On The Border Mexican Grill and Cantina

Not my choice first of all. Graduation dinner and I was a guest of 10+. Going with the flow. Yes, chips and salsa brought as soon as we were seated. Ordered queso and guac. That was brought eventually, but with no chips and we had already burned thru the prior baskets. By the time we had to ask for Chips the queso was cold and stiffened breaking the chip. They brought a fresh hot cup of queso after I brought it up their attention.
Food was eaten. Nothing special.
Prickly Pear Margarita supposed to be top shelf, but tasted more like a lemonade. Tequila fail
Just never liked anything about this place
In general. Thanks for reminding me why I don’t Patron here

The best lunch restaurant in Natomas. Always fast and friendly service. Always delicious food.

I came in with my wife a couple weekends ago to get a drink and dinner before a movie. It was a busy weekend night and the restaurant area looked pretty packed so we sat in the bar. Our server, Sarah, was exceptional! She answered all of our questions about the menu and the drinks with smile. She checked in on us often — we never went without something we needed, even though she was obviously taking care of a lot of other tables too.
We would have given 5 stars, but for one thing: Someone screaming in the kitchen for almost our entire meal. My wife and I have both done our time in the restaurant industry, so we understand how things can get when it’s busy. It’s hectic. We know. Like I said, Sarah was great — she was moving fast, for sure, but she went above and beyond what you would normally expect on a night like this. The yelling though — We sat at a little table that was pretty close to the kitchen, so maybe it was just louder because of where we were sitting, but either way, it was pretty unprofessional. I don’t know if it was a cook or a manager or what, but he was obviously really unhappy with something and not afraid to tell people about it — loudly.
Overall, the food was good and the service was great. We probably wouldn’t go a long way out of our way to come here, but it’s close to our house. The happy hour is a good deal and the margaritas are tasty! We had a house margarita first (way better than any standard marg from chilis or applebees) and then shared a pineapple patron margarita. We would have both again. The only suggestion we have is find out who it is that likes to yell when it’s busy and tell them to tone it down. Guests really don’t want to hear your kitchen drama. It looks bad and it looked like it distracted the servers too.

Party of 2 — I wanted to go to a place I haven’t gone to yet. I tried the Elk Grove location years ago and why not try it in Natomas.
We went on a Saturday mid-​day and it was not that crowded. There was still a lot of people, but we never had to wait. I ordered the ultimate flautas dish and my friend, Paula, got a combo dish. I can only speak for myself, I enjoyed my dish, but you must know that the ULTIMATE flautas dish is really a lot of food. I was not expecting that much food. I have to say though that if you cannot make a decision what to eat, choose this dish. It has everything like shrimp, beef, chicken & pork. You get flavored rice (I got the cilantro), beans (I chose black beans), and then a separate dish with cold guacamole, fresh tomatos, onions, lettuce and tortillas. Thats about all I remember. There may have been more but its been days ago I went there.
I havent seen my friend for years and it was kind of a reunion. We had a nice talk and the waitress was nice enough to let us have our conversation. Gave her a large tip for letting us stay there. But the waitress was also accommodating… she comes to check up on us if our drinks to be refilled, more chips and salsa. Service was great.

2^nd time back– 1^st experience was not the greatest. Ordered the Ultimate Fajita an got a birthday coupon for free Queso dip. Got here as soon as they opened. Looks like the night crew may have forgot to sweep under the table
Our server Brandon was really friendly and service was quick. The food was very tasteful and fresh

Fresh food. I had the super burrito with steak. Large portion an very well flavored and seasoned. If it had a little more steak it would be a 5 rating. A bit of a wait at our table but the place was packed.

Honestly i was there valentines day. Bad service super busy i had reserved a table three days in advance ahd had to wait two hours for a table. food is not authentic

I love the taste and the service is A+

You were amazing ask for Theresa she was good server get the 2 chile relleno is the bomb and free quest with check ins !!

