Tight college budgets do not always allow for fine dining or high living, but with cheap eateries and discount shops lining many streets, Allston-Brighton can be a haven for penny pinchers and coupon cutters.
Allston resident Brianna McInerny, a College of Arts and Sciences sophomore, said because Allston’s dining scene is more low key than the area right around Boston University’s campus, the restaurants in general are cheaper.
McInerny said she went to the recently opened Natalie’s Pizza a few nights ago, and it was “really, really good” and inexpensive.
Located on Brighton Avenue — right in the “heart of Allston,” as manager Mo Osmani says — Bravo Pizza gets business from BU students and other area college students who live in Allston. The restaurant, in its 36th year of operation, donates pizzas to study groups on campus and has catered for BU and Massachusetts Institute of Technology academic departments, Osmani said.
“We have the best prices and the best product,” he said. “We’re here to serve the community.”
Students can gorge themselves on Bravo’s large cheese pizza for less than $9, and an extra topping still keeps the check under $10.
Cafe Brazil offers Monday to Friday dinner specials served with beans and rice for less than $6, and also serves beer and wine, owner Valter Vitorino said.
“We have the best prices around the area,” he said.
Finding cheap groceries in Allston requires a little bit of scavenging, according to response to a Feb. 22 Allston-Brighton TAB survey. Shaw’s is the cheapest one-stop grocery shop, according to the poll.
Asian supermarket Super 88 at Packard’s Corner has the cheapest produce, Stop ‘ Shop on Harvard Street and Trader Joe’s in Coolidge Corner offer the cheapest meat and milk and Shaw’s and Whole Foods Market on Washington Street dairy was the cheapest, the survey found.
McInerny said she and all her roommates do their shopping at Shaw’s.
“I think they’re prices are pretty good — pretty standard,” she said. “Plus, they have the Shaw’s card, which gives you discounts.”
When she’s looking for booze, McInerny said she goes to nearby Bottled Liquors, but said Blanchard’s has the best prices.
CAS senior and Allston resident Catherine Imes agreed the cheapest alcohol can be found at Blanchard’s, and said the most inexpensive bar is Our House.
Imes said she does she grocery shopping at Shaw’s, because, “There isn’t anywhere else to shop in Allston. There’s not a lot of options.”
Students who want to move beyond dumpster-diving and milk-crate sofas can find more evolved furniture options on Harvard Avenue.
College Furniture ‘ Rugs manager Mo Cordero said they sell “about everything” college students need, including futons and bed frames for $200.
“You can’t find that anywhere around here,” Cordero said of the prices.
McInerny said the laundromat in her building that charges $1.75 per load to wash or dry, close to on-campus prices.
Dana Dang, owner of Dana’s Nail Salon, said her larger salon has higher prices because they use better quality products and offer more services.
“Our prices are a little higher than the Allston-Brighton area, but we aren’t rushing and we do a better job,” said Dang. “You get what you pay for.”
Dang said their Tuesday special offers a manicure and pedicure for $30.
“Lots of Boston College and young professionals prefer to come to us over the other six competitors down the street,” she said.