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East Boston restaurant warned to do a better job keeping beer-chugging customers off its patio

The Boston Licensing Board yesterday warned the owner of La Chiva, 259 Bennington St. that he needs to step up his game and stop letting customers bring in beers to enjoy on its outside patio, since he doesn't have an alcohol license.

The board's formal written warning comes after a hearing Tuesday on an incident shortly before 10:30 p.m. on July 9, in which BPD licensing detectives, acting on neighbors' complaints about "disruptive behavior affecting the quality of life of neighbors," quality-of-life issues, paid the Colombian restaurant a visit and found a woman on the patio with an open bottle of beer.

Owner Rodrigo Angulo apologized for the incident. He said he has a hard time sometimes keeping people from bringing their own beer onto the patio, especially after nearby bars close at 2 a.m. and their patrons head to La Chiva.

At both the Tuesday meeting and its meeting yesterday, board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce said that doesn't matter - the restaurant is responsible for keeping its patio alcohol free no matter where the patrons are getting their alcohol. "You have to do more than just try your best," she told Angulo.

The restaurant has a rare 24-hour license, although it's only open until 3 a.m. - which is itself rare in Boston.

Tuesday hearing:

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Comments

Within certain size limitations? I was under the impression you could bring wine to non liquor licensed restaurants but not beer?

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What gave you that impression??

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The state has a BYOB license category, but Boston prohibits it.

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Again.. thx

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but you do need a special BYOB liquor license, so it's pretty rare. Here's some info on the the city's website:

https://www.boston.gov/sites/default/files/file/2020/05/byob-rules-appli...

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Boston does have BYOB, but you need a license that comes with restrictions: The place has to have under a number of seats, it can't be in certain parts of the city (like the North End and Back Bay), and customers can only bring in a certain amount of alcohol (I think it's one bottle of wine ande one bottle of beer per customer, although that includes beer growlers). Very few places have applied.

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Looks like Boston does now offer BYOB.

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That kinda brings up an interesting thought. Having a BYOB license, but not as part of a business model or advertise to customers of having the right, but just to avoid an existential crisis because some drunk Joe after 2AM decided sneak out his beer and shuffle over for a empanada and sit at the patio.

Though realistically, I doubt the board would appreciate that idea.

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I'm old, but I remember when that place was a Riley's Roast Beef and it's cow motif billboard sign was an East Boston landmark.

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