The Draft - Allston, MA

There are a handful of bars within a couple blocks of Allston Village center that provide pretty good food and beer selections. The Draft is no exception, yet they offer something that sets it apart from the likes of White Horse or Big City...an outdoor patio.

Some of us made a trip down to The Draft a few Friday's ago. I had been to The Draft a few times before and it always seems to be a good time. The inside is fitted with the necesseties of a sports bar: flat screen TVs in all the ideal locations, a pool table, stage for the local band, jukebox with a solid selection (as far as bars go I guess), windows that open up into the street (who doesn't want to look out onto Harvard Ave., right?), and a decent beer selection. Sure, you won't be finding any Hennepin on tap, but The Draft offers up some good imports and domestics at decent prices.

*note I did not take the photo, as if the wreath wouldn't give it away

The real winner for The Draft however is the outdoor patio. The patio is much larger and more accomodating than the Allston neighbor Deep Ellum, although the two really are shooting for different atmospheres so it isn't fair to compare. The Draft patio has 6 or 7 tables large tables (maybe a few smaller ones), a couple relaxing patio chairs, a hammock...do I need to say more? To top it off, they keep a fully stocked bar outside, covered with an awning, with a flatscreen mounted above. Oh yes, it is glorious. We sat out one night to watch a Sox game and by the bottom of the 8th, there was a nice, rowdy crowd surrounding the bar.

If there's a game you want to watch and are looking to squeeze a few more outdoor drinking nights (or days) in before the brutal Boston weather hits, The Draft is a solid option.

Deep Ellum Patio Now Open

As a follow up to my blurb about available outdoor seating in Allston, the newest outdoor seating area is now open. It seemed like an eternity waiting for the Deep Ellum patio to open, but it appears that last weekend they were serving up drinks for patrons in the sun. From my apartment I have been able to see the construction from start to finish, and it came out looking really nice.

I don't have any pictures right now, but there is bench-style seating around the entire patio, with one side shaded by a giant tree and the other by some beer umbrellas (PBR if my memory serves me right). I actually haven't been down there yet, as I was gone over the weekend and the weather has been on the shite side recently. Hopefully I will make it down sometime this week, and if not, definately sometime this weekend. I'll also try and get some photos up as well this week.

Outdoor Seating in Allston...

...is few and far between. However, Deep Ellum is pretty close to opening their 'backyard' patio/deck. I've seen the progress from start to near finish, and it looks pretty sweet. Hopefully the weather will be nice this weekend and they can finally open her up. If that's the case, you can count on me being down there.

Further down Brighton Ave. at the White Horse, they had a chalkboard up saying 'Outdoor Patio Coming Soon!' or something along those lines. Anybody know what the deal with that is? Would it be out the back too??