in a pear tree later we got our margaritas because the bartender was so busy serving the 6 people at the bar. We decided to stay and try the food. The food was great but the waitress who claims she forgot everything walked passed us several times when we needed things like napkins and more water. We never even got her name. After paying we walked out and saw that all of the waitresses were sitting in a deserted area of the restaurant having a pow - wow like they're at a sleep over. P.S please use a clean cloth to clean your tables because the one your hostess is using is smelled rank! ON THE BORDER = NO BUENO ONE STAR
(1)Star A.
took take out n food was awful....food was stale n cold we were served rice from the bottom of pan crispy....ordered the ranchilados n size of steak was half of my pinky it crispy dried and over cooked.....they even ran of out cheese for my burger...I waited more than 45 minutes for my food.....
(1)Amanda C.
Nice waiter and awesome chips and salsa. That is all. The food is not good! You are better off looking for a mom and pop Mexican restaurant that is more authentic. What the food lacks in flavor here it makes up in salt. Dos XXs tacos tasted like fishstick tacos. The best meal on the table was probably my 4 year old's corn dog.
(2)Aly G.
Went on a Sunday around 8 pm. We were seated right away and just sat there for 20 minutes without any acknowledgement! Complained to the hostess asked to switch sections and she gave me an attitude. We left immediately! Never going back! Food is good but service sucks! It's sad because there is so much potential there. I can see the business is struggling but now I see why.
(1)Yusef S.
Food is good service is FUCKING trash!! Brought me wrong order my lady had to wait for my food so that she can eat I agree with a majority of the reviews food is good once you finally get it although I asked for sour cream and finished my food before she brought it out and another waitress had to apologize in her behalf would I come here again ahhhh maybe not! Maybe if I wanted Mexican I would go to cancan grill in Miami lakes they never let me down sorry but I speak the truth and unless the have a huge sign outside saying UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT I might give them a second shot but until then they get only 2 stars
(2)Al N.
Nothing Mexican about this place. Bad food and watered down drinks. Lame as lame gets.
(1)MICHELLE C.
Yes, I love Mexican food, authentic or not if it's good I am happy. This is one chain I have always really enjoyed. My previous neighborhood up in Pembroke Pines had one and I would frequent it very often but was told they went out of business, boo! When I saw the sign after shopping all day in this area we just had to go for a late lunch. The restaurant was nicely laid out, plenty room and very clean. From the hostess to our lovely waitress the service was spectacular. Drinks are 2 for 1 everyday, and they make a good margarita. We started with an order of guacamole, which they did not make at the table in which they usually do. It had way way to much lime in it, so much that it overpowered the guacamole, this was disappointing. Then I ordered a combination platter with carne asada taco's, rice and beans. This usually was my favorite dish here but the steak was so overcooked and dry. The flavor was just not there. I am hoping it was just a bad day, because I have never really had a bad meal here before. I will give it another shot if in the area with hopes it will be just like I remember.
(3)Amanda J.
We are from Texas and have been looking for an On the Border since we got here 3 months ago. Finally, we found this location on Yelp. Before we went we checked out the reviews and we were prepared for some not so great service. We got to OTB and right off the bat the hostess didn't seem to have a clue about what was going on. She didn't know if she could seat us at a booth and have a high chair, so she had to check. We were sat at a booth and waited 45 minutes (and asked multiple times) before we were actually received the high chair. My 2 year old was NOT happy nor was I. About 15 minutes later our waiter, Christopher, appeared and took our drink order. We sat and ate chips for 30 minutes (the chips were gone) before our drinks came out. He brought the queso out and our chip bowl was empty. It stayed that way for about 10 minutes. Again, my kiddos were NOT happy and the adults were not happy. About 25 minutes after that he came and took our order. Again, we waited, and waited, and waited. Finally, our luke warm food was brought out. We immediately noticed we only had 2 sets of silverware for a 4 person table. We asked repeatedly to bring napkins and silverware. That never happened so we were forced to share 1 napkin between 4 people. This is another level of bad service, even for OTB. We will not be going back to this location. In fact, it really needs to be shut down because there were no people in this place, yet, the waiters acted as if the place were busting at the seams. Never again.
