Metro

One from the road

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Mister Softee is getting some competition from Captain Morgan and Johnnie Walker.

Liquor was sold from a food truck in the city for the first time yesterday, and state officials expect two more food-truck operators will soon apply for similar permits.

But don’t expect to see roving fleets of vans dispensing martinis, Bordeaux and beer alongside hot dogs and falafel.

The state says permits are only going to trucks parked in the back of Central Park’s Tavern on the Green, where the fare is supposed to be higher toned than the fried nuts and hot pretzels sold by other park vendors.

As part of the one-year deal, the state says customers can’t take their beverages out of the Tavern’s courtyard.

The idea is going down smoothly with customers of Pera Turkish Tacos, the first truck with a liquor license.

During the first half hour of liquor freedom, the Pera truck sold two glasses of red wine and five cocktails. The beer hadn’t been delivered yet.

“We were strolling through the park and saw there was food and thought we’d check it out. Happily, they had drinks,” said Dave Imsland, 36, of Chicago, who sipped a $7 glass of Merlot.

Imsland’s friend Kelly Othman, 37, also ordered the Merlot, the only red offered.

“It’s fine,” she said. “It’s not fantastic, but I wouldn’t have expected it to be.”

The truck’s owner, Burack Karacam, says that, besides serving the lunch and dinner crowd, his liquor license will bring in customers during the afternoon hours, when people don’t normally eat.

“One of the areas of business improvement we were seeking was in the late afternoon or early evening. It’s predinner-drink time,” Karacam said. “Now we have something to offer.”

Karacam’s truck paid the state $4,352 for a full two-year liquor license, along with a $200 filing fee with the city. The Pera truck has only a one-year city permit to sell food in the courtyard but has an option for a second year.

Two of Pera’s neighbors in the courtyard, Ladle of Love and Rickshaw Dumplings, are expected to get permits soon, city officials say.

While the Tavern is far from its former glory, “things are going well over there,” said Parks Department spokesman Phil Abramson.

The city plans evening movies and other programs in the food-truck area this summer.

Happier hour

Bar menu at Pera Turkish Tacos truck, parked at Tavern on the Green

Red wine, white wine, beer: $7

Absolut vodka: $11

Don Q rum: $10

Luna Azul tequila: $10

Beefeater gin: $11

Kahlua: $9

Jim Beam/Jameson: $11