The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
Peruvian restaurant hits snag over soft opening
Official: Forbidden Llama owner did not get permits or have inspections done before serving some customers
MIDDLETOWN — City officials are working with a local restaurant owner to secure the proper permits to open downtown after the business held two soft openings before final inspections had been completed.
The Forbidden Llama, a Peruvian restaurant located at 329-335 Main St., moved into the space formerly occupied by Forbidden City Bistro, which closed in January.
City Health Director Kevin Elak said that, besides having a restaurant/liquor permit through the state, an eatery also must be in compliance with the fire marshal, health, building and zoning departments, and offer something to eat along with alcoholic beverages.
Co-owner Christian Narro, a former partner in the Flaming Llama on Franklin Avenue in Hartford, said the issue was a misunderstanding.
“We made it clear that you shouldn’t be operating a health department license, especially when there’s no final inspection,” Elak explained.
Narro said Wednesday that the soft opening was for friends and locals who stopped by asking about the new concept. “We did not know we needed to finish all the final inspections so we can start our business going,” he explained. “We thought the liquor permit was good for us to sell alcohol.”
After meeting with city officials, Narro added, “we are aware of our mistake and looking forward to trying this again the right way with all the permit requirements for the grand opening.”
A liquor control agent showed up at Forbidden Llama and made
it clear what expectations were, the health director said. “The meeting was very productive,” Elak said.
During the Oct. 7 and 14 weekends, a “large contingent” of people showed up, and there was a long line of customers that stretched around the corner, according to Police Chief Erik Costa, who spoke on the matter at Wednesday’s Downtown Business District meeting.
Authorities getting involved in the situation simply was a preventative measure, the chief explained, and “We want to work together to ensure success.”
However, Elak said, “you can’t just open a place and serve liquor — that’s a violation of the liquor license; you have to serve food with it, too.”
“You have a restaurant/ liquor license, so you have to be a restaurant, too,” he said.
Elak said Forbidden Llama’s ownership changed since the office began working with the establishment many months ago. He wasn’t aware the business would be opening until after the incident.
“We communicate with those departments to make sure they’re all set, and that’s when we give our final approval and issue them a license,” the director said. “That hadn’t happened.
“It’s very uncommon,” Elak added. “This is the first time in my 20-plus years that I’ve encountered that.”
Meanwhile, excitement has been building for a place that offers another world cuisine on “Restaurant Row.”
After receiving the goahead from health, fire and building inspectors, Narro is aiming to open Friday. He’s looking forward to providing diners with “the best” Peruvian food around, one that’s been known as a “culinary destination” for seven consecutive years.
Narro also intends to provide the “best service and best experience” to customers.
“We’re really making sure we’re dotting our Is and crossing our Ts with this one — not that we don’t with the other ones,” Elak pointed out. “We really want to make sure they’re in full compliance.
“We want them to succeed. It’s very exciting to hear a Peruvian restaurant was going to be coming to Middletown,” he added. “We’re not trying to set up unnecessary roadblocks, but we do need to make sure that everything is in order code-wise before we can issue them a license.”
“We want them to be successful, and I’m glad that everybody is going to help them get there,” DBD Chairwoman Jennifer Alexander said at the meeting.