Owner of Dominican restaurant in Roslindale seeks to open Mexican restaurant in Newmarket Square

Update: Request approved, pending availability of a license.

Felipe Duran, who has been serving Dominican food at La Guira & Tambora on Washington Street in Roslindale for 13 years, is working to turn the closed Hen House at 1033 Mass. Ave. in Newmarket Square into a Mexican restaurant.

Duran is seeking an all-alcohol license to go with the food at his Casa Bonita Mexican Grill, where he plans to serve "authentic Mexican food," although only until 2 a.m., not through all hours of the night like the Hen House used to do with chicken and waffles on weekends, his attorney, Jennifer Allen, told the Boston Licensing Board today.

The restaurant will have 42 indoor seats and 24 seats on a seasonal patio, once Duran is finished with extensive renovations, she said.

Allen described the public need for a liquor license at the location: There are few restaurants in general in the immediate area and none that serve Mexican food.

The board could vote tomorrow on Duran's proposal, although if it approves, he might have to go on a waiting list if the board has no liquor licenses to hand out. The number of liquor licenses in Boston is limited by the state legislature.