To those who have stumbled upon this Yelp! page in search of a place to dine in an OUTSIDE patio, be forewarned. The "patio" that I read about is a room with open windows. Don't be fooled by thinking that you'll actually be eating outside on a nice day. Those who have read my reviews before know that I HATE chainy restaurants. That said, I was pleasantly surprised with my dining experience at OTB (no....not Off Track Betting). I ordered 3 of the "street tacos". I loved the fact that you could mix and match tacos. I had the Dos XX fish taco (the best one), the Mesquite Chicken (pretty solid), and the pork (close second best). All tacos were good, although I'm not sure how many Mexican "street" vendors are serving up fried onion straws on their tacos. Unlimited chips and salsa is always a HUGE plus...and they go perfectly with an ice cold Corona (even a Corona that costs $4.75!?!?!).
(3)
Beth H.
My husband and I just ate there for the first time. We thought everything was excellent! Our server, Ben, was super friendly, didn't push anything on us, and even took the time to go through the menu with us. We thought the food was absolutely delicious! My only complaint was that they don't have a mild salsa - only medium which was a little too spicy for me, but my husband loved it. The prices are very reasonable as well!
(5)
Jan G.
My friend wanted to try this restaurant and I had never been before, so I thought why not. We were seated promptly our waitress was outstanding. The chips and salsa arrived as we were looking at our menus. The chips and salsa were amazing, the salsa is sweet and end with a spicy finish. I was so excited to try my entree after sampling the chips and salsa! The menu was extensive and everything sounded fantastic, so much that I wish they would of had a lazy susan and I could have tried a little of everything. I ordered the Del Rio, which consisted of a seasoned fish taco, a guacamole tostada and chicken enchilada. The description clearly stated seasoned fish taco, I was very disappointed, there wasn't any seasoning and it was very bland. So I moved on to the guacamole tostada, again lacking flavor, so I then tried the chicken enchilada and it was just okay. The menu and chips and salsa were so enticing, but the entrees are not that great. I might go back and just do appetizers and chips and salsa, and their margaritas.
(2)
Kristopher S.
2 1/2 stars on Yelp? Really? That baffles me. I'm not normally a big fan of these corporate chains, but I really like this one. On The Border has a nice ambience, and feels much cleaner than most Mexican joints. I've only had one thing here (the Quesadilla's), but they have the best Quesadilla's I've ever had! I also had the Quesadilla at Chili's (next door), and the Quesadilla's here are FAR superior. Prices are about what I'd expect them to be. Service ranges from poor to average. It really irritates me how they nickel and dime you here for everything. Especially charging an entire new drink to get a refill on a pop in a to go cup. Give me a break. That's no way to keep customers in this economy. That being said, I'll come back for the food and rated four stars as I have yet to find a Quesadilla (even at more authentic restaurants) that compares.
(4)
Ryan S.
Went with my wife for lunch. We have eaten at locations in Arizona,however this place was terrible. Service was horrible. The waitress kept throwing glasses of coke on the table and not even asking if we wanted them. Coincidentally the.coke was the tastiest part of the meal. We didn't get a couple things we ordered and she never said sorry, just oops. Brisket tacos were so dry u couldn't swallow them. The tacos and tostadas were so small they should have been called mini tacos and served as appetizers. also, whoever thought fried onions on a taco would be good was severely wrong. Oh yeah, how do you forget to put cheese in a cheese enchilada?
(1)
Dave F.
I've been here a few times, it's usually fairly decent for a chain this far from Texas. The free chips and salsa are good. The prices are reasonable. I went earlier today and my food was cold. The enchiladas came with almost zero cheese (maybe 20 shreds of cheese for the whole dish). The rice tasted like oil. Coffee cold. Usually the food is hot and not so poorly cooked. Perhaps I came at a bad time. The wait staff was good - they were fast and came often enough without being distracting. I give it 3 stars based on my good experiences only - I just wanted to note that it can be hit or miss.
(3)
ed n.
this was by far the worst service I've ever had. however, after bringing it to their attention they tried to rectify the situation. this is my last time there.
(1)
Atom G.
Great patio for the warm weather to enjoy a pitcher of margarita. Very good TeX-Mex food is your usual suburban road side dining. However this is much better then most places in Oakland county. Nice bar and allot of tables through out.
(4)
Rani H.
The staff are very friendly and always checking on every customer. Alex (our waitress) was very sweet and made sure we got everything we needed. Best place ever love the food. Highly recommended
(5)
Alex M.
Food quality has gone down since my last visit. Something has definitely changed. Went for Taco Tuesday and got my usual $2 chicken tacos, but got very little fixings on the inside on a seemingly different taco shell than before. The tacos used to be filled with chicken but now it seems that they got orders to pull it back to conserve. Everyone in my party noticed the change. Disappointing. Service was still great, as usual.
(3)
Michael L.
I LOVE On The Border. The chips and salsa are great. I really like the queso dip as well. Every time I go, I get the Ultimate Fajitas. They come with chicken, steak, shrimp, and pulled pork. They are AMAZING. The margaritas during happy hour are great too (A big one is about $5). sidebar: I hate that they discontinued the Coronarita (Margarita with mini Corona upside down in it)
(4)
JillAdrienne P.
Guacamole is awesome...and of course, apple crisp is always recommended!
