Charlestown residents say it's time they got some world-class dining

Natives and recent arrivals alike yesterday urged the Boston Licensing Board to give Paolo's Trattoria, 251 Main St., a full liquor license so it can expand into a new bistro to be called Monument - although residents living right next to the place objected to its proposed 1 a.m. closing time.

"Boston is a world-class city at this point, and Charlestown has the 99," one resident explained.

The hearing was just one of a lengthy list of hearings yesterday by restaurant and hotel owners seeking one of the five "unrestricted" licenses the board has to give out. Applicants that don't get one could have to spend upwards of $300,000 on the open market. The board also has 20 licenses to hand out in several specific neighborhoods; these licenses cannot be resold.

The board could start whittling down the applications after a final round of hearings next week. It held numerous hearings last week as well.

As required by law, applicants had to explain the "public need" for their proposed licenses.

Michael Brodigan, lawyer for Paolo's owner Adam Hawk, said Charlestown simply doesn't have the sort of decent restaurants other neighborhoods do - forcing people to head downtown or even into Somerville when their dining needs extend beyond the Domino's that is the only other place to get food near Paolo's currently.

He said Hawk and a new partner will invest $450,000 into expanding Paolo's into the new "bistro-type restaurant." Even restaurants who opposed the 1 a.m. closing time supported the expansion and proposed license - just that they don't want to be kept up by people going to and from the place.

Other hearings yesterday:

Chinatown

The Best Little Restaurant, 13 Hudson St. Owner Brian Moy, who also runs Shojo, said customers keep asking him why they can't get a drink - let alone a full bar program - at the Best Little Restaurant.

Hot Eastern, 40 Harrison Ave. This place is known for its Chinese barbecue and customers don't understand why they can't get a beer with their ribs. One customer who attended the hearing to support the request, a Chinese graduate student at Northeastern, said Chinese barbecue and beer is like "bread and butter."

Joy Luck Restaurant, 702 Washington St. This new hot-pot place where the McDonald's used to be, has a public need partly because of its location, attorney Carolyn Conway said. "It's one of the most important intersections in Chinatown," she said, adding the owners put considerable effort into transforming "a sad, distressed McDonald's" into a quality restaurant. "They literally transformed this corner into something that is a proud gateway into Chinatown."

Dorchester

Molinari's, 789 Adams St. Seeking just a beer and wine license. The public need, co-owner Jeffrey Cincotta said, is that Molinari's is the only place in Adams Corner serving traditional Italian food - no pizza - and that customers are asking for some beer or wine to go with their food.

AMC South Bay Center., 25 District Ave. The proposed 12-screen cineplex in the South Bay Town Center on which construction recently began. Drinks with movies is a thing these days, and all the AMC cineplexes in Massachusetts now either have offer them or are applying to offer them.

Downtown

Boston Chops, 2 Temple Pl. See separate story.

40 Beverly St. hotel. See separate story.

East Boston

Cabana Grill, 254 Bennington St. Seeking a neighborhood-specific license to serve drinks with Central American and Mexican food.

Fenway

Sweet Cheeks, 1381 Boylston St. The restaurant wants a new liquor license for an addition - to be called Fool's Errand - that would be centered on a wood-fired grill and give chefs "the opportunity to play a little" with the food, attorney Karen Simao said. "It's pretty adult food."

Jamaica Plain

Evy Tea, 253 Amory St. Owner Evy Chen says a liquor license would let her offer "tea-infused cocktails," although not quite at the level of potency of, say, a Long Island Iced Tea. She said the public need is that her tea bar is the first tea bar in Boston.

Roxbury

Residence Inn by Marriott South End Boston, 2001 Washington St. See separate story.

South End

Victoria's Diner, 1024 Massachusetts Ave. The owners, the Marciantes, want to replace their current beer and wine license with a full liquor license, to better attract function business for the two function rooms they have. The public need is that Newmarket Square is underserved by restaurants. City Councilor Tito Jackson (Roxbury) agreed on the need, called the restaurant a neighborhood landmark that has been around since 1949 and said the Marciantes are exactly the sort of independent restaurant owners intended to be helped by the law that gave Boston more liquor licenses.

AC Hotel by Marriott South End, 225 Albany St. See separate story.