Dave's Fresh Pasta, a popular wine and food store in Davis Square, is moving ahead with its plans to open a neighborhood wine and antipasto bar, according to a sign posted in Dave's window.

Also, Painted Burro, a new Mexican restaurant from the people behind Posto, is expected to open within the week, according to a Facebook post ... depicting a sign posted in the restaurant's window.

Dave's' wine and antipasto bar

Dave's has been planning to open a neighborhood wine and antipasto bar since summer of 2011. The eatery is planned for 89 Holland St., next to Dave's storefront, and it will likely have about 45 seats and a "casual, neighborly, friendly" vibe, according to Dave's co-owner, Dave Jick, who spoke to Somerville Patch about the project in June.

Getting a liquor license was the biggest challenge for Dave's, as the city only has 84 licenses to issue, a number imposed on Somerville by the state of Massachusetts.

Dave's missed out on getting a license once, but they were successful on their second attempt.

A sign posted in the window of 89 Holland St., dated Feb. 23 (when your humble Somerville Patch editor was on vacation), reads:

Hello neighbors, 

On February 23 the City of Somerville approved a full liquor license for 89 Holland St.

Thanks so much for the support and good words from so many of our neighbors. Your help was very important and helpful for us in obtaining the license. Now, we start the permitting process and then the build out. Please continue to comment, criticize, and encourage.

On a related note, the city of Somerville has petitioned the state for the ability to issue more liquor licenses, in part because businesses like Dave's, which has been in Davis Square since 2000, find it so difficult to get one.

Painted Burro

Painted Burro is a new Mexican restaurant from the people behind Posto. It's opening in the Davis Square space that once housed Gargoyles, and it should open within the week, according to a Facebook update posted March 8.

A sign taped to the door of Painted Burro, as seen in the Facebook post, reads: "Opening Sometime before St. Patrick's Day but not today …"