Police: Port Chester Restaurant Owner Served Alcohol, Despite Lack of License

A Port Chester restaurant owner was ticketed Thursday night for selling beer to a detective despite the lack of a liquor license, Port Chester police said.

The detective walked into Bambu Restuarant and Nightclub at 30 Broad St. at 7 p.m. and sat down to have dinner. After the detective ordered food, a waitress approached and asked him if he wanted a beer. The detective said yes, and the waitress brought him a Budweiser, despite the restaurant's lack of a liquor license and absence of any visible beer or hard alcohol.

Police say they checked in with the owner, Alejandro Aliaga Jr., 47, of 107 Fremont St. in Harrison, several months ago when Bambu Restaurant opened, Lt. James Ladeairous said. Aliaga told them he did not have a liquor license and would apply for one, but police heard from several people who said the restaurant was serving alcohol.

Aliaga was charged with sale of alcohol without a license, an unclassified misdemeanor. The charge could impact the restaurant's pending state liquor license application.