(3)
Amanda W.
I agree with previous comments that this restaurant is bordering a 1 star rating. First off, we probably should have "got a clue" about how amazing this place is when we came at 8pm on a Friday night and the place was relatively sparse with hungry patrons. i am not quite sure who our waitress was because so many different employees stopped by our table. Yet, with all the employees stopping by our table none of them ever helped us without us repeating ourselves. It was nuts. Our food's appearance resembled that of a cheap, microwavable dinner. The chips and salsa were the best (how can you ruin chips and salsa). It didn't help that our waitress overcharged us for our drinks.
(2)
Amanda M.
This was my first time ever trying the On the Border brand, and was hesitant to try this establishment due to the previous reviews. I was with my boyfriend, holding his hand, and we were greeted by the most frazzled of hosts with a scuffed up, black eye and a crazy insane-asylum style blonde bouffant. And while our fingers were tightly linked together in obvious couple fashion, she asked us with her crazy, scattered eyes if we were separate and needed 2 tables...? Highly confused, we assured her that we were satisfied with simply taking our place to sit at the bar. This was beyond the best decision we could have made. Our bartender, XAVIER, immediately welcomed us to the bar with a warm and inviting smile. He took our drink orders and brought our order, along with menus right away. We tried out the Avocado Fries. I love avocado, and enjoyed them, but think they'd be a better dessert if the ends were dipped in dark chocolate. I ordered the Baja Combo, he ordered Fish Tacos. Mine was amazing, but the boyfriend's temporary for his root canal came into a full force painful contact with a strong piece of cabbage core that was in a taco. Not to worry, Xavier came to the rescue, immediately and personally brought the manager to us, who regretfully and sincerely apologized to us, took the meal off of our bill, and even offered a free meal replacement. Extremely professional. We were very impressed with Xavier and his service, thankful for the managements professionalism, but still confused by the scary host. Food is very yummy, and definitely want to visit again, but we'll ONLY sit at the bar. Seems too sketchy to attempt being served by the waitstaff. XAVIER MAKES THIS PLACE SHINE!
(4)
Erica A.
I really only go here for the chips, guacamole live which is prepared table, and drinks. The rest of the food is pretty average and lately the service has been lacking as well. It's still a decent pic for drinks and appetizers - just don't expect authentic Mexican food or A+ customer service.
(3)
Matt M.
This is very Americanized Mexican. Very cheesy, saucy, fried, and delicious. Just like I prefer. My wife ordered a pint of Amber dos Equis and I was a little surprised at the price ($5.59). Seems kinda steep. Regardless over all it was a good meal. The service was fast (which is good cause we have a 7 month old) and our server was knowledgeable. The kids meals are 5 bucks for the meal, drink, and ice cream. Thats not bad. This is a once a year kinda place for us. The coupon brought us in. Overall we were all happy with our meal.
(3)
Teresa D.
The food was good but when I got my bill it was $11.33 and I paid in cash and gave them $20. and only got back $8.00 they didn't give the the change part back I don't think thats a good policy and I wont be returning.
(2)
Eric G.
Ugh. Generic, blah Mexican food... Nothing really stood out other than crappy service, bland food... Overall it just wasn't a good experience. 1 thing that bugged me was no place mats and no plates with appetizers.. Chips and salsa require a placemat or something to eat over... In an area with a ton of good dining choices, this place should be a last resort. And don't get the kids cheeseburger (for your kids). First they use a whole wheat bun, gross, and the 'meat' tasted like a old frozen piece of road kill. Mexican side note... Corn tortillas are freakin disgusting...
(2)
Melissa B.
This is a good back up plan if you are hankering some chips and salsa and a sangria swirl margarita ....... This is tex-mex, not true mex. They have pretty good staples and large portions. As a veggie you know how particular I can get on choices and variety. It's ok here. Like many places their refried beans have a chicken broth base, which sucks if I don't want black beans, again! But if I'm in the mood for a margarita I'll choose a veggie version of a lunch size taco salad or the guacamole tacos. For everyone else there are plenty of choices. Fajitas, burritos, etc etc.. The service at the location is pretty good. Servers have always been pretty friendly. One commented that she thought they had the "best fries ever" not sure what the comparison was but they were ok, but not the best ever....even according to my kids.
(4)
Mary L.
Favorite place for Mexican food :) chips and salsa is always fresh, my food comes out hot never, drinks are wonderful! The only down fall is slow service at time but the food is worth it!
(4)
Michael H.
My family has been coming here for the last few years. Mexican food is one of my favorite ethnic foods and I have tried many Mexican restaurants in my life. I would say that this is one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have been to. Thier chips are always fresh and hot. I have never seem this Resteruant dirty or had bad wait service like some people have claimed on Yelp. The only thing that prevents them from getting five stars is about half the time the cooks don't pay attention to orders where you may not want an ingredient added such as pico. I explicitly ask the wait staff to leave pico out. Although the wait staff places this on the order, about half the time it is added anyways. I immediately check to see if pico is present because pico makes me sick. If there is pico in it, most of the time my order is redone immediately and the item I ordered is free of charge. Although this is an ongoing problem, the fact that they apologize and immediately remedy the mistake, keeps me coming back.
(4)
Eholey X.
