Tolerating the noise that spills out of bars and clubs is part of the city's social compact with its residents. We get to brag about living near fantastic amenities that we scream about to 911 every other week, and the restaurants pledge to "work with communities" by blasting Sean Paul and selling $2 jello shots between 12-2 a.m. But both the UWS and Inwood locations of Papasito Mexican Grill are drawing ire usually reserved for the "UNTZ-UNTZ" establishments. "I've been here 35 years, I've seen a lot of stuff come and go," UWS resident Kevin Krajick tells DNAinfo, "This is one of the worst things that's happened to the neighborhood."
The State Liquor Authority has charged the Inwood location, which sits along "Alcohol Alley," with citations dating back a year for "dancing on the premises without a cabaret license and serving alcohol in the basement without permission." At a 24th Precinct (Upper West Side) council meeting, the owner of the restaurant, Chino Chavez, told attendees, "If you see something wrong that I can address, I'd be more than happy to work with you guys." Chavez also said that security has been stepped up after one of his bouncers needed mace to subdue fighting patrons. Police have also been called several times to break up disturbances.
The Upper West Side's Community Board 7 is set to review the restaurant's license tonight, and concerned neighbors are vowing to be vocal. Boardmember Marc Glazer tells the outfit that he paid a visit to the UWS location at 1:30 a.m. on a recent night and was surprised at how club-like the atmosphere was. "I was a little bit intimidated. They had an intensive security search." But worse than the pat-down is the chance that some illicit guacamole would make it into the restaurant.
