Selectmen Approve Liquor License Transfer for Fine Mexican Restaurant

A higher-end Mexican Restaurant came one step closer to its opening this week with the granting of a liquor license transfer.

On Monday night the Burlington Board of Selectmen voted 4-0-1 to approve the transfer of an all-alcohol license from the Burlington American Legion to the Besito Restaurant. The Besito Mexican Restaurant will be located in the former Eddie Bauer spot in the Burlington Mall.

The one abstention from the vote was Vice Chair Michael Runyan who bowed out of the vote due to a connection with the legion, though both he and Chairman Robert Hogan, who also has connections due to his job as Director of Veteran Services, were cleared to participate in the vote by town counsel. Both made disclosures during the meeting.

Attorney Mark Vaughn of Reimer and Braunstein, who was representing the restaurant group, explained that the transfer of the license was requested because of a lack of licenses in town. He explained that because the American Legion is a veteran's club it can obtain a license that is exempt from the town's total quota.

Following the vote for the license transfer the board also voted to approve an exempt status license to the American Legion so it can continue operating as normal.

John Tunney, a key principal of the restaurant group that owns Besito, said the restaurant is looking forward to coming to Burlington. This will be the first location of the restaurant in Massachusetts.

"We spent 18 months searching for the right location and visited a lot of locations," he said. "Burlington was the shining star – we were led to Massachusetts because of Burlington. We're excited to be here."

Tunney said Besito is a fine Mexican restaurant. 

"The restaurant is very authentic and we offer very good food," he said. "By far it is a fine restaurant but we have a good price point so affordable to everybody."

He said that Besito is not a bar, but offering wine, beer and cocktails with entrees is part of the overall experience for diners.

The restaurant offers a wide variety of Mexican food selections. Click here to view a menu. Also, visit their web site for more information.

When asked when the restaurant may open, Tunney said the renovations/construction will likely start in about eight weeks and it will take between 70 to 90 days to complete.

Burlington Patch will continue to follow the story as things progress.