The Draft

by Doug W.

Whenever I pass by the Draft (formerly known as Kinvara), I can't help but think of Tara Reid. Let me explain.It's hard to believe now, but there was a time when Tara Reid could be appreciated in her own way, like during the American Pie years. She was never anything special, but she gave off a kind of casual yet wholesome sluttyness that was appealing. I mean, she was willing to blow that needy little dork in the movie, so most guys were kind of drawn to her based on some basic perception of attainability. If you'll allow me to stretch the limits of this metaphor, replace American Pie-era Tara Reid with a bar, and replace her casual sluttyness with cheap beer and a lax ID policy, and you'd have the Kinvara.But then everything went to shit.Somewhere along the way, Tara got a big head and decided that she needed a few upgrades. First she got eating-disorder-thin and looked like she started sleeping in tanning beds. (This would be the Kinvara's change in ownership, name switch, and decor 'upgrades'). But she didn't stop there. She went on to obtain what may well have been the worst boob job known to man, made worse by the fact that her drunken, cracked out self could rarely keep that doggie chew toy of a chest inside the confines of her clothing. (I would equate this phase to the Draft's new desperate weekday lunch promotions offering cheap food and...beer? During the middle of the day. During the middle of the week. Exactly who the hell are they trying to attract? The Avenue's loyal dirty old man population?)In short, Tara Reid and Kinvara both had their own kind of appeal when they knew their place in life. But as soon as they both became filthy upgrade-obsessed status seekers, all of the things that made them somewhat appealing in the first place just disappeared. These days, you couldn't pay me (or anyone else I know) enough to bang Tara Reid. Why would I when I could have Zooey Deschanel (Common Ground) instead?

by stefanie n.

Craziness..I think this place is just misunderstood. First of all, the food is really good...I swear! Turkey tips are my favorite and their fries are crispy. Steak tip salad with Gorgonzola cheese is tasty as well. Wings are pretty good but I'd definitely stay away garlic Parmesan flavor tho. As for the crowd, it's eclectic but typical is boring. Biggest pluses, amazing outdoor patio in the summer, jukebox,  pool tables, cheap drinks, cheap wings.  Bartenders are super friendly and attentive.

by Amanda G.

Good enough college bar - kinda like White Horse, but smaller and not as good. This is the rejects from the Horse. Still your good ole Waspy sports bar, there is trivia, and sometimes live bands. Not an alternative crowd in general.

by Darius K.

Reading the other reviews, most people seem to have a problem with this place during actual drinking hours. I don't know, they could be right. I've only been here for lunch, when the place is basically deserted.But their lunch specials are astounding, considering the price. They advertise a $3 lunch special: burger/sandwich and fries. Now, I looked at that and was skeptical. I figured I'd get a tiny burger and maybe 5 french fries.I was wrong. I ate there yesterday for lunch, and ordered a cuban sandwich. It was actually a pretty big sandwich, and it came with a very respectable side of fries. The sandwich was pretty good, especially considering that it cost me Three. Freaking. Dollars. My friend liked his burger, too: it wasn't amazing, but again, three dollars.The total, for a sizable lunch for two people, came out to six dollars. Service was okay. Our waitress was very friendly.Again, I haven't been here during bar hours, but I highly recommend this place for a cheap lunch. (Note: the lunch special lasts from noon to 4pm, I think, and you have to eat in.)

by Kevin F.

Here's my mea culpa for falling into an "I AM YELPER THE WORLD MUST CONFORM TO ME OR IT GETS ONE STAR" trap. As a local business that's offered a killer lunch deal for years, this place deserves better. I may not be in love with how this spot is 100% of the time it's open, but it's seriously one of the best eat-in lunch deals around. I have not deserved any of the tasty $4 burger and fries meals I've bought since I left my crummy review. Review Update:BOO this place. Had 3 terrible times there since my nice review went up. Grab a burger…

by Chelsea P.

This place has GREAT food!  The staff are very nice (especially the Yankee fan, guy! :o)...coming from a NYer, who moved to Boston!)Their fries are AMAZING!!! $5 burgersfries for lunch on weekdays!  They have a patio out back...amazing for Allston!I've only ever come in the evenings, Sunday during the day and for lunch...not for late night, but I am a fan!

by David H.

This place deserves recognition.  It may throw off a few people, but it's one of those places that you have to come to once or twice to really draw appreciation from it.  At first, it looks like your typical dive bar.  Small place.  Douches galore.  Awkwardly placed pool tables.  Awkwardly placed darts area.  Obscure arcade games.  But what makes this place stand out is the price of the drinks (very well priced), the drinks themselves (this place doesn't water them down like most bars in the area), the service is always on time, and there is a patio to enjoy the summer air at!  And the people that go are great.  Lots of patrons in the 21-29 year range to mingle with over a well priced loaded drink.  If you find that you don't mingle with the kids over at Kel's, not feeling the Whitehorse, don't feel like hearing a garage band play at Harper's Ferry, don't feel like smoking hookah at the Nile, don't feel like eating hot pot at Shabu Zen, and don't really care for Sunset's numerous tapped beers, then step off the Comm. Ave strip for once and check out this tiny jewel... forget the 2 star reviews!

by stefanie n.e q.Christine S.Adam S.Walter G.

