Common Ground for Locals
The Common Ground is an Irish pub in the heart of Allston. As with many bars in the area, the Common Ground offers a place for local students and recent graduates to go to listen to local bands, dance during theme nights, and drink lots and lots of cheap and not-so cheap beer.

What sets the Common Ground apart from its counterparts is an extremely varied and delicious menu. The menu includes usual pub favorites: burgers, sandwiches, and wraps; and typical Irish fare: Guinness beef stew, fish and chips, and shepherd's pie. However, that's where typical and usual ends. The Common Ground successfully infuses its menu with a wonderful variety of appetizers, a terrific selection of gourmet pizza, and a handful of unique seafood and pasta dishes.

One Served a Bunch of Times
I've visited the Common Ground a couple of times recently. Each time I tried different things.

During the first visit, I started out my meal with humus and pita bread ($5.95), and curry and cornmeal coated swordfish and calamari ($6.95). Both appetizers were nice changes from the usual appetizers you find at pubs. The pita and humus appetizer was served warm; the pita bread was grilled so the bread was soft on the inside but slightly crunchy on the outside, and the humus was drizzled with chili oil as it came out of the oven. The swordfish and calamari was tasty; it was crispy and the spicy, curry flavor mixed nicely with the mild flavor of the fish.

For my main course, I decided to stay light with an Asian chicken salad ($7.95): mixed field greens, pan-seared chicken, mandarin oranges, crispy noodles, and teriyaki sesame dressing. This particular dish sounds better than it actually tasted. The dressing was not very flavorful and the chicken was dry.

My dining companion, however, had one of the specials: phyllo-wrapped salmon with rice pilaf ($10.95). The dish was fabulous; phyllo dough enrobed a moist fillet of salmon. The rice pilaf was a nice accompaniment.

On a second visit, I decided to forgo the appetizers and just ordered shrimp and salmon with spinach stuffed raviolis ($10.95). The shrimp and salmon were covered in a light lemon garlic sauce with roasted tomatoes. The seafood was cooked to perfection and served over delicious ricotta and spinach filled pillows of delight. (Yes, they were that good.)

This time, my dining companion decided on a buffalo chicken sandwich. She seemed to love it; in fact, she claimed it was the best buffalo chicken sandwich that side of Allston/Brighton. Quite a claim.

And a Beer...
The Common Ground always offers a great variety of beers on tap and in bottles. My personal favorites are Bass, Blue Moon Belgian White, Guinness, and Sierra Nevada; pints average about $3.50. The bartenders are always friendly and helpful.

Recently, the pub started offering what it dubs Recession Specials; during the week you can take advantage of really cheap food: ten cent chicken wings on Mondays; by one entrée get one half price on Tuesdays; half off any pizza on Wednesdays; and steak night on Thursdays (I'm not sure what sort of special this is, but hey, it's steak, how can it be bad?)

Mixed Crowd
The crowd at the Common Ground is as unique as its menu. There is usually a combination of sports fans watching their teams on the big screen TV, and music aficionados waiting until 10:00 when a DJ or live music takes the stage. If you're there on a Wednesday, stay for Mod Night where DJ Vin spins retro Brit Pop; on weekends stay and take in one of the many local bands that frequent the pub.

The bottom line: the Common Ground offers a distinct menu, a terrific beer selection, and something to entertain everyone. It's a reason to brave the hoards of BU and BC students and visit Allston.

The Common Ground
85 Harvard Ave.
Allston, MA
(617) 783-2071