UPDATE: Unfortunately, Allston's Grecian Yearning was engulfed in flames Tuesday, June 10. Click HERE for details. The Grecian Yearning in Allston is a quintessential greasy spoon--traditional breakfast and brunch at its best. The hotspot's latest claim to fame is that it served as a film location for the movie "The Lonely Maiden,” starring Morgan Freeman, Christopher Walken and William H. Macy. The scene was shot in late November 2007. Based on the film shoot, The Grecian Yearning is a true family affair. Owner Nicholas Katsarikas and his wife, son and daughter all got to participate in the film shoot, playing — what else — the chef, cashier and wait staff at the diner. The restaurant suffered a fire on June 10, 2008.

Soul Fire BBQ, located in Allston, is SoulFire specializes in authentic pit smoked barbeque served with soul. Our ribs, chicken, pork and brisket are dry rubbed and then slow smoked in the pit using a blend of local wood. We serve our barbeque dry, which means that the guest can choose from a variety of homemade sauces representing the major barbeque regions in the country. (From their website)

The Avenue Bar is a Sister bar to Roggie's has the same eclectic menu. Good music, food and sports are the theme at the Avenue. Come and watch you favorite sports team on one of their 40 TV's'. Flat screens , 100' projection TV and a wall of TV's dont let you miss any action. Along with the $1.00 drafts and 20 cents wings how can you go wrong. Always a buzz as this neighborhood sports bar can transform into a party hangout as the weekends have resident DJ's spinning your choice. Golden T 2005 , Fusball, touch video games are just the beginning as promotions are always around with give aways and prizes. Many patrons choose to come as they are--think jeans, sneakers and baseball caps. Great place to go but you've to get there really early because the bar doens't have many chairs and tables. The waitresses are always friendly even during the rush hours.

With over 112 beers on tap, this “University of Beer” could offer you a new brew every night of senior spring and still have more than 300 bottled varieties left over. Believe it or not, however, pints, yards, and table taps are not the only reasons that serious scholars of beer matriculate here: unlike at many other bars, the food is actually good. Old-fashioned favorites like huge burgers ($5), BBQ ribs ($15), and nachos ($6-10) help fortify your stomach against the onslaught. If you feel like shaking things up, try a “beertail” like the “Dirty Ho”—half Lindemann's Framboise and half Hoegaarden ($6)—or “Black Magic”—a mix of Magic Hat #9 and Guinness ($5). A full menu until 1am will satisfy any late night craving. Entrees $5-20. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard. I would say the only downsides are that they close fairly early and that parking is tough to come by on weekends. But the hike is worth it if you are looking for a place with good beer, good people, and a great atmosphere. Check out the complimentary "midnight madness" buffet on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights, midnight to 1am.

For those who have a craving for a Nathan’s hot dog but can’t make it to Coney Island, Spike’s Junkyard Dogs is the next best thing. At Spike’s, it’s all about the toppings—with a separate table dedicated to everything from Sauerkraut to relish to various types of mustards. Each concoction has a clever dog-themed name—everything from the Junkyard Dog to The Mutt (a plain dog on a roll) Non-meat eaters rave about their veggie hot dogs. And fry enthusiasts love their curly Poodle fries topped with cheese. Super cheap and really filling. The buffalo dogs and grinder dogs can't be beat!! Worth every gut busting calorie that's in these things. Also, if you aren't that tough and want "hot" ask for Buffalo and not "hot" sauce (You'll get the Spike's "freakin hot" sauce). -Buns-toasty and amazing. they don't get soggy and encompass the entire hot dog for maximum bunnery -Hot dog (meat)-not overly spiced, so you're not burping up hot dog breath for the next 15 hours -Hot dog (veggie)-flavorful and filling. You won't miss meat (if you do) and if you don't miss meat, then you'll just feel warm and fuzzy on the inside. -The service is awesome. I mean, how could you NOT be happy slinging hot dogs all day, but these dudes are funny and hilarious