On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina
| Address: | 3206 Buford Dr NE, Buford, GA 30519, USA |
| Phone: | +1 678-804-7822 |
| Site: | ontheborder.com |
| Rating: | 3.6 |
| Working: | 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–11PM 11AM–10PM |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 8
RI
Richard Uie
So, my sweetie and I gave this shop a try on a whim while in the neighborhood about a year ago (she used to work in Suwanee). The food was well-presented and tasty. The adult beverages were pretty good selection-wise as chain joints go. Mainly we recalled having been impressed by good flavors, generous servings, and attentive service - not cloyingly oppressive, but nothing ignored. The manager had interviewed us about quality of service and food, and there was something - neither I nor the missus could recall exactly what - that the manager had done that was special and pleasing. Short story was overall impression chain-Tex-Mex restaurant - very good. We dont live terribly close to this shop, but tonight had a not-gonna-cook-dinner-lets-do-Tex-Mex feeling on the night before Halloween, and, on the basis of our previous visit decided to give OTB another shot, since a few of our previously more reliable Mexican joints have disappointed us recently (sorry Frontera). AGAIN, every server or busser in the room PAYS ATTENTION to EVERY customer, and yet the service is not oppressive. We were again visited by the manager (same guy as last time), who simply wanted to affirm that we were being satisfied. Thats it - quick in and out to verify we were happy with an implicit hed-fix-it-if-we-werent. He later chatted amiably a little longer, but only cuz we invited it. We had a couple of baskets of chips and salsa (did not remotely finish the second), two generous entrees, and a side dish accompanied by wine for her (2 glasses) and beer for me (3 glasses) for less than $40 (should have been a couple dollars more, but our server didnt understand we had ordered a side dish AS a side dish and didnt charge for it - okay, the service was merely REALLY GOOD, not perfect...waaah?). For a solid, inexpensive, chain, American/Tex-Mex joint with great service, both I and my bride recommend this joint without reservation.
LE
Leonard Michael
I visited for drinks and appetizers around 9pm on Saturday evening. l sat at the bar with my wife and we had a nice time. The bartender was awesome and unannoying, however the girl who finished up and took my cash played the bar trick, and waited until I put my wallet up and then asked if I wanted my $8.47 change or not. ...Jaw dropped, I told her yes I would like all of my change, and thank you. ...and then left a $5.00 tip on a $22.00 tab. I would gladly had left it all to the original bartender, he was a great waiter, but the relief had no manners or professional courtesy. I left astonished and sure I would not come back. Heres the thing guys: On any given table, your goal is to give great service for the standard 20% tip. You may not ask for more than that in any way, shape or form, ..and you really arent supposed to ask at all, ..so on a $22.00 tab, ..then of course a client wants his change for $30 cash payment. Great service or not, ..you do not ever assume the client pays over 20% tip like that. Not ever because you make the client feel pressured in an unnecessary way. And that is how you get stiffed and clients drop off from your establishment. Plain and simple. Now was that worth trying to hustle an extra couple of bucks for service you didnt even provide? AND I write reviews so SMART people can know where not to shop.
ER
eric wright
This rating is getting 2 stars because the server did a great job. The first booth we were sat in was so worn out we literally sank into the seats and the table was broken loose from the wall. Booth #2 at least had a stable table, but the seats were again falling through. We both ordered burritos, hers were chicken and mine the bordurrito with steak. Both burritos had 4 to 5 layers of tortilla and mine was loaded to the gills with rice and black beans... But almost no steak. Total ingredients probably, 60% beans and rice, 35% tortilla, 4% onions and maybe 1% steak. The host/busser/chip guy was wiping a table near us when he flips the towel around and a stream of water splatters across the table and food... We were done at that point. Check, pay out, tip and gone. Food was average, atmosphere was commercial faux Mexican. Again, server was awesome and we gave her $12 on $30. We wont be back.
RE
reena k.tejani
Ask me what I didnt like about it... Food was decent but the service was soo shotty. We sat in a booth n the servers served our food and went about their way... Didnt even have the decent courtesy to come back and check on us... Our nieces tortillas werent even cooked n neither was the chicken. we had to let them know about it. When we spoke to our server HE had an attitude like "yes well Im here so what do you need" I was seriously astonished I would not recommend this place as the service was was soo pathetic Please dont come here regardless how hungry you are... sooooo sad this place really shattered me. the female waitress was,nice n she was the only one working so felt bad for her! ! RTK
CA
Carolina Bellino
We liked it here. Pretty happy enviroment. The manager comes and talks to you , that I think it was really nice. The food is not over priced but it is not the best mexican you will ever have. My rice was under cooked. I am latino so I expect the rice to be one of your strengths if you are gonna sell Hispanic food. I kinda feel they are not tasting the food or doing quality control before it goes out. But the best thing of this place was the balloon artist. I will actually will go back just for him. My son loves his ninja turtle! It was not crowded on saturday night so that is a plus for us. I hope they improve their food.
AL
Ali Cat
Let me start with saying the food was fantastic. However, our waitress was so awful, I wont be coming back. When she came to get our drink orders she never introduced herself. Someone else brought us our drinks, and queso. When I asked about their vegitarian menu, she begrudgingly got it. When we ordered, she never told us that there was a $3 upcharge for grilled chicken in the chicken chimmichanga. Someone else brought us our order. Our drinks were never refilled until she brought us our check. The reciet said her name was Ashley. I am very disappointed in the service we received.
KE
Ken Graves
They have just renovated the place. Looks so-so now. Portions are bigger but tonight the service was not good. Really slow getting a beer, waitress was sure "if we still carry that "...learn the menu. Then the food took forever, waitress apologized more than once before it came out. We almost walked. Gotta step up gang. Also, the bill was wrong twice.... Casual dining is competitive folks, cant get it wrong on this many angles and make it. You guys are on restaurant row.... You could be killing it but seems like you want people to go elsewhere.
DA
Dave Kennedy
After not going here for several years, I recently returned and had a couple of positive experiences - good food, good margarita, and good service from a couple of different servers. The last item is particularly important nowadays. I would give five stars but for the visit earlier this week and had a new waitress who was really terrible. Hopefully, she will be coached to improve or out the door. Ill definitely give these folks another try, but the manager should be paying attention.
