Charles Street on Beacon Hill to get farm-to-table scratch kitchen and hummus to go right next door

The Boston Licensing Board today approved one chef's plans for a new, locally sourced restaurant at 39 Charles St. on Beacon Hill and for a hummus take-out shop right next door.

The board approved chef Jason Indelicato's proposed Hill Kitchen - and his plan to buy the beer, wine and liqueur license now held by Ginger Exchange on Huntington Avenue - over the objections of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, which sent a curt e-mail to the board after a hearing yesterday that said only that the group opposed the plans, without saying why.

Before its vote today, board Chairwoman Kathleen Joyce said that if the group wants her board to consider its opposition, it's going to need to explain its reasoning. She noted that the association's planning and zoning subcommittee had earlier voted in favor of the proposal, if by an 8-4 vote, and that the restaurant would be moving into what had been a vacant storefront for two years.

At the hearing, Indelicato's attorney, Elizabeth Pisano, said Hill Kitchen would use only local suppliers - including former Beacon Hill butcher Savenor's - for its scratch menu and would certainly "add to the overall charm and vibrancy of Beacon Hill," especially when compared to the shuttered Vineyard Vines store it would replace. She predicted it would appeal to residents and tourists alike.

The new restaurant, with seating for 78 at tables and 6 at a bar, would be open until midnight.

Also today, the licensing board approved plans by Colin Daly to permanently run a hummus shop, to be called the Hummus Shop, at 37 Charles St.

Daly, who actually opened for business over the weekend, with a temporary license granted by the board earlier, has long sold his hummus at local farmers markets.

The brick-and-mortar hummuserie has three tables with ten seats, but Daly says he expects the bulk of his business to be in takeout. He added, however, that he is not planning on offering his chickpea-based wares via third-party delivery, so people will have to walk over themselves to buy it.

After approving a permanent food-serving license, the board did add a condition that should Daly change his mind, he would have to re-appear before the board to show how he would deal with potentially street-clogging scooters and delivery cars first.

The Beacon Hill Civic Association did not indicate to the board its feelings either way on the hummus shop. Through an aide, City Councilor Sharon Durkan, who lives on Beacon Hill, expressed support.