Aspinwall Council OK with liquor license transfer for Feast on Brilliant

A specialty food store in Aspinwall that recently expanded with a cafe plans to sell beer, wine and alcoholic beverages and has begun the process to get a restaurant liquor license.

Aspinwall Council voted 5-0 on Wednesday to approve the transfer of a restaurant liquor license to Feast on Brilliant.

Council members Heth Turnquist and Jeff Harris were absent.

The license would be coming from Club 475 The Fast Lane in North Versailles, according to the application.

Feast on Brilliant is located at 27 Brilliant Ave. and owned by Patti Danforth. Its cafe opened about two months ago.

Feast has to submit the borough’s resolution of approval to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board. The PLCB approval may take three to four months.

Staff would also go through RAMP training: Responsible Alcohol Management Program.

The PLCB describes it as a voluntary certification program. However, it can be mandated as part of a conditional licensing agreement or prior to obtaining a wine-expanded permit.

Steven Adams | Tribune-Review

Aspinwall council approved a liquor license transfer for Feast on Brilliant at its Aug. 10 meeting.

Attorney Mark Kozar of the firm Flaherty & O’Hara represented Danforth and the business at Wednesday’s public hearing prior to council’s vote. Kozar said the license transfer is only part of the process and was not sure when alcoholic drinks would be served.

“It’s been open and operated here in Aspinwall since 2012,” Kozar said about Feast on Brilliant. “For the past decades it’s been providing local residents and people from outside of town with outstanding fresh made-from-scratch foods and out-of-the-ordinary food offerings.

“Mrs. Danforth has leased the storefront beside her. She’s put in seating for 33 (people). Under the liquor code, you need a minimum seating of 30; 400 square feet and food for 30 (people). She meets all the qualifications for a restaurant liquor license.”

Feast is open 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.

Kozar said the liquor license would permit the shop to sell alcohol from 7 a.m. to 2 a.m., but there are no plans to change the hours of operation. There are also no plans to sell six packs or drinks to go.

“Alcohol would be served as a complement and not as the main attraction,” Kozar said. “There’s no bar. There’s no video games, pool tables, those types of things. This is not going to be a late night place where people would hang out.”

Customers can try specialty breakfast items that include frittatas, pastries, breakfast burritos, granola and yogurt parfaits, fresh seasonal fruit and more.

No one objected to the transfer at the public hearing.

“I think it’s a great thing,” council President Tim McLaughlin said after the vote. “Patti and her team at Feast have shown nothing but being very responsible. I don’t see any reason the fact that they’re serving alcohol would be any different. I think it would be great for her and provide options on that side of town.”

McLaughlin said he has eaten at Feast and found it a great place to get sandwiches and crab cakes.

“You’re not going down there for a five-course meal, and there are no servers,” McLaughlin said. “You go up to a counter. You get your stuff and go sit at your table. Nobody’s waiting on you. They’re really grown over the years, and (serving alcohol) will be a nice addition for her. I’m excited for it.”