Late-night diner will have to stick to beer and wine for now

Victoria's Diner on Mass. Ave. in Newmarket Square had its request for an all-liquor license deferred this week because the Boston Licensing Board doesn't have any to dole out.

Although its location on the Roxbury/Dorchester line with the South End might have made it eligible for one of the new liquor licenses the state granted Boston this year, owner Damian Marciante asked for one of the older all-alcohol licenses. The main difference between the two: The old type can be resold on the open market for use anywhere in the city; a new license would be limited to the designated neighborhood in which it was issued, potentially reducing its resale value.

Victoria's Diner already has a license to sell beer and wine. At a hearing on Wednesday, Marciante told the board he's added two function rooms to the venerable late-night eatery - it opened in 1949 - and wants to offer harder stuff for birthday parties, wedding receptions and the like.

Marciante could re-apply for a license and hope one has been returned to the board, he could buy one on the open market - where prices now top $300,000 - or he could try for one of the geography-restricted licenses.