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 24.
Manhattan
Sutton Cafe (1026 1st Ave.)
Violation Points: 10
- 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.
Brooklyn
Commune (415 Classon Ave.)
Violation Points:89
- Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- Sewage disposal system is not provided, improper, inadequate or unapproved.
- No or inadequate potable water supply. Water or ice not portable or from unapproved source. Bottled water not NY State certified. Cross connection in potable water supply system.
- Unapproved outdoor, street or sidewalk cooking.
- Food contact surface, refillable, reusable containers, or equipment improperly constructed, placed or maintained. Unacceptable material used. Culinary sink or other acceptable method not provided for washing food.
El Comedor Restaurante (5621 5th Ave.)
Violation Points: 59
- Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- 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.
- 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.
- Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
- After cooking or removal from hot holding, TCS food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal temperature is reduced from 140 °F to 70 °F or less within 2 hours, and from 70 °F to 41 °F or less within 4 additional hours.
Chocolate Connects (994 Coney Island Ave.)
Violation Points: 12
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- 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.
Queens
Halal Krispy Fried Chicken & Pizza (179-33 Hillside Ave.)
Violation Points: 19
- Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
- Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- 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.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
New Spicy House (133-35 Roosevelt Ave.)
Violation Points: 64
- Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
- 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.
- Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
- Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
Farmers Kitchen (111-32 Farmers Blvd.)
Violation Points: 11
- Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
- Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.