(1)Lauren C.
I used to love On The Border in Pembroke Pines and was excited that they would open one within walking distance of my house in Miami Lakes! Welp... I'm not sure what it is, but they could never seem to get it together. The excitement quickly wore off after the food was sometimes cold or just didn't deliver the same great taste I remember at the pines location. I also encountered slow service time and time again in the first couple years they opened. I have since not returned. Huge disappointment! I tend to just stick to Cancun's when I need a Mexican food fix!
(2)Erick O.
We walk in this place and its pretty empty because the Ale House next door was packed for the Hurricane Vs. Gator game. However, despite this it still takes about 15 minutes for a waiter to come to our table. I had to get up and find a server that would help us. He wasn't in our area but still helped us take our order. Before this are actual server was eating in the kitchen and serving people there food. Disgusting, I told our server and he was flabbergasted and apologized on her behalf. Other servers were in the back eating and cracking jokes. Just very unprofessional, regardless if the food was good or not this killed my experience. Will not come again.
(1)JoAnna L.
I think 3 stars is fair. My family and I stopped here for an early dinner on a Saturday evening. The staff was friendly and service was quick. My toddler had the grilled chicken, no complaints there. My husband had the chimichanga and was disappointed because there wasn't much sauce on top, but said it tasted good. I had the combo with beef taco, chicken flauta, and an enchilada. The taco shell tasted stale, the flauta was good, and the enchilada was really good! The chips and salsa are very good, and the salsa is a little spicy. The jalapeño margarita tasted like a regular margarita, and for $10, not worth it. It wasn't the best Mexican place, but not the worst. I wouldn't object to going again, but I also wouldn't suggest it....
(3)gab m.
Possibly the worst service I've received. The servers are rude and super clumsy. I ordered water, it took around 15min before I came out. The food was decent after an hour waiting. The only reason I gave this place a 1 star was of the decent food and bottomless chips and salsa. Other than that, no one deserves such unsympathetic servers and manager.
(1)Orlando C.
Im conflicted between giving 3 or 4 stars. We've been here a few times and have found that for the most part the service is great. Their waiters are on point with making suggestions and are very friendly. Some areas of opportunity with the service but I would recommend the place.
(4)Steven D.
Great Mexcan food. I highly recommend ordering the Border Sampler or the Original Queso. For the entree, The Ultimate Fajita and The Big Bordurrito is absolute amazing.
(4)Steve H.
The good tastes like tasteless American food in a Mexican costume. No flavor in the Tacos (overpriced), the Sampler (large and filling), or the fajitas (very small portions and tasteless - Chili's tastes better and comes with more meat). The waitress was bored and could care less about us. It took us 34 minutes to get our food (I counted). Don't waste your money with this place.
(1)Kristin C.
For a displaced Texan looking for authentic Tex-Mex (no it's not the same as Mexican) , this sure hits the spot. We had the brisket enchiladas. Although they were more like burritos with a slightly crisp flour tortilla and dry with a sauce on the side, they were still tasty. No one does brisket like a Texan. I also asked for a side of roasted veggies, extra soft. Usually it's so hard for the cooks to get the soft part down no matter how much I explain to the waiters. But the waitress was really sweet to try to get it right. The salsa was addictive with a good ole Texas kick. We will be back.
(4)Sheila L.
Great food. Great prices. However staff can be a little slow sometimes.
(4)Erik G.
Food is good and fresh. Tortillas seem homemade. They just take too long to close out a check. If your rushed during lunch be prepared to wait.
(4)Bradley S.
First lets start with the negative, the wait time was extremely long for food almost 45 minutes!! wasn't terrible for me but my girl friend was a angry (we were going to the movie theater)...but everything else was good the food is great, and the waiters try their best to accommodate to your needs... also the area is pretty nice for any type of gatherings
(4)Natalie L.
the service is hit or miss. the chips and queso is the best part. everything else is just meh. we go here bc it's close to our house, but it's not our first choice for mexican food. or our second, or third.
(2)Jeff A.
I sent my food back. Haven't done that in years. Chicken tasted like they boiled it. Service was slow, restaurant was empty. The only thing good about this place is the chips and salsa.
