Berklee area to get a Taco Bell, but not open quite as late as its franchisee had hoped

The Boston Licensing Board today approved a food-serving license for the city's third upscale Taco Bell, in what used to be a T-Mobile shop at 1084 Boylston St., just around the corner from Mass. Ave.

The board approved hours that start at 8 a.m. and end at 2 a.m. most of the week, but 2:30 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

The franchisee of the proposed Taco Bell Cantina - with a menu that extends the chain's traditional Mexican-like offerings to vegetarian dishes, along with more tasteful decor, had originally sought closing times of 3 a.m. most of the week and 3:30 a.m. on weekends but pulled back after opposition from the Fenway Civic Association, its attorney, Tom Miller, told the board.

The outlet, with 12 seats, will join Taco Bell Cantinas in South Boston and Allston - and two more over the line in Brookline. Boston also has two traditional Taco Bells, one paired with the city's only Long John Silver's fried-seafood take-out place, on VFW Parkway in West Roxbury, the other on Summer Street downtown.

The Allston Taco Bell Cantina, where Great Scott used to be, has permission to stay open until 3 a.m. on weekdays and 3:30 a.m. on weekends, while the South Boston version, on sleepy West Broadway, is only open until midnight.