An off shoot from the main drag in Allston, the Allston Diner is a hidden gem of Cambridge st. Not the most scenic part of the city but I don’t think much can be said about Allston’s scenery anyway. (unless you’re into hipsters and ‘fragrant’ punk kids) The inside interior is a blend of 50’s greasy spoon diner and current day Williamsburg. The tables are art school Hodge-podge shellacked with fun cutouts from childhood puzzle books, graffiti photos and comics. (I usually sit at the ‘Good Dog Carl’ table) Big parties are kind of discouraged since the space is small but a party of up to six can be accommodated without too much fuss as long as it isn’t busy. Patience is also a virtue here due to the small staff so don’t come in ravaged or you may be disappointed.
My attention was brought to this place one day during work when my cube mate Erin mentioned wanting to go here. She is allergic to dairy products so she often eats vegan to avoid it. She’s a fan of their Dixie Burger, a black bean burger made with sweet potatoes and collared greens. It’s VERY tasty, especially with a side of their sweet potato fries but the side salad is a good option if you’re cutting back on calories. (I’ll usually go for the salad because sitting around in an office after eating a plate of fries will make you feel extra greasy :P) The vegan options are limited but they’re good options. They actually have breakfast items which is probably the most annoying meal to find vegan options for when going out.
I’ve actually toured almost all the vegan fair here as of today except for the pancakes. Today, I turned the Down South Wrap vegan by going for the bbq seitan that’s featured in their BBQ vegan breakfast and replacing the cheese grits with daiya. Their collared greens are very dense but compliment the bbq well and the seitan isn’t too chewy which I appreciate. The sauce was more or less just straight tang and hot, not really sweet at all. Not necessarily a bad thing but I like my bbq sauce a little sweeter. I got the impression that the cheese grits were a part of the wrap to cut the sauce a bit. That’s one thing daiya’s not particularly good at doing from my experience.
So, while I very much like the Allston Diner, I might have to pass on the Down South Wrap next time. It was a bit on the heavy side for me and the bbq sauce really overpowered the whole experience. Not a bad option though if you really like their bbq sauce. I may have to try it next time with half the sauce since I really like their collared greens and seitan. One way or another, definitely check this place out, especially if you’re looking for a breakfast place with vegetarian and vegan options!
431 Cambridge St
(between Rugg Rd & Denby Rd)
Allston, MA 02134
-S
