Saga Charged with Liquor License Violation

Originally posted on December 14, 2015.

Foxborough, MA - A Japanese steakhouse in Foxborough is accused of allowing customers to consume alcohol after closing time.

Saga Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, located at Patriot Place on Route 1, is charged with serving alcohol after 1 a.m. according to a report from Foxborough Police Sergeant Richard Noonan. The selectmen are scheduled to address the issue on Tuesday at 7:50 p.m. in the Foxborough High School media center.

After the New England Patriots’ Nov. 24 football game against the Buffalo Bills, police at Gillette Stadium were informed of a report that employees at Saga were serving alcohol after hours. Noonan arrived at the restaurant at 1:18 a.m., observing four officers and a TeamOps security guard outside. The security guard told Noonan of the report before observing several patrons consuming alcohol within the bar area.

The manager, Huang Lin, said he was unaware that people could not be in the restaurant after closing hours. According to Noonan, all alcoholic beverages needed to be removed by 1:05 a.m., with everyone out by 1:15 a.m.

When the bartenders were asked when they made their last sale, all four denied serving alcohol past 1 a.m., with one stating that she served two cups of green tea. None of the bartenders were able to show the last sale on their cash registers or recall the approximate time of their last sale, with the registers showing an incorrect date and time.

More customers drinking alcohol were found in the dining area, according to Noonan. As of 1:22 a.m., Noonan counted 37 customers either eating or drinking, including one table of five with five full bottles of beer. The sushi chef told police that there was no effort by the staff to close the restaurant.

Staff eventually started to take alcoholic beverages from the customers with no explanation. An announcement from Noonan clarified the action.

As ordered by Noonan, all patrons left by 2 a.m. One customer, however, became argumentative and had to be escorted out of the establishment.

If the selectmen choose to conduct a hearing, Saga will be charged with violating four liquor license rules and regulations: allowing customers to possess and consume alcohol more than five minutes past the closing time of 1 a.m., failing to clear all bottles and glasses from the tables and bar within the allotted time established five minutes past the closing hour of 1 a.m., failing to have all patrons off the licensed premise within 15 minutes of the established closing time of 1 a.m., and failing to prevent patrons from entering the premise after the official closing hour of 1 a.m.

If the selectmen find that there was a violation, it will be the second in about a year for Saga. Last year, the restaurant failed a compliance check by the Foxborough Police Department after serving an underage operative an alcoholic beverage.