Outdoor dining approved for five restaurants, more applications in the works

The License Commission approved outdoor dining permit requests from six restaurants on Moody Street during its Wednesday meeting.

The requests came from Rassa Indian Cuisine at 470 Moody St., Bistro781 at 336 Moody St., In a Pickle at 265 Moody St., Tempo at 474 Moody St., Vinotta Restaurant at 361 Moody St. and Amuleto at 484 Moody St. 

Outdoor dining was expected to return to Moody Street on Memorial Day weekend, but was delayed due to the application approval process. According to the License Department’s administrative assistant Darlene Wansiewicz, the applications for outdoor dining permits have been available since March 23. 

The applications have to gain approval from City Council and the Traffic Commission before being sent to the License Commission for a final approval. Wansiewicz attributed the holdup to other commissions’ schedules, noting that the License Commission had tried to review and approve applications by its April meeting. 

Wansiewicz said additional applications are in the process of being approved and will come before the License Commission soon.

In other business, the License Commission

• Announced the previous approval of a charity wine license for an April 23 Waltham Boys & Girls Club fundraiser at the Westin Hotel. Commission Chairman Wayne Brasco said the application had been submitted close to the fundraiser’s date and was approved via email, as is customary for last-minute applications.
• Approved a request for a one-day all-alcohol permit for a VIP Reception Community Training Session event at Bentley University.
• Approved an entertainment permit for the Aegean Restaurant at 741 Moody St. The restaurant plans to host a “Greek Night” event with a live band and dancing. While the original time request for the license was from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m., Brasco said entertainment permits in the city only go until midnight.
• Tabled discussion about a medical incident at Franco’s Pizzeria & Pub at 714 Moody St. According to a police report, a woman passed out at the bar after not eating all day and consuming several drinks. The License Commission found the restaurant not at fault and did not request action from the restaurant as a result of the incident.
• Tabled discussion of two assault and battery incidents that took place outside of Tempo at 474 Moody St. The License Commission told Nathan Siegel, owner of the restaurant, that he needs to instruct his employees to call the police after such incidents. Commission members did not request further action from the restaurant as a result of the incident.