Came here with my wife a few weeks ago after seeing Deadpool. Just felt like taking in a movie and dinner, since I’m usually wrapped up in work, or we’re both balancing our time with the baby. So a night out was much needed. Needless to say we’ve never tried On the Border and thought to try something new. So nice to get the free Quest dip through Unilocal The place was packed and had a 15 – 20 minute wait but fond a spot in the left center area of the restaurant. Very loud when packed but expected that in the North Natomas marketplace on a Saturday night. My wife ordered chicken enchiladas while I had their Carne asado nachos. Enchiladas were okay as my wife and I have had better but still were able to enjoy the dish together. The nachos were far more appetizing. It’s a very corporate place but they did make us feel comfortable and provided fast efficient service. We may have to try coming again to see if there’s something I’m missing. That said we give them 3 stars overall for now.

Good food and awesome chips. I’ve only been here once but probably won’t come back again. The customer service isn’t that great. I was never offered a refill on my water or chips and the staff just didn’t seem happy to be there, the only staff smiling are the hosts, not the servers. On my way out, I heard an employee having an angry conversation on her phone, just doesn’t seem very professional.
I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone, there are better places in the area where you can get a good meal for a cheaper price and better service.

On the boarder always leaves me on the boarder if we wanna come back. If were in the mood for salsa and chips, you will bet im coming here or just order them to take home.
We have been coming here since 2004 and it is always mediocre. The appetizers to the meals just never seem awesome. Its edible but meh. Since the last few years or so, we maybe stop by once a year to see if anything has changed menu wise for the better.
I have tried many dishes from the enchiladas with spinach n mushroom with white sauce. Very good but always got them barely warm. Burrito was decent.
Tacos weather hard or soft they were ok. Not to much fan of there tortilla soup it was rather salty when i have had them.
Appetizers: the gaucamole fresh made one is good.
The firecracker jalapeños were good but got one of them with the flour inside still as dry flour it didn’t get battered up and cooked, but other than it was still good.
Service: some seem friendly and some not so much. But if there busy good luck getting there attention. Yiur best bet if they ask appetizers first then food just say soon at it is ready bring it. We had ordered fully before people were sat, we got our apps first, then they had already got there food, then later they brang our dinner which was barely warm. So when busy they lose track of food and drinks. So keep on them and it should be a little better for you.
But for the good side of them if you like to drink they have a good Happy Hour specials, and the salsa and chips are my favorite from anywhere else i have been. The chips are fresh made here and lightly salted, then the salsa which is also fresh made there, so each time they make a batch it could me a mild or a nice hot. i could drink it out of a straw. Its got a nice hotness to it, if you are sensitive to heat do not try, if you like heat straw up or chip up! They are AYCE with meals.
Which side of the boarder will you end up on?

The food is good, drinks refreshing, service is decent. I can’t say I’ve had a bad experience here but it just doesn’t blow me away.
The interior is comfortable and fun but not very authentic. It has a Americanized Mexican restaurant feel to it. It reminds me a little of an Outback steakhouse but with Mexican music… Maybe it would look more like a true Mexican restaurant with some chickens or a burro running around. Lol! I do like the patio area with the corrugated steel roof. That does look authentic.
The queso dip is really good. The chips n salsa are great. Beer = cold. Margaritas = tasty. That’s all I really eat there. I usually go for happy hour. They have decent prices and the bartender keeps the chips n salsa coming. By the time I leave my blood pressure has jumped ten points from all the salty chips. Damn, they’re hard to resist.

This place is delicious if you want a good Mexican food restaurant in the Natomas area. Kelly was a great server and she was very friendly and nice. I only got the lunch burrito but I am definitely going to come back and try some different plates so I can update this review at that time. But Kelly was a great server the staff was very friendly and it was my friends birthday and they sabf to her but I think the birthday song should be a little bit longer in my own opinion.

Decent chain restaurant for modernized mexican food. Not my favorite place to go, but then again, I live in Fresno where there’s a family owned mexican restaurant on every corner. Not bad though.

Our server, Jessica, was nice and friendly. She checked up on us constantly and made sure we were taken care of with drinks. One of the better servers I’ve had.
Chips and Salsa here are my favorite at the moment. They always give you a basket with lots of chips and will refill your salsa.
Had the Firecracker stuffed Jalapeños as an appetizer. Very crispy and not as spicy as it sounds so don’t be afraid to order it. Ultimate Fajitas was the entrée we split and it was enough to fill both myself and girlfriend. Very good and cooked to perfection.
Our visit was perfect and will come again!

