Bust out the faded Sox caps and comfortable sweats: Allston is college-crowd central. Come here for cheap rent, cheap furniture and cheap food, the best of which you'll find below. For all, take the Green Line B to Harvard Ave.

Café Brazil
Stopping here is like hitting a cool (but affordable) hotel in Brazil - crisp white table cloths, live Brazilian music and the constant attention of the owner, Valter Vitorino, make this an ideal place for a date, and most meals are under $10. Think sizzling marinated steak (aka Churrasco Tabua). Think medallions of chicken rolled in bacon (aka Frango à Dona Flor). Think - well, after that chicken-and-bacon thing, you'll be too satisfied to think. Just go.
421 Cambridge St., Allston. Sun-Thu 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fri, Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m. (617) 789-5980
www.cafebrazilrestaurant.com

Cafe Mitti's Looking for food after-hours and can't do another night at Store 24? This sandwich/ pizza shop, located in the heart of Allston's buzzing late night scene, is slamming until 3 a.m. The pies are fine, but go for the more popular roast beef or BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. And expect a wait. With only eight tables, the joint features a conga line down Harvard Street every weekend.
140 Brighton Ave., Allston. 11 a.m.-3 a.m., daily. (617) 782-9444

Sports Depot For years a mainstay in Allston, the Depot was briefly converted into a seafood joint, but made a strong comeback late last summer. It's one of the best places around to catch the Pats or Sox, with TVs everywhere (including plasma screens outside, and in the john). The kitchen's twice-fried wings, "smothered" burgers and swordfish steaks are super-filling, and the dining room hosts plenty of seating, so you can eat and watch TV, just like at home.
353 Cambridge St., Allston. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 a.m., daily.(617) 783-2300
www.sportsdepotboston.com

Sunset Grill and Tap Here, it's all about the numbers: 2 floors, 390 bottled beers, 110 brews on tap (for those over 21) and an extensive menu served until 1 a.m. Good thing, all that food - you'll need a base. The jeans-and T-shirt crowd are elbow-to-elbow on most weekend nights and the food caters to them. Chow down the calamari, cheese fries and dagwood sandwich (ham, turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo). Worry about the consequences later.
130 Brighton Ave., Allston. Mon-Sat 11:30 a.m.-1 a.m.; Sun 11 a.m-1 a.m. All ages, 21+ to drink. (617) 254-1331
www.allstonsfinest.com

White Horse Tavern One of the hottest spots of Allston night life, White Horse draws a good crowd even before it goes 21+ (after 6 p.m.). Check out the Californian Burger - with sliced avocado, grilled onions, jack cheese and cilantro - or BBQ chicken pizza, which is a good call anytime.
116 Brighton Ave., Allston. 11 a.m.-2 a.m., daily. 21+. (617) 254-6633  Find more restaurants in Allston