I love their dos xx's fish tacos. Good food and good service. They have decent margaritas - sometimes I have to order an extra shot.
(3)
Kayla A.
I used to frequent here once a week. There was a server named Calais that I loved! The prices just kept going up and the last time I went they had new plates with WAY smaller portion size. I always get the fajita salad because they jalapeño vinaigrette is sooo good! I've probably been there once in the last year because I'm so disappointed in you OTB. What happened?:(
(1)
Brad M.
Great Staple Tex-Mex, which we all know is delicious! Empanada appetizers! One of my favorite foods on the planet! YUM! The Firecracker Stuffed Jalepeno's here aren't that hot... and the breading was a bit soggy... but they were okay. They even have the Dos XX Fish Tacos (which were better when they were $1.00 cheaper). However, let's talk taste and sizzle... FAJITAS! It's hard to beat a plate of sizzling steaming fajitas, as they carry the smoke covered goodness to you, across the restaurant, and you can watch everyone's mouth water with envy as they approach your table! However... how cheap can you get on the sour cream and cheese? Really? Look... it's Brinker... it's a Chain... but as I've said before... that means consistency, and they hit it on the head! Good service, good food... I can give this place 4 Stars
(4)
Denise B.
The two good things about this place is the chips and salsa, and, not eating there. Why would you have to wait 30 minutes for 2 salads and a meatless burrito. Finally we got our food, to go, got home and the lettuce had big chunks of brown lettuce throughout the salad. The container was nasty and whatever that was on top seem like it came from another plate. My husband immediately returned the salad for a refund. Although they asked if he wanted something else, the risk was too great and we opted for a credit card return. I have given this place more than enough chances to wow me, and they fail every time. Bad service, bland food, and overall poor treatment, equals a review you deserve and free advertisement to all I know to not patronize this place! If you ever have an option for zero stars, this would be the time I would use it.
(1)
Martan A.
I usually go here with co-workers at lunch. It is not overly busy usually so we are able to get in and out fairly easily. The wait staff has been friendly and attentive on the times that I have been there. I have to admit that I like the food at Don Pablo's better but this is still good. The portions are good size and the the chips are good. One thing that I do like is that the restaurant will still make dishes that you request that are no longer on the menu. The one that I like is the "Border Stacked Nachos". It will feed 2-3 people for lunch and is only $9.29!
(3)
Andrew B.
ON The Border is on the border of a one star review. Let's start with the good. The chips. Those things are are great. Moving on from the positives we go now to why I will never return to On The Border. It was Taco Tuesday. Every Mexican place is busy on Taco Tuesday. Well, except On The Border. The place was dead and I now know why. It is truly awful. We ordered 6 different tacos and the avocado fries. The avocado fries never came(probably a good thing) and one of our tacos was a complete screw up. I mean that in saying the bartender admitted he punched in the wrong taco and didn't correct it until after the food came. What is even better is the taco he punched in and the taco I received were different. So I ordered taco A, bartender entered taco B and taco C is what arrived at the table. WTF??? The highlight for me though was when a server came up to the stand to get a special margarita for a table the bartender told him that he was out of the tequila used to make that drink. the sever said, "Just fake it, who cares." So some poor sap ordered a $10+ top shelf margarita and got well tequila. Pathetic. Oh, and my 10oz. Dos Equis was $4.50. Never, ever again.
(2)
Nik H.
This place is sub par, the food is average at best and the service is weak. I've been here a few times and honestly i doubt i will go out of my way to go back.
(2)
Shannon S.
The food here is simply production line assembled. Hum drum to say the least. Personally I would never choose to eat here, but today was not my choice to pick.. I am not a fan of this type of establishment. We did have excellent service though.
(2)
John F.
Classic chain style Mexican food. We eat here often after shopping at the Great Lakes Crossing mall. Can be VERY busy at peak times. Loud and fun dining. Not truly authentic Mexican food - but a great Americanized version. Very good! Consistent. Good hot thin chips and spicy salsa. We like this restaurant.
(4)
Steve P.
If you have not been to the Border in a while, go! They have really put some effort in the menu and quality of the food. We started off with a great waitress who bought our appetizer back with our drink order. The deep-fried avocados were superb. Chips were warm, fresh, and crisp, unlike other tex-mex chains using yesterdays corn basket. Prices were very good. The empandas were winners. The chicken flauta was authentic, like I remember in Jaurez. Sure you can go to SW Detroit, but the breadth of the menu, the selection choices, service, and great food all added up to a fantastic experience.
(4)
Greg F.
I love this place. I also know going in that it's not intended to be real authentic Mexican. But the chips and salsa are the best I've had anywhere and the good is satisfying. My wife and I enjoy getting OTB whenever in the area. Also a TIP: GM employees get a 10% discount.
(4)
Michael S.
