Allston's Finest

Rich with a diverse selection of authentic ethnic cuisines, Allston is chock-filled with "hole in the wall" eateries that outshine many of their pricier Boston and Cambridge counterparts. Yet due to the economic downturn Allston has seen a decline in commercialism, with numerous restaurant closings in recent years. There was the devastating fire of the Grecian Yearning Diner in 2009 that purportedly cost $2.5 million in damage and ended the era of the greasy spoon diner and longtime neighborhood favorite. Then came the closing of Reef Cafe, one of the best take-out Middle Eastern restaurants ever to hail the New England region, and a slew of other establishments followed. Throw up your arms and blame the economy, but that won't bring the falafel back.

Though lacking it's heyday glory (circa 2006, that is) Allston still has some great places to eat. Here is my selection of Allston's bests:

Best breakfast: Bagel Rising (now that Grecian Diner's pancakes are gone.)
Best pizza: Inbound Pizza beats Bravo and T Anthony's, hands down.
Best wings: Wing It is better than Pizza Wings, with their super spicy varieties.
Best burrito: so long to Burritos On Fire - walk over Ana's Tacqueria.
Best Latin food: Camino Real - Colombian food with the tastiest (and only) fried yucca in town. Must try: empanadas.
Best Indian food: Punjab Palace or Indian Dhaba, it's a tough call.
Best vegetarian-friendly meal: Grasshopper, awesome vegan Asian food. The tofu tastes just like chicken, it's amazing. Go for the Sunday buffet - $10 all you can eat!
Best quick fix: a sweet red bean sticky bun from the Asian bakery on Brighton. It may sound odd, but they're seriously addictive.
Best dive bar: Silhouette bar, where the cheep beers come with complimentary popcorn. It's grungy and dark and always a good time.
Best dessert: Angora Cafe's frozen yogurt - you pick the mix-ins and then watch them churn your creamy treat! Sit al fresco on warm summer nights.
Best cafe: Herrell's Cafe. From the colorful atmosphere to the menu that ranges from breakfast burritos to vegan cupcakes to freshly-made ice cream, it's my favorite place in Allston. Hands down.