Craziness..I think this place is just misunderstood. First of all, the food is really good...I swear! Turkey tips are my favorite and their fries are crispy. Steak tip salad with Gorgonzola cheese is tasty as well. Wings are pretty good but I'd definitely stay away garlic Parmesan flavor tho. As for the crowd, it's eclectic but typical is boring. Biggest pluses, amazing outdoor patio in the summer, jukebox,  pool tables, cheap drinks, cheap wings.  Bartenders are super friendly and attentive.I used to live across from this place and all I know is that it was bumping at all hours ever friggin' day of the week. Yet I could never completely loath it with the same hatred I have for the Common Ground (it's stupid $5 cover charge).  I just felt like it was conflicted.  Was it a club? A sports bar? A pool hall? And mind you, it's the size of small cottage, minus the quaint feeling.  But maybe they'll hope you'll get that feeling with their stiff drinks and cheap chicken wings.  I mean, I'm not complaining.  I'm just sayin' it ain't quaint.Damn, why such a bad rating?I'm not a Bostonian, so I don't know how valid my opinion is, but I freaking loved this place!  TWENTY-FIVE CENT CHICKEN WINGS!  Yes, I said $.25!  A freaking quarter for one chicken wing.  I believe this deal is valid all day Sunday (PERFECT FOR FOOTBALL!) and after 6pm on Mondays (also perfect for football!).  Original hot and Cooperstown were my favorites.  I came here for Sunday lunch and my group of six had a total of 78 wings, a couple of beers, and enjoyed football on 4 flat screen tv.  Too bad they didn't have any of my west coast teams playing.Note: You have to order them in intervals of 6, and they have 9 different flavors!  And get their beer battered fries.  Mmmmmmmm.If I ever come back to Boston, I am definitely hitting this place up again (on a Sunday or Monday).  And according to a sign in the bathroom, they have trivia and beer pong night!I like The Draft-The bartenders/staff are actually friendly-NOT common in Allston.  They have good specials (5.99 Beer+Burger on Tuesday nights, 25 cent wings Sunday), and the food is good.  They need the Jamaican Jerk Sauce to come back for the wings, though-It was the only good spicy food I've had in Boston that I didn't make!disclaimer: i've never had the food here. just been here for drinks. this is the perfect place to hang out if you're a douchebag. OR if you're looking to stay out til 2am as opposed to 1am OR if you really like nickelback and wanna hear it on the jukebox all night. OR if you wanna have a bunch of sketchy ass ghetto dudes leer at your girlfriend and possibly stab you. me? not really a fan of any of the above except for the 2am closing time. which is the only reason i'll agree to come here. seriously it looks like a waiting room for the casting call of next season's tool academy.

by Ben L.

Despite a couple of things going for it the Draft racks up a minor fail on this one.  Ever since they were redone (with the rename) I haven't had much desire to go here.  I was slightly pleased to feel justified after going there.Door staff were ok.  Quick enough and they did the job.  The bar almost spits the interior of the place with it's loop.  Their "stage" is inside but seems like more of an afterthought than any other one in Allston.I was kinda psyched about the patio area.  It's rather spacious and has the nice bonus of having a decent outdoor bar.Where they really fail is inside because it feels too cramped even without too many people.  The setup of the bar magically makes it hard to order a beer.The kicker.  A ton of what seem to be their regulars are absolute cock monkeys.Go for the patio.  Bring a group of friends and don't expect the rest of the bar to be any fun.

by Brendan M.

Continuing my reviews of Allston bars before taking on the rest of town, I've arrived at The Draft. This bar is fine - not bad but not great. It has a little bit of everything though. On the left side there's an arcade game, juke box and darts, to the right there's a small stage where they'll let most bands play. If you head out the back, there's a whole outdoor area that's relatively new.In summer, the outside is where it's at. There are beer pong tourneys out there on tuesday night with no buy-in and a $50 first prize. There's probably 20 long tables set up out there for those nights. Otherwise, there's umbrella'd tables and a bar built into the wall with TVs around it. I haven't tried the food, but the beer is fairly affordable. Draft beer (Coors I think) is $2.50 and the pitchers are $9. Monday and Thursday are when they have live music, usually for free. This place is a bar first and venue second, for sure. So why doesn't The Draft warrant 4 stars? Well because the indoor part is small. I can't imagine a dance floor really emerging in there on Friday / Saturday when the have a DJ. The bartenders are usually guys and are not attentive or friendly. Moslty, The Draft just doesn't have a great vibe. I've never been in and said, 'Hey that song they're playing is awesome' or 'Holy crap, she is gorgeous.' Everything about it just hovers in mediocrity.