Allan Appel Photo
“Buca” in Italian means “hole.” It will soon also mean “watering hole” for the Buca Trattoria on Upper State Street.
That’s because Tuesday night, in a unanimous vote, the Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception granting approval to the Italian restaurant on State Street near Edwards to seek a wine and beer liquor license from the state.
The restaurant’s chef, host, and owner, Giuseppe Cinque, was on hand Tuesday night at the BZA for a vote. His establishment currently lets its customers bring their own bottles into the restaurant, which serves what he calls rustic Italian cuisine.
Giuseppe Cinque, left, at hearing with Connecticut Liquor permit consultant Raymond Ragaini.
In a hearing of less than five minutes, Cinque was asked by BZA Chairperson Carmen Melendez whether he had reviewed and approved of the conditions that commissioners were attaching to their approval.
They included that serving alcohol and beer would not alter the current hours of operation, which are Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 4 to 9 p.m. Nor would the overall number of seats be altered. Nor would live entertainment be added.
Cinque said that he had reviewed and agreed to the conditions.
“I’m not changing the nature of my business,” he said. That also meant, in part, that people who have been bringing their own bottles of vino to the eatery can continue to do so if they wish, he said after the unanimous vote of the commissioners.
Cinque said if he obtains the state license, he will not alter the interior of the restaurant. No additional seats are in the picture, nor will a bar be constructed; the alcohol will be brought to tables of those who order it, as part of a meal.
Cinque was accompanied to the hearing by Raymond Ragaini, a former liquor control agent for the state, who now helps restauranteurs like Cinque obtain their permits.
