NEW YORK CITY — Vermin, dirty dishes and poor personal cleanliness — restaurants across the city have dirty secrets they'd rather not share. But New York City's Health Department is watching.
Every year, inspectors arrive unannounced at more than 25,000 restaurants to examine health and safety standards. Most eateries pass inspections, but some fall short of the city's standards, accruing violation points for everything from broken light bulbs to "public health hazards," like vermin and failure to follow food safety protocols.
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Restaurants hit with non-food-safety violations might get a fine or a lower letter grade, with zero to 13 points warranting an 'A' and violations totaling 28 points or more earning a 'C' (this system is criticized for its efficacy by some gourmands).
Public health hazards that can't be resolved on the spot, like a mouse or fly infestation, pose a bigger issue: immediate closure.
Here's all the eateries that the Department of Health closed down since April 17.
Manhattan
Zara Pizza (84 Hester St.)
Violation Points: 55
- Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
- Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
- Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
Mala Panda/Ginza Don (105 W 27th St.)
Violation Points: 130
- Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn where required. Jewelry worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
- Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
- Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
- Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- No handwashing facility in or adjacent to restroom or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Handwashing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-hand washing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device.
- Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
- Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
- Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
- Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
Tispy Shanghai Restaurant (594 3rd Ave.)
Violation Points: 45
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
Five Iron Golf (1681 3rd Ave.)
Violation Points: 13
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
Brooklyn
Jing Jiang Seafood Restaurant (4619 8th Ave.)
Violation Points: 62
- Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
- Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained.
- Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
- Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
Meat Up (22 Old Fulton St.)
Violation Points: 56
- Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
- Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- Food, prohibited, from unapproved or unknown source, home canned or home prepared. Animal slaughtered, butchered or dressed (eviscerated, skinned) in establishment. Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) fish not frozen before processing. ROP food prepared on premises transported to another site.
- Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
- Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
Tsaōcaa & BBQ Chicken (773 59th St.)
Violation Points: 47
- Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
- Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
- Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
98K Chicken & Burgers (2114 Nostrand Ave.)
Violation Points: 70
- Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
- Sewage disposal system is not provided, improper, inadequate or unapproved.
- Food preparation area, food storage area, or other area used by employees or patrons, contaminated by sewage or liquid waste.
The Bronx
Alcantara 05 Restaurant (1738 Zerga Ave.)
Violation Points: 66
- Insufficient or no hot holding, cold storage or cold holding equipment provided to maintain Time/Temperature Control for Safety Foods (TCS) at required temperatures.
- Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
- No handwashing facility in or adjacent to restroom or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Handwashing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-hand washing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device.
- Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.