Valter Vitorino opened Cafe Brazil, Boston's home for Brazilian cuisine, in 1986. Much of the clientele consists of the area's substantial Brazilian population (though that has evolved along with the demographics of Alston), who come to enjoy true-to-home versions of Brazilian classics like and Brazil's national dishes, like feijoada, Moqueca, churrasco, black beans, rice, salads, and desserts. Vitorino himself hails form the town of Minas Gerais, and as it is generally accepted that Brazilian dishes tend to differ slightly from place to place, Cafe Brazil reflects the regional cooking Vitorino grew up on in Minas Gerais. Brazilian hospitality abounds from the moment a customer enters the restaurant, and the staff welcomes you as though you were in their home. Service is prompt and friendly, and the entire staff works together to cover the whole restaurant. The food comes out very quickly, too. The menu is quite extensive, and if a diner is unfamiliar with Brazilian cuisine, the staff will happily guide you to something delicious. Many of the dishes come on sizzling plates, and all of the food is very fresh. There's also a karaoke room with a small stage in addition to 2 dining rooms.

Genuine Italian fare, family owned, and at a price that even the BU kids can afford. This Allston gem brings the masses coming back for more and more. Menu ranges from pizza and calzones to pasta dishes, soups and salads. It's a one man show, mainly suited to take out but with a whopping 9 seats available. Should you get one, Alfredo himself cooks up the food. Order some of his own hand made mozzarella!

Carlo's is an Allston secret. Hefty portions, great cooking, and reasonable prices keep this little outfit packed at lunch and dinner almost every day of the week. Try the egg soup with chicken broth and egg noodles ($5) for a taste of some inspired home cooking. Traditional meat dishes are sizable and always well-cooked. The costate di maiale (pork chops and potatoes in vinegar and peppers; $16) is tender and flavorful and so generous that you'll be having it for breakfast the next day. This section contains information from Harvard Student Agencies' Unofficial Guide to Life at Harvard.

The service is friendly and the portions are large. Favored amongst the student and young professionals who care more for taste and portion size rather than health food and caloric intake. It's cheap and awe inspiring listing of enormous subs have one reminiscing for the glory days when Supersizing wasnt a dirty word. Check out their great list of unique subs. Those that have a need for extreme eating can venture into "The Danger Zone" where you see rarities such as the chicken finger, marinara sauce, mozzarella stick, french fries, and melted cheese sub.

This small Korean-owned cafe offers a refreshing and quaint atmosphere amidst the busy Allston area. The menu includes the standard cafe offerings of various coffees and various things to nibble on, as well as many interesting Korean treats such as gimbap (a rolled Korean rice dish similar to sushi) and patbingsu (ice shavings covered in a variety of fruit and dessert toppings). Other enjoyable offerings include boba milk tea and fresh-made smoothies. The atmosphere and staff are very friendly, and free wi-fi is graciously available for the technology-savvy patron. A hidden gem in Allston, this cozy cafe is a quiet and relaxing experience.

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.

The name Deep Ellum refers to an area of Dallas known for its fabulous music, incomparable food and enticing nightlife since the early 1900’s. The area has produced some of the most influential names in blues and jazz. The biggest draw of this Allston hotspot: well done comfort food, in a bar. You know, the type of place you can get buttermilk pancakes and a Bloody Mary. Great beer selection not to mention cocktails. The best part about this place is the is the service. They are very knowledgeable about the alcohol they serve and are great at helping you out. Congenial atmosphere of mid-to-late 20-year olds, non-meathead crowd, but not overwhelmingly pretentious, either. They are in Reel Bar's old space, which is ever rotating bars, but I will be VERY sad if this place doesn't catch on and have a long life here.

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.

Shabu Shabu Toki serves up little Japanese hot pots of goodness at this new Allston hotspot. Servers bring out trays of beautifully arranged raw meats and vegetables where patrons can cook their food in a pot divided into two sections--Japanese broth on one side and Korean on the other. The proper technique for dragging one’s meat-laden chopsticks back and forth through the boiling broth is known as shabu shabu, or “swish swish” while “toki” means time. The shabu shabu tradition began in the 13th century when warriors during the Genghis Khan era cooked their bounty right in their helmets. Like playing with your food? Shabu Shabu Toki is the place for you. Check out their Boston Globe article here!