NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Feb 4-11

NEW YORK — Filth flies, vermin and unwashed hands — 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.

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.

At least several restaurants citywide meet that fate every week. During the last seven days that list includes a pizza spot in Brooklyn and a bakery in Queens.

Here's all the eateries that the Department of Health closed down since Feb. 4, 2022:

Brooklyn

Original Napoli's Pizza (594 Crescent Street): 38 violation points

1. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
2. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

Wonderful Chen