Restaurant Owes More Than $19K In Back Wages: Report

EAST HARTFORD, CT — An East Hartford restaurant owner will have to pay $19,657 in back wages to workers, according to a FOX 61 report. Owner Vishal Sharma was reprimanded by the U.S. Department of Labor for failing to pay minimum wage for all hours that 14 current former employees worked at Nolita Restaurant.

Federal minimum wage is set at $7.25 per hour. The accusations include that some dishwashers and front-of-house employees were paid flat weekly salaries in cash that did not account for overtime, according to FOX 61. WFSB 3 TV reports that Nolita Restaurant, located at 363 Roberts St., was forced to pay nearly $40,000 in back wages and damages combined.

“Employers must pay their employees all the wages they have legally earned,” said Wage and Hour District Director David R. Gerrain, according to Fox 61.

According to its website, "Nolita Ristorante serves contemporary farm-to-table Italian cuisine and craft beer in East Hartford, CT. Check out our 24 taps."

"Our story starts with a district in Lower Manhattan - “North of Little Italy.” Bursting with small eateries and tons of local flavor, every shop in NoLita did something different and did it with passion and excellent craftsmanship. We took that inspiration and distilled the best of it into Nolita Ristorante, a modern, upscale dining experience in East Hartford, CT," according to its website.

The restaurant is known for these specialty dishes including: Cherry Bomb Chicken, Arancini, and Shrimp Disaronno. The restaurant is also well known for its pizza and pasta dishes. The eatery also offers a live band and comedy nights, too.

In a 2015 Hartford Courant article, it states that the eatery is attached to a Ramada Inn and has 200 seats. The eatery is inspired by famous restaurants in New York City.

>>>Read More at Fox 61.