BCAT News

It may seem odd in the time of a pandemic but diners can share very large specialty drinks at two Burlington restaurants. 

In November both Tavern in the Square in The District and Karma Asian Fusion in the Burlington Mall received alcohol waivers from the Select Board to serve the drinks with certain conditions. 

Tavern in the Square offers a Seltzer Tower for $60 and a Margarita Tower for $75, each coming in a variety of flavors. Karma Asian Fusion has Large Format Mai Tais and a variety of Large Format Cocktails, each selling for $110. The idea is for groups to share the drinks as a way to socialize. 

“It encourages socialization and we started doing it post COVID restrictions being lifted as a way for people to come together and stop the separateness and it has worked pretty well,” a representative from Tavern in the Square told the board. 

The conditions for the drinks were outlined by Alcohol Sub-Committee members Bob Hogan and Joe Morandi. They said each table must have at least four people, everyone at the table must be over 21 years of age and each table can only order one per sitting. 

Hogan acknowledged that the board historically has been hesitant about allowing unique proposals when it comes to alcohol but has been more accommodating to them recently. The board recently allowed a beer garden event at the new pocket park in the town center and approved a beer and wine license transfer to Common Craft to set up a second location in the Burlington Mall featuring selections from their main business though that was a departure from past practices. 

“We seem to be having an awful lot of new things come before us when it comes to the liquor licenses and the sale of alcohol,” he said. “More so than any other types of business in town and I think we’ve traversed this well and have gotten ourselves straight as to what we wanted.”

Hogan added that with the conditions in place he was comfortable with the large specialty drinks.  

“I felt this was a good accommodation rather than just flatly saying ‘no’ just because it’s new,” he said.  “We’ve kind of given up just saying no without having discussions about these things.” 

Morandi agreed and thanked the restaurant representatives for being cooperative throughout the sub-committee process. 

“You two have been great as far as abiding by our regulations and going along with what we’re looking for in restaurants,” he said. “As a town we want to see you succeed but we also have to keep limitations on what we can do out there.” 

Member Mike Runyan, who voted against the Common Craft license transfer at a previous meeting, said had some reservations but was open to the idea. 

“This is a sign of the times,” he said. “I guess I’m kind of a dinosaur in terms of these trends going on in the industry so you probably wouldn’t see one of these at my table but if the subcommittee is satisfied with it then I’m satisfied as well.”

In the end the board voted unanimously to approve the waivers for both restaurants.