Roslindale restaurant owner pledges to help neighbors deal with urinating, vomiting, screaming customers

Neighbors of Guira & Tambora, 4014 Washington St., yesterday asked the Mayor's Office of Consumer Affairs and Licensing to help them with what they said was unbearable conduct of restaurant patrons after closing on Sunday and Monday nights.

Restaurant owner Felipe Duran and his attorney said that while people's behavior once they leave the restaurant is outside their control, they will attempt to have bouncers get customers to leave the area, rather than linger nearby.

Nearby resident Sophia Apostola said she has seen guards after closing in the neighborhood. But rather than trying to shoo customers away, they've joined the impromptu party, going "hey, how you doing?" she said.

Duran, who lives just three blocks away from his restaurant, said he would look into that and would add additional security if necessary.

Apostola and resident Kingsley Odiase told a hearing officer that restaurant patrons have vomited and urinated on people's lawns and frequently have screaming conversations, sometimes with each other across the street, sometimes just on phone calls.

Apostola said she used to complain to people, but now she just dials 911. "I've been threatened by patrons."

Duran's attorney, Matthew Eckel, said his client is taking steps to reduce noise from the restaurant itself, including installation of more noise-resistant windows and a new entry vestibule that should "trap" more noise. Also, Duran is now closing up at 10:45 p.m., rather than his licensed 11 p.m., and has posted signs on the restaurant patio asking patrons to be respectful of neighbors, Eckel said.

The residents emphasized they only have a problem two nights a week, when, they said, Guira & Tambora is turned into "an illegal nightclub."

Duran and Eckel denied the restaurant is run as a nightclub on Sundays and Mondays. "It's a restaurant full time," Eckel said. They did not proffer any possible explanation as to why residents might only have a problem those nights.

Licensing hearing officer Chayla White took no immediate action on the hearing.