(1)Christy G.
Horrible service! We were a party of 10 and everyone's food came out at a different time. The customer service was horrible. Our food was cold. It was my friends bday and her food came out last when everyone else was done. Never coming here again. Never!
(1)Allen N.
I love OTB. Best salsa! I love their burritos. Price: A Food: A Service: A- Atmosphere: B
(5)Frank M.
Not bad for a mex restaurant. .. but the service have to improve. Parking sucks
(3)Jing W.
Very good food, and service. Their cocktail is very nice, and I like their shrimp and brownie. It's close to Main St, not crowded. I went there twice. Once inside, and once outside. Both were very good.
(5)Ruth H.
You know this place is done right when it is approved by none other than the Most Interesting Man in the World, Dos Equis. The chips are tasty, unlike Chili's, and the salsa is a bit spicy, but served in the best way: complimentary. The menu contains what may be one of the best inventions of the 21st century: avocado fries. If youre into authentic Tex-Mex food, you will enjoy this bright, sunny Miami Lakes location, right in the middle of town - literally! (see map - top right).
(5)Kevin C.
Having just moved here from Texas it's pretty sad to say that the best Mexican food in South Florida is a Tex-mex chain restaurant. However I will continue my journey searching for really good Tex-mex in South Florida and I will let you know if my opinion changes.
(4)Jose B.
The service is good. But the food is horrible. At least not to my liking
(1)Adam S.
Terrible service. This is my first Yelp review. I signed up just to write it. First time I went to this place, we ordered an appetizer and they never brought it. Tonight is my second time there. Once we sat down, 10 minutes passed and we didn't even get acknowledged. 2 waiters passed us and looked and not even a word. For Mexican food, definitely go to Cancun Grill nearby. The food is waaaaayyyy better and the service is always great.
(1)Jose S.
Couldnt wait to get home to post this. Just left the restaurant and it was bad. and i mean bad as in bad. No welcome greet when you walk in and no hospitality. The service and food was slow and my main dish had no flavor. (The guacamole was good though.) Dont bother ordering the weak margaritas either. overall im highly disappointed with the place. I guess thats why it was empty.
(1)James E.
the foods good theres a bit of a wait time but its overall good
(3)Cheri A.
Good atmosphere. Good service, although a little bit of a "car salesman" vibe with all of the attempts to upgrade us to alcoholic drinks and guacamole. Mediocre food. Chips kind of thin, salsa ok. Not enough vegetarian or vegan options.
(2)Wendy H.
Good chips and salsa. I love ordering the border sample as my meal because I like having a sampling of food. I always order the quesadillas with steak instead of with chicken and they always appease me. It is a huge platter so it is definitely enough to share. The margaritas are decent and sometimes they are 2 for 1.... There is nothing to truly rave about but in general a good Tex Mex place when you are in the mood for just that. I gave it 4 starts because when I want Tex Mex this is the place I think of.
(4)Evette A.
After a small wine tasting nearby, we decided to head over to On the Border since it was walking distance and they ahd TV's for C to watch the rest of the NFL Draft. We sat down at the bar and ordered a round of the house margaritas for the 3 of us. I've had better margaritas before, but it was refreshing. After we chugged those down, we found out that the drafts were buy one get one free. We love our deals, so we ordered a round of Dos Equis. We weren't there for very long and we didn't get any food, but we had a great time enjoying this happy hour and eachother's company. We asked for the bill and were floored when we saw it. I was so surprised that drinks for 3 of us, were $21.00. That was the cheapest bar tab I had ever seen. I know that these highly commercialized restaurants such as this never really has the best food, but the happy hours are great. We will definitely try to make this a weekly tradition with my lovely friend B.
(4)Maxine V.
My friend wanted margaritas so we came (in a large group). The service at the bar was average. I had a sangria. It was good, very sweet though, which is not my preference. No one ordered food; we just ate chips. The salsa was very spicy. After a little bit we switched to queso dip which was tasty. Since this place is not a round the corner I will not be coming back to try any food.
(3)Jay J.
