"This Asian food hall is full of gems, and it’s a no-brainer for any food-obsessed pair looking for a date spot in Allston. It also doesn’t limit those on a first date to one cuisine type. Try the banh mi at Pho Viet’s, or grab some Uyghur cuisine — and specifically the dry-fried noodles with beef — at Silk Road Express. There’s no booze, but that’s fine — Allston is lousy with dive bars, so a night cap in Rat City won’t be hard to find." - Terrence Doyle