Very very slow service. Not advised for lunch, unless you have 2 HOURS. We were a party of 5, we were seated rather quickly, and the waiter took are drink and food order quickly. I thought that we were going to have a great experience. I was told that this place was much better than Chill's (that was next door). So we waited, everyone was getting served. We watched and waited as our food was up awaiting to be served. When we were able to stop him, he told us that the long wait was do to the kitchen. Funny, we saw the food was up to be delivered. Well when the food was delivered, all the dishes were prepared wrong, and we sent them back. The next batch of food came out, still prepared wrong, but after waiting 45 minutes, we started to eat. Oh course we wolfed down the food and asked for a manager. The manager came out after about 5 minutes and we explained to her the situation, and she politely said that she would check into the situation and get back to us. About 10 minutes passed and a different manager came by and asked her how was our lunch. We then explained to her that we had a discussion with another manager about 10 minutes ago, and it appeared that the other manager went MIA. So we waited another 5 or so minutes, and the waiter came by and told us that the bill was taken care of. What, Is there a black hole where managers go MIA? I can tell you that we won't becoming back to this place ever!!!! Maybe another location, but not this one. When we arrived the place was not that busy, but the lunch crowd did get in. They came and went while we still waited!!!!!
(1)
Daniel R.
For a chain food-joint, this place was pretty good. I came with some buds of mine here and to be honest I'm not a fan of Mexican food. However despite this being a chain restaraunt the food was pretty damn good. The dessert I had (a chocolate empanda dish) was very good an filling (big too, need at least 2 people to finish it off). Service was fast and friendly, and the drinks were off the hook (I used a fake ID though lol). ONly bad thing I can say about the place is that the parking lot is a bit small and that it';s near Great Lakes Crossing which makes for a very crowded lot. Still it's worth it to come here if you're in the mood for Mexican food.
(4)
Paul s.
this place has gone down hill hard!!!!!!!!!!!!! they used to be a great place to go when they were owned by the people that owned chili's. and a very expensive for crappy food. $85 for 3 adults and 1 child not including tip. the cheese dip we ordered was cheese soup. we will not go back.
(1)
A A.
I admit I have only tried one thing on the menu ( beef brisket tacos) and I am sticking with it! You get three flour tortillas filled with tender, juicy smoked brisket, jack cheese and a spicy bbq sauce and thinly sliced fried onion straws. Staff is always friendly, plenty of seating and unlimited chips w/salsa. The classic margaritas are awesome and they're not shy with the patro'n!
(4)
Brian G.
On the Border is probably the second best Mexican chain restaurant in Oakland County (Don Pablo's is an easy first, they aren't even in the same league) but considering it's major competition is Chili's and Taco Bell that isn't saying a lot. The quality of the food is grossly inconsistent. I've had great fajitas one day and cold, unseasoned beef tips with 2 or 3 peppers mixed in the next. The staff is pretty friendly and I certainly don't fault the cheery servers for the bad food. The only way I come here to eat now is if I'm planning on having a few bottles of Dos Equis in which case the flavor of the food quickly loses significance.
(3)
Matt A.
Went here with a group of college friends, we usually go here when we are all back in town for break or whatnot. The decor is your traditional faux-Mexican place decorations, sombreros, chili peppers and all. My friend and I were the last of the group to arrive, the waiter got to us and took our drink orders as soon as we were seated, we were paid attention to well the whole night. They kept the free chips and salsa going too, which is kind of nice for struggling college kids. I ordered beef empanadas, which were delicious. They come with a little bit of diced tomatoes and lettuce and gross viscous nacho cheese. Other than the cheese, it was nice. Also, everybody at the table had the same problem with the cheese. The restaurant is kind of cramped and small, we were all bunched together with different tables that weren't even the same height. Also, we were placed right next to the door, so we would get that nice gust of freezing cold air anytime somebody went in or out. The food is moderately priced, you don't feel like you busted your bank account and didn't get anything to show for it afterward. I would definitely come here again, it's not on my top must go to restaurants list, but it's good for groups and not too expensive. P.S. Love the geniuses who put the restaurant On the Border right next to a Borders book store.
(4)
Soni K.
This is place has great food, awesome atmosphere and wonderful people working. Ignore the bad review- you will enjoy this place. People leaving bad reviews just dont know how good food tastes.
(5)
Laura P.
I come here once a week... I think that says alot. I absolutely love the Sizzling Fajita Salad with Jalapeno Vinaigrette (I get it with the sour cream swapped for another guac at no charge). I have had several items on the menu and faves include Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas and the fajitas with black beans. The service can be inconsistent though... however when the service was bad, usually that waiter/ waitress isn't seen there on my next visit!
(4)
Tony K.
I'm consistently underwhelmed by the quality and lack of taste of their food. Good service, drinks, good location, nice environment, but their food is pretty tasteless. I only live a few miles from there so occasionally meet people there, and have never been even moderately impressed with the food. Somehow it's fresh (like fajitas), but tasteless. Their tacos and other traditional Mexican dishes feel like they just came out of a microwave...Somehow that place is packed all the time - must be what the masses like
(2)
caroline r.
Once in awhile I get a hankering for some mexican food. I have 2 standby restaurants that we go to but I ventured out with friends tonight and tried this place. The free chips and salsa was perfect! Chips were thick and crisp (nothing is worse than dipping your chip into the salsa and it breaks). I had the create your own combo of a chicken empanada and 2 beef enchiladas, with sides of double rice (no refried beans for me) and everything was right on. The chicken and beef were tender and filled just right. I love their rice! I ordered their OTB Margarita with a splash of Midori and whoa, you get your money for it. I was half stumblin' outta there. I'll definitely be going back!
(4)
Jackie K.
Way too salty and poor quality food. Exactly what you'd expect.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No 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.
