Another grave has been added to the chain restaurant cemetery along NW Expressway.
Yesterday afternoon, while stuck at a red light, I noticed that the On The Border location at Hefner Parkway and NW Expressway has closed, joining the likes of T.G.I. Friday’s, Red Lobster, and countless others (Applebee’s, Golden Corral, etc.) as yet another mediocre chain to bite the dust along this busy Northwest OKC thoroughfare.
I’m not exactly sure when the restaurant closed—unlike when a shitty Tex-Mex chain in Bricktown shuts down, the local media has been oddly silent—but the last Yelp! review was posted on February 16th.
Despite the restaurant’s dismal 2.4-star aggregate rating, the most recent review was surprisingly complimentary:
Yikes. So much for that silver lining! Let’s just hope that person's last meal wasn’t a shrimp taco from On The Border—because that would be depressing.
Following their next hospital visit, I’d suggest they stop by Clark Crew BBQ. Sure, it may be pricier than a bad Mexican chain, but it’s locally owned, and the food is actually good.
In all honesty, I’m surprised On The Border was able to last as long as it did.
Not only did it’s food suck, but it’s pre-meal set-up paled in comparison to the hundreds of locally owned eateries and chains around town.
Seriously, it was almost unfair.
At last check, OTB’s set-up only includes chips and boring canned salsa, whereas the hundreds of locally owned Tex-Mex spots treat the experience as a meal before the meal – delivering endless bounties of fresh chips, various salsas, cheese sauce, relish, tortillas, and more to the table.
It’s the real Oklahoma Standard—one that doesn’t get nearly enough attention.
Anyway, if you’re one of the lonely souls out there who still has a soft spot for chained Tex-Mex cuisine that tastes like it was whipped up somewhere along the U.S.-Canadian border, I have some good news.
Although the NW Expressway location is dead and buried, the Edmond and S. Meridian locations are still open.
Well, at least for now. I’d recommend you go while you still have a chance. Stay with The Lost Ogle. We’ll keep you advised.
