The Boston Licensing Board today approved a request from the Russian Benevolent Society, 14-20 Linden St. in Allston, to serve dinner seven days a week.
The society, originally set up as a private club, had been open to the public Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. The board's amendment to its license means it will be open the other four days of the week as well.
Paul Berkeley, president of the Allston Civic Association, said his group was concerned that the society was slowly morphing into a nightclub or bar in the middle of a residential area.
Society attorney Richard Vetstein denied that, however, saying the society had no desire to change a license restriction that requires that liquor be served only with food.
In fact, pairing liquor with food is "a Russian ethnic tradition," he said. "They don't drink straight (liquor), contrary to popular belief."
In addition to the new hours, the society wants to convert an existing garage in the building into a dining room to handle private parties of up to 30 people.
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