Looks like turning Hyde Park into a dining destination will have to wait a bit longer

The Boston Licensing Board today deferred requests that would have allowed a new Italian restaurant on Fairmount Avenue and and let an existing Dominican restaurant expand its alcohol selections.

The board also deferred action on a request for a new all-alcohol license for a proposed restaurant in Roslindale Square.

All three had requested one of the 25 new licenses the legislature gave the city in an attempt to expand dining options outside Boston Proper and the waterfront.

At a hearing Wednesday, City Councilor Tim McCarthy, who represents Hyde Park and most of Roslindale, said the proposal by the owners of Sophia's Grotto to turn the old Hyde space into a new Italian restaurant and the request by the owner of Rincon Caribeno to move from beer and wine to all alcohol would not just help revive a long sleepy part of Hyde Park, but begin turning the area into a dining destination that would draw people from surrounding suburbs.

He said Sonia and Joseph Garufi's Sophia's Grotto was one of the keys to revitalizing Roslindale Square and expected them to do the same for Hyde Park's Logan Square with their Antonio's Bacaro. The Garufis have already spent four months renovating the 1914 Hyde/Dottie's space - down to stripping away the current ceiling to restore the original tin ceiling.

Rincon Caribeno owner Javier Diaz has applied before for a full-liquor license but the board never had one to grant. McCarthy said the restaurant and Diaz have both been assets to the community and has proven he deserves one of the new licenses.

McCarthy was equally supportive of Delfino owner Stephen Judge's proposal to turn the old Derna's across South Street in Roslindale into a new all-day restaurant with a patio that would serve light fare with a few Italian dishes. Judge told the board he has long been frustrated by having to turn away customers at Delfino - he said he turns off the phone at 7 p.m. on weekends and turned away 140 people last Saturday.

Among his other supporters at the hearing: Sonia Garufi, who said the new place would be ideal for keeping folks happy in the neighborhood and give her a place to send customers who want to stay in Roslindale after a meal at her place.

In addition to McCarthy, the mayor's office and other city councilors supported the proposed licenses, as did the Main Street programs in the two neighborhoods. Two Roslindale residents - in addition to the Garufis - even attended the Wednesday morning hearing to support Judge and the Garufis.