It wasn't good. I thought that the chips and salsa were not good. The service was only OK and the portion size of the food, for the money was skimpy! I'm not from here and find that ANY authethic Mexican restaurant is 100x better than this place!
(1)A S.
Awesome Mexican food! The Salsa sauce is a best seller and so is the freshly made guacamole. Definitely a recommended place!
(5)Lissette C.
Mircrowaved Mexican. I'll stick to Can-Cun, at least it has a better ambience and more than 10 people in it.
(1)Olivia L.
Try the guacamole that they make fresh at your table. Delicious!
(5)Yesy F.
Disgusting!
(1)Joe C.
Been to this restaurant many times for 2 reasons. Carne Asada and the Borderita Grande. Both are excellent and consistent every time. As far as the service, I would give it 3 stars. It's very hit and miss. From the host/hostess not being there when you arrive, slow wait staff, and just an overall lazy attitude it's just not a good dining experience as gas as service goes.
(4)Al J.
Great place, great food, great drinks! The service is great. Sometimes the hostesses seem like they're dragging their feet but otherwise everyone here go out of their way to be helpful.
(5)Fernando and Melissa H.
The chips and salsa are great and we love the $2 margaritas. Best appetizer to try is the ultimate loaded queso. This restaurant is located directly on Main Street in Miami Lakes which is in walking distance to the movie theater. Every 5th of May they have a big bash to celebrate the Mexican holiday "Cinco De Mayo" and usually have drink specials etc.
(3)Christie B.
The fresh guacamole served in a large mortar began a most interesting and wonderful dining experience. The food, the ambiance, the company was wonderful. Lots of people and great service. Large margaritas and the 3-person Mariacchi guys made this evening very festive and I will definitely return, soon! My son lives in the area and I'm sure he will make this a regular dinner experience!
(5)Jose P.
This is really a 2.5 BUT I rounded up. I am not the biggest fan of sit down chain restaurants but my niece really wanted to hit up OTB so I decided to join her and her fam. I had not been there in years but I do remember they had an awesome queso dip. Well either their queso dip was the bomb back in the day or my taste buds have played a dirty trick on my memory all these years or it has always been ok and my taste buds have just changed through the years. I want to think it's the first, though. We visited this location on 2/6/10 around 19:30 and there was no wait which I was pleasantly surprised about since it was a Friday night. The establishment was clean and most tables were filled. Their menu was standard and we decided to hit the queso for starters. It was ok to good but not everything I had thought it was going to be......I was a little disappointed :( They do bring out salsa and bottom less chips. We never tried the salsa and the chips were good but some were too salty and greasy. The rest of my meal consisted of the Create Your Own Fajitas, which was much better. The chicken, tortillas, rice, and veggies were VERY tasty. The gauc and rest of condiments were just ok. It would have been a nice one two punch if the condiments were just as tasty. The rest of the table had the Border Sample, which comes with a sampling of chicken quesadillas, steak nachos and chicken flautas, served with guac, sour cream, pico de gallo and original queso. They thought it was pretty good except the flautas were a dud. Service was good when it was around but spotty I thought, at least for how busy it did not seem. At the end the company I was with made the experience much better, not the food. I think I am good with OTB for another few years for sure.
(3)Janessa A.
Went here today for lunch for the first time, it is just recently opened very cute and new inside. The service was really good, the food was great. They bring u tortilla chips with salsa which is a medium spicey I would have to say. I ordered the chicken and shrimp fajitas with the tequila lime sauce--yum-O!! It was fresh, delicious it was 13.99 while my boyfriend ordered the spicy buffalo chicken flatbread tacos which was very good indeed $9.99. My plate came with tortillas, rice, refired beans, pico de gallo, sour cream, guacomole and vegetables. For dessert we ordered the sopapillas which are mexican fried pastries topped with cinammon sugar served with chocolate dipping sauce and honey on the side...very good we loved it couldnt even finish it. The drinks also look great didnt have a chance to try but will do same next time I come back. Honestly, as much as Cancun has been a mexican staple in miami lakes for years, Im starting to think that On the border is taking over, with theyre good service, quality food, and its newly renovated, you cant go wrong.
(5)