Board approves Caribbean restaurant near Ashmont T stop, but initially only for sit-down service

The Zoning Board of Appeal yesterday approved Linval Chambers's proposal to re-fit a long vacant chiropractor's office at 1 Peabody Square into his fourth Flames restaurant.

But while Chambers had told neighbors and the mayor's office that he would offer takeout at the 14-seat restaurant, his formal application to the zoning board didn't include that, so the approval means he has to submit a new application and go through another hearing to be allowed to offer food to go.

Both the mayor's office and the office of at-large City Councilor Annissa Essaibi-George supported the proposal at a hearing yesterday, although the strongest support came from William Onuoha, director of the city's Office of Fair Equity and Housing, who said he's very familiar with the food at Flames: "The food is so good you might bite your fingers off," he said.

In addition to returning to the zoning board for permission to offer takeout, Chambers also needs to obtain a food-serving license from the Boston Licensing Board.