On the Mark
Written: May 27 '04
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Product Rating:
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Pros: great food, fair prices, comfortable seating, good service
Cons: Not worth complaining about
The Bottom Line: I'd recommend this restaurant as a moderately priced place to eat with good food, good service and a comfortable atmosphere.
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| sparke61's Full Review: On The Border Mexican Grill and Cantina |
Every time the SO and I drive by the Maine Mall, she always points out On The Border, a local Mexican restaurant chain, out to me and mentions wistfully how much she loves to eat there. So, on a recent special occasion, I took her out to eat there. This was my first visit to the restaurant itself, although I'd sampled their fare in the past when a friend of mine let me try some of his nachos. Since I recall them being fairly tasty, I had few qualms about actually eating at the restaurant.
We arrived a little before the dinner rush, probably around 5:30 in the evening on a Tuesday. We were immediately seated by a very friendly hostess in a comfortable booth. It was a little chilly in the restaurant, but I quickly forgot my temperature as I perused the menu. The waitress gave us a few moments to decide on drinks before coming over to take our orders and by then we'd also decided on what we wanted for dinner. She cheerfully took both drink and food orders (a trainee in tow) and sped off to have them filled.
The lighting was a bit on the dim-to-be-romantic side and the music was early-eighties. The booths were set far enough apart that while I could hear other people talking, I couldn't hear their actual conversations. The waitress soon arrived with our drinks--just soda and water for us--and a basket of corn chips and a bowl of salsa. After making sure we were content, she and her trainee went off to serve her other tables.
The food soon arrived and the portions were huge. I'd ordered spinach and mushroom quesadillas and my SO had gotten a make-your-own combo that included some tasty tacos, refried beans, spanish rice and some crunchy little treats filled with chicken and spices. My quesadillas came with generous servings of guacamole and sour cream and were delicious, filled not only with spinach and mushrooms but also plenty of cheese and grilled red peppers. The waitress and her trainee stopped by often to make sure we were all right, and when we were done brought my SO a box to put her food in. I was a little surprised that the waitress didn't box it for her, but since we didn't mind doing it ourselves it wasn't a big deal.
We ordered a kahlua ice cream pie that was huge and heavenly and the check arrived shortly after. For two entrees, one soda and dessert we were able to dine for less than $30, well worth it in my opinion.
There were plenty of tempting meals on the menu, everything from seafood to vegetarian, salads and fully cooked meals. There were tacos, fajitas, quesadillas, nachos and many more choices. There was also a generous list of beers, wines and mixed drinks as well as non-alcholic sodas, iced teas and virgin mixed drinks. The dessert menu also came with several yummy options that we both look forward to trying again.
Everything from the ambiance to the service to the food was worth the time and money we spent to enjoy it and I'd recommend On the Border to anyone looking for a moderately priced meal in a comfortable environment. I know I'll be going back again...I want to try the nacho platter next!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID: sparke61
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Member: Sharon Parker
Location: Maine
Reviews written: 115
Trusted by: 42 members
About Me: Dispatcher who likes cats, computers, bikes, stereos, movies, books and wants to buy a house
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