Went here for a margarita before a friend and I flew to Vegas. We got there and immediately found a table in the bar area. Our waitress greeted us within a few minutes and I ordered a Grande Margarita, happy hour guacamole, and the chicken flautas.
The chicken flautas were the best food I tried there! Very crispy and the filling was delicious. I was disappointed by the guacamole. For $ 4 I got two small scoops of it on a plate and it was just okay. My friend who ordered the queso fries actually got about the same amount of guac, if not more, along with a nice plate of fries dressed like nachos for $ 6. So I would advise just ordering the queso fries!
For my second margarita I got the house $ 4 one and ordered a $ 2 shot of peach schnapps to concoct my own peach margarita. Delicious!
Overall, not too bad of a happy hour, but I would have preferred Chevy’s. Better margaritas and portions. Service-​wise, though, I was pretty happy!

Update!!!
08÷02÷15
Mexican food with all the fixins’. Jessica once again is awesome in customer service satisfaction & knows her menu as well as remembers her customers eating desires & likes. Great Service with a smile everytime!!! It’s time to let her manager know as well.

Wow, I think i shoulda knew from the first «sign» that it was gonna be one doozy of a meal. So I’m at on the border with my fam coming home from Reno. We stopped here cuz kids were getting hungry.
So we get seated right away since it wasn’t busy. The fam and I sit in our seats, but I feel this mushy substance on my hand and a wet sensation on my seat. Dang, I just sat on some salsa that was left there from the last customer. Not only was the salsa on the chair seat, but it was also on the table cloth that drapes down near ur lap. I quickly stand and want to be like wth, but I keep calm, and let the waitress know there’s carp on me from the chair n table cloth. Another employee helped out the waitress and offered a wet towel and napkins. Kudos for that. That salsa mishap was sign number one as referenced above.
Next up, I ask for waters all around since it was hot outside and my son was thirsty. Waitress comes back with the waters just in time, sweet. So as she passes around the waters, she’s over my left shoulder passing mine, and splash! The flood gates opened and water goes ALL over my left side (from neck, shirt, pants, & down to the shoes). Not only does it go on me, but it also gets all over my dad’s shoes n socks. So by now I’m thinking wow, is this really happening? Is she getting me back cuz maybe she got embarrassed from the salsa mishap? Nope, it’s just one of them freak accidents (I keep telling myself).
So by now I’m half drenched in water, half the table sitting on top of a pond of water, and I pretend it didn’t phase me, so I keep looking at the menu. The waitress, she seems sweet n all, but didn’t offer me any napkins or a towel or something to dry myself off with, she’s putting the napkins on all the water everywhere, and asks my dad with ONE napkin in her hand, do you want a napkin for your shoes? LOL it’s so ridiculous I gotta laugh it off. But yeah, pls next time remember that if you spill anything on a customer they want to be dry n cleaned before you worry about the spill you made, or at least bring enough to cover the spill AND the customer simultaneously.
So now we request a different table because it wasn’t offered to us. We get moved and thank the big man above that was the last of the craziness. From there things got much better, managers gave me a shirt to change into, offered my father and me meals on the house, and we got a different waitress.
Now don’t get me wrong, the first waitress apologized and said that was her first time doing that, so I guess it had to happen sometime, sucked it happened to me that occasion, but the management did what they could to salvage the meal and experience. I’m gonna chalk this down as just a terrible experience and don’t want anyone to sway from this place because every other employee we were in contact with seemed genuinely kind and helpful.
The food… I can’t comment on the food cuz I might be biased since the incident is still fresh in my mind haha. So yeah, I truly hope that waitress has better days ahead because I do know carp happens. Onto the next one…

Came in with friends for a Saturday afternoon lunch. There was plenty of parking and we were immediately seated. Our waitress was friendly and fast when taking our orders and consistently checked in on us.
The food portions were huge and delicious. We were also given complimentary chips and salsa, along with queso dip (free when you check in on Unilocal). Our waitress never left our sodas and water empty before bringing us a refill.
Great food, service and experience.