Dan N.
To those who have stumbled upon this Yelp! page in search of a place to dine in an OUTSIDE patio, be forewarned. The "patio" that I read about is a room with open windows. Don't be fooled by thinking that you'll actually be eating outside on a nice day. Those who have read my reviews before know that I HATE chainy restaurants. That said, I was pleasantly surprised with my dining experience at OTB (no....not Off Track Betting). I ordered 3 of the "street tacos". I loved the fact that you could mix and match tacos. I had the Dos XX fish taco (the best one), the Mesquite Chicken (pretty solid), and the pork (close second best). All tacos were good, although I'm not sure how many Mexican "street" vendors are serving up fried onion straws on their tacos. Unlimited chips and salsa is always a HUGE plus...and they go perfectly with an ice cold Corona (even a Corona that costs $4.75!?!?!).
(3)Beth H.
My husband and I just ate there for the first time. We thought everything was excellent! Our server, Ben, was super friendly, didn't push anything on us, and even took the time to go through the menu with us. We thought the food was absolutely delicious! My only complaint was that they don't have a mild salsa - only medium which was a little too spicy for me, but my husband loved it. The prices are very reasonable as well!
(5)Jan G.
My friend wanted to try this restaurant and I had never been before, so I thought why not. We were seated promptly our waitress was outstanding. The chips and salsa arrived as we were looking at our menus. The chips and salsa were amazing, the salsa is sweet and end with a spicy finish. I was so excited to try my entree after sampling the chips and salsa! The menu was extensive and everything sounded fantastic, so much that I wish they would of had a lazy susan and I could have tried a little of everything. I ordered the Del Rio, which consisted of a seasoned fish taco, a guacamole tostada and chicken enchilada. The description clearly stated seasoned fish taco, I was very disappointed, there wasn't any seasoning and it was very bland. So I moved on to the guacamole tostada, again lacking flavor, so I then tried the chicken enchilada and it was just okay. The menu and chips and salsa were so enticing, but the entrees are not that great. I might go back and just do appetizers and chips and salsa, and their margaritas.
(2)Kristopher S.
2 1/2 stars on Yelp? Really? That baffles me. I'm not normally a big fan of these corporate chains, but I really like this one. On The Border has a nice ambience, and feels much cleaner than most Mexican joints. I've only had one thing here (the Quesadilla's), but they have the best Quesadilla's I've ever had! I also had the Quesadilla at Chili's (next door), and the Quesadilla's here are FAR superior. Prices are about what I'd expect them to be. Service ranges from poor to average. It really irritates me how they nickel and dime you here for everything. Especially charging an entire new drink to get a refill on a pop in a to go cup. Give me a break. That's no way to keep customers in this economy. That being said, I'll come back for the food and rated four stars as I have yet to find a Quesadilla (even at more authentic restaurants) that compares.
(4)Ryan S.
Went with my wife for lunch. We have eaten at locations in Arizona,however this place was terrible. Service was horrible. The waitress kept throwing glasses of coke on the table and not even asking if we wanted them. Coincidentally the.coke was the tastiest part of the meal. We didn't get a couple things we ordered and she never said sorry, just oops. Brisket tacos were so dry u couldn't swallow them. The tacos and tostadas were so small they should have been called mini tacos and served as appetizers. also, whoever thought fried onions on a taco would be good was severely wrong. Oh yeah, how do you forget to put cheese in a cheese enchilada?
(1)Dave F.
I've been here a few times, it's usually fairly decent for a chain this far from Texas. The free chips and salsa are good. The prices are reasonable. I went earlier today and my food was cold. The enchiladas came with almost zero cheese (maybe 20 shreds of cheese for the whole dish). The rice tasted like oil. Coffee cold. Usually the food is hot and not so poorly cooked. Perhaps I came at a bad time. The wait staff was good - they were fast and came often enough without being distracting. I give it 3 stars based on my good experiences only - I just wanted to note that it can be hit or miss.
(3)ed n.
this was by far the worst service I've ever had. however, after bringing it to their attention they tried to rectify the situation. this is my last time there.
(1)Atom G.
Great patio for the warm weather to enjoy a pitcher of margarita. Very good TeX-Mex food is your usual suburban road side dining. However this is much better then most places in Oakland county. Nice bar and allot of tables through out.
(4)Rani H.
The staff are very friendly and always checking on every customer. Alex (our waitress) was very sweet and made sure we got everything we needed. Best place ever love the food. Highly recommended
(5)Alex M.
Food quality has gone down since my last visit. Something has definitely changed. Went for Taco Tuesday and got my usual $2 chicken tacos, but got very little fixings on the inside on a seemingly different taco shell than before. The tacos used to be filled with chicken but now it seems that they got orders to pull it back to conserve. Everyone in my party noticed the change. Disappointing. Service was still great, as usual.
(3)Michael L.
I LOVE On The Border. The chips and salsa are great. I really like the queso dip as well. Every time I go, I get the Ultimate Fajitas. They come with chicken, steak, shrimp, and pulled pork. They are AMAZING. The margaritas during happy hour are great too (A big one is about $5). sidebar: I hate that they discontinued the Coronarita (Margarita with mini Corona upside down in it)
(4)JillAdrienne P.
Guacamole is awesome...and of course, apple crisp is always recommended!
(3)Amanda W.
I agree with previous comments that this restaurant is bordering a 1 star rating. First off, we probably should have "got a clue" about how amazing this place is when we came at 8pm on a Friday night and the place was relatively sparse with hungry patrons. i am not quite sure who our waitress was because so many different employees stopped by our table. Yet, with all the employees stopping by our table none of them ever helped us without us repeating ourselves. It was nuts. Our food's appearance resembled that of a cheap, microwavable dinner. The chips and salsa were the best (how can you ruin chips and salsa). It didn't help that our waitress overcharged us for our drinks.
(2)Amanda M.
This was my first time ever trying the On the Border brand, and was hesitant to try this establishment due to the previous reviews. I was with my boyfriend, holding his hand, and we were greeted by the most frazzled of hosts with a scuffed up, black eye and a crazy insane-asylum style blonde bouffant. And while our fingers were tightly linked together in obvious couple fashion, she asked us with her crazy, scattered eyes if we were separate and needed 2 tables...? Highly confused, we assured her that we were satisfied with simply taking our place to sit at the bar. This was beyond the best decision we could have made. Our bartender, XAVIER, immediately welcomed us to the bar with a warm and inviting smile. He took our drink orders and brought our order, along with menus right away. We tried out the Avocado Fries. I love avocado, and enjoyed them, but think they'd be a better dessert if the ends were dipped in dark chocolate. I ordered the Baja Combo, he ordered Fish Tacos. Mine was amazing, but the boyfriend's temporary for his root canal came into a full force painful contact with a strong piece of cabbage core that was in a taco. Not to worry, Xavier came to the rescue, immediately and personally brought the manager to us, who regretfully and sincerely apologized to us, took the meal off of our bill, and even offered a free meal replacement. Extremely professional. We were very impressed with Xavier and his service, thankful for the managements professionalism, but still confused by the scary host. Food is very yummy, and definitely want to visit again, but we'll ONLY sit at the bar. Seems too sketchy to attempt being served by the waitstaff. XAVIER MAKES THIS PLACE SHINE!
(4)Erica A.
I really only go here for the chips, guacamole live which is prepared table, and drinks. The rest of the food is pretty average and lately the service has been lacking as well. It's still a decent pic for drinks and appetizers - just don't expect authentic Mexican food or A+ customer service.
(3)Matt M.
This is very Americanized Mexican. Very cheesy, saucy, fried, and delicious. Just like I prefer. My wife ordered a pint of Amber dos Equis and I was a little surprised at the price ($5.59). Seems kinda steep. Regardless over all it was a good meal. The service was fast (which is good cause we have a 7 month old) and our server was knowledgeable. The kids meals are 5 bucks for the meal, drink, and ice cream. Thats not bad. This is a once a year kinda place for us. The coupon brought us in. Overall we were all happy with our meal.
(3)Teresa D.
The food was good but when I got my bill it was $11.33 and I paid in cash and gave them $20. and only got back $8.00 they didn't give the the change part back I don't think thats a good policy and I wont be returning.
(2)Eric G.
Ugh. Generic, blah Mexican food... Nothing really stood out other than crappy service, bland food... Overall it just wasn't a good experience. 1 thing that bugged me was no place mats and no plates with appetizers.. Chips and salsa require a placemat or something to eat over... In an area with a ton of good dining choices, this place should be a last resort. And don't get the kids cheeseburger (for your kids). First they use a whole wheat bun, gross, and the 'meat' tasted like a old frozen piece of road kill. Mexican side note... Corn tortillas are freakin disgusting...
(2)Melissa B.
This is a good back up plan if you are hankering some chips and salsa and a sangria swirl margarita ....... This is tex-mex, not true mex. They have pretty good staples and large portions. As a veggie you know how particular I can get on choices and variety. It's ok here. Like many places their refried beans have a chicken broth base, which sucks if I don't want black beans, again! But if I'm in the mood for a margarita I'll choose a veggie version of a lunch size taco salad or the guacamole tacos. For everyone else there are plenty of choices. Fajitas, burritos, etc etc.. The service at the location is pretty good. Servers have always been pretty friendly. One commented that she thought they had the "best fries ever" not sure what the comparison was but they were ok, but not the best ever....even according to my kids.
(4)Mary L.
Favorite place for Mexican food :) chips and salsa is always fresh, my food comes out hot never, drinks are wonderful! The only down fall is slow service at time but the food is worth it!
(4)Michael H.
My family has been coming here for the last few years. Mexican food is one of my favorite ethnic foods and I have tried many Mexican restaurants in my life. I would say that this is one of the best Mexican restaurants that I have been to. Thier chips are always fresh and hot. I have never seem this Resteruant dirty or had bad wait service like some people have claimed on Yelp. The only thing that prevents them from getting five stars is about half the time the cooks don't pay attention to orders where you may not want an ingredient added such as pico. I explicitly ask the wait staff to leave pico out. Although the wait staff places this on the order, about half the time it is added anyways. I immediately check to see if pico is present because pico makes me sick. If there is pico in it, most of the time my order is redone immediately and the item I ordered is free of charge. Although this is an ongoing problem, the fact that they apologize and immediately remedy the mistake, keeps me coming back.
(4)Eholey X.
I love their dos xx's fish tacos. Good food and good service. They have decent margaritas - sometimes I have to order an extra shot.
(3)Kayla A.
I used to frequent here once a week. There was a server named Calais that I loved! The prices just kept going up and the last time I went they had new plates with WAY smaller portion size. I always get the fajita salad because they jalapeño vinaigrette is sooo good! I've probably been there once in the last year because I'm so disappointed in you OTB. What happened?:(
(1)Brad M.
Great Staple Tex-Mex, which we all know is delicious! Empanada appetizers! One of my favorite foods on the planet! YUM! The Firecracker Stuffed Jalepeno's here aren't that hot... and the breading was a bit soggy... but they were okay. They even have the Dos XX Fish Tacos (which were better when they were $1.00 cheaper). However, let's talk taste and sizzle... FAJITAS! It's hard to beat a plate of sizzling steaming fajitas, as they carry the smoke covered goodness to you, across the restaurant, and you can watch everyone's mouth water with envy as they approach your table! However... how cheap can you get on the sour cream and cheese? Really? Look... it's Brinker... it's a Chain... but as I've said before... that means consistency, and they hit it on the head! Good service, good food... I can give this place 4 Stars
(4)Denise B.
The two good things about this place is the chips and salsa, and, not eating there. Why would you have to wait 30 minutes for 2 salads and a meatless burrito. Finally we got our food, to go, got home and the lettuce had big chunks of brown lettuce throughout the salad. The container was nasty and whatever that was on top seem like it came from another plate. My husband immediately returned the salad for a refund. Although they asked if he wanted something else, the risk was too great and we opted for a credit card return. I have given this place more than enough chances to wow me, and they fail every time. Bad service, bland food, and overall poor treatment, equals a review you deserve and free advertisement to all I know to not patronize this place! If you ever have an option for zero stars, this would be the time I would use it.
(1)Martan A.
I usually go here with co-workers at lunch. It is not overly busy usually so we are able to get in and out fairly easily. The wait staff has been friendly and attentive on the times that I have been there. I have to admit that I like the food at Don Pablo's better but this is still good. The portions are good size and the the chips are good. One thing that I do like is that the restaurant will still make dishes that you request that are no longer on the menu. The one that I like is the "Border Stacked Nachos". It will feed 2-3 people for lunch and is only $9.29!
(3)Andrew B.
ON The Border is on the border of a one star review. Let's start with the good. The chips. Those things are are great. Moving on from the positives we go now to why I will never return to On The Border. It was Taco Tuesday. Every Mexican place is busy on Taco Tuesday. Well, except On The Border. The place was dead and I now know why. It is truly awful. We ordered 6 different tacos and the avocado fries. The avocado fries never came(probably a good thing) and one of our tacos was a complete screw up. I mean that in saying the bartender admitted he punched in the wrong taco and didn't correct it until after the food came. What is even better is the taco he punched in and the taco I received were different. So I ordered taco A, bartender entered taco B and taco C is what arrived at the table. WTF??? The highlight for me though was when a server came up to the stand to get a special margarita for a table the bartender told him that he was out of the tequila used to make that drink. the sever said, "Just fake it, who cares." So some poor sap ordered a $10+ top shelf margarita and got well tequila. Pathetic. Oh, and my 10oz. Dos Equis was $4.50. Never, ever again.
(2)Nik H.
This place is sub par, the food is average at best and the service is weak. I've been here a few times and honestly i doubt i will go out of my way to go back.
(2)Shannon S.
The food here is simply production line assembled. Hum drum to say the least. Personally I would never choose to eat here, but today was not my choice to pick.. I am not a fan of this type of establishment. We did have excellent service though.
(2)John F.
Classic chain style Mexican food. We eat here often after shopping at the Great Lakes Crossing mall. Can be VERY busy at peak times. Loud and fun dining. Not truly authentic Mexican food - but a great Americanized version. Very good! Consistent. Good hot thin chips and spicy salsa. We like this restaurant.
(4)Steve P.
If you have not been to the Border in a while, go! They have really put some effort in the menu and quality of the food. We started off with a great waitress who bought our appetizer back with our drink order. The deep-fried avocados were superb. Chips were warm, fresh, and crisp, unlike other tex-mex chains using yesterdays corn basket. Prices were very good. The empandas were winners. The chicken flauta was authentic, like I remember in Jaurez. Sure you can go to SW Detroit, but the breadth of the menu, the selection choices, service, and great food all added up to a fantastic experience.
(4)Greg F.
I love this place. I also know going in that it's not intended to be real authentic Mexican. But the chips and salsa are the best I've had anywhere and the good is satisfying. My wife and I enjoy getting OTB whenever in the area. Also a TIP: GM employees get a 10% discount.
(4)Michael S.
Very very slow service. Not advised for lunch, unless you have 2 HOURS. We were a party of 5, we were seated rather quickly, and the waiter took are drink and food order quickly. I thought that we were going to have a great experience. I was told that this place was much better than Chill's (that was next door). So we waited, everyone was getting served. We watched and waited as our food was up awaiting to be served. When we were able to stop him, he told us that the long wait was do to the kitchen. Funny, we saw the food was up to be delivered. Well when the food was delivered, all the dishes were prepared wrong, and we sent them back. The next batch of food came out, still prepared wrong, but after waiting 45 minutes, we started to eat. Oh course we wolfed down the food and asked for a manager. The manager came out after about 5 minutes and we explained to her the situation, and she politely said that she would check into the situation and get back to us. About 10 minutes passed and a different manager came by and asked her how was our lunch. We then explained to her that we had a discussion with another manager about 10 minutes ago, and it appeared that the other manager went MIA. So we waited another 5 or so minutes, and the waiter came by and told us that the bill was taken care of. What, Is there a black hole where managers go MIA? I can tell you that we won't becoming back to this place ever!!!! Maybe another location, but not this one. When we arrived the place was not that busy, but the lunch crowd did get in. They came and went while we still waited!!!!!
(1)Daniel R.
For a chain food-joint, this place was pretty good. I came with some buds of mine here and to be honest I'm not a fan of Mexican food. However despite this being a chain restaraunt the food was pretty damn good. The dessert I had (a chocolate empanda dish) was very good an filling (big too, need at least 2 people to finish it off). Service was fast and friendly, and the drinks were off the hook (I used a fake ID though lol). ONly bad thing I can say about the place is that the parking lot is a bit small and that it';s near Great Lakes Crossing which makes for a very crowded lot. Still it's worth it to come here if you're in the mood for Mexican food.
(4)Paul s.
this place has gone down hill hard!!!!!!!!!!!!! they used to be a great place to go when they were owned by the people that owned chili's. and a very expensive for crappy food. $85 for 3 adults and 1 child not including tip. the cheese dip we ordered was cheese soup. we will not go back.
(1)A A.
I admit I have only tried one thing on the menu ( beef brisket tacos) and I am sticking with it! You get three flour tortillas filled with tender, juicy smoked brisket, jack cheese and a spicy bbq sauce and thinly sliced fried onion straws. Staff is always friendly, plenty of seating and unlimited chips w/salsa. The classic margaritas are awesome and they're not shy with the patro'n!
(4)Brian G.
On the Border is probably the second best Mexican chain restaurant in Oakland County (Don Pablo's is an easy first, they aren't even in the same league) but considering it's major competition is Chili's and Taco Bell that isn't saying a lot. The quality of the food is grossly inconsistent. I've had great fajitas one day and cold, unseasoned beef tips with 2 or 3 peppers mixed in the next. The staff is pretty friendly and I certainly don't fault the cheery servers for the bad food. The only way I come here to eat now is if I'm planning on having a few bottles of Dos Equis in which case the flavor of the food quickly loses significance.
(3)Matt A.
Went here with a group of college friends, we usually go here when we are all back in town for break or whatnot. The decor is your traditional faux-Mexican place decorations, sombreros, chili peppers and all. My friend and I were the last of the group to arrive, the waiter got to us and took our drink orders as soon as we were seated, we were paid attention to well the whole night. They kept the free chips and salsa going too, which is kind of nice for struggling college kids. I ordered beef empanadas, which were delicious. They come with a little bit of diced tomatoes and lettuce and gross viscous nacho cheese. Other than the cheese, it was nice. Also, everybody at the table had the same problem with the cheese. The restaurant is kind of cramped and small, we were all bunched together with different tables that weren't even the same height. Also, we were placed right next to the door, so we would get that nice gust of freezing cold air anytime somebody went in or out. The food is moderately priced, you don't feel like you busted your bank account and didn't get anything to show for it afterward. I would definitely come here again, it's not on my top must go to restaurants list, but it's good for groups and not too expensive. P.S. Love the geniuses who put the restaurant On the Border right next to a Borders book store.
(4)Soni K.
This is place has great food, awesome atmosphere and wonderful people working. Ignore the bad review- you will enjoy this place. People leaving bad reviews just dont know how good food tastes.
(5)Laura P.
I come here once a week... I think that says alot. I absolutely love the Sizzling Fajita Salad with Jalapeno Vinaigrette (I get it with the sour cream swapped for another guac at no charge). I have had several items on the menu and faves include Pepper Jack Chicken Enchiladas and the fajitas with black beans. The service can be inconsistent though... however when the service was bad, usually that waiter/ waitress isn't seen there on my next visit!
(4)Tony K.
I'm consistently underwhelmed by the quality and lack of taste of their food. Good service, drinks, good location, nice environment, but their food is pretty tasteless. I only live a few miles from there so occasionally meet people there, and have never been even moderately impressed with the food. Somehow it's fresh (like fajitas), but tasteless. Their tacos and other traditional Mexican dishes feel like they just came out of a microwave...Somehow that place is packed all the time - must be what the masses like
(2)caroline r.
Once in awhile I get a hankering for some mexican food. I have 2 standby restaurants that we go to but I ventured out with friends tonight and tried this place. The free chips and salsa was perfect! Chips were thick and crisp (nothing is worse than dipping your chip into the salsa and it breaks). I had the create your own combo of a chicken empanada and 2 beef enchiladas, with sides of double rice (no refried beans for me) and everything was right on. The chicken and beef were tender and filled just right. I love their rice! I ordered their OTB Margarita with a splash of Midori and whoa, you get your money for it. I was half stumblin' outta there. I'll definitely be going back!
(4)Jackie K.
Way too salty and poor quality food. Exactly what you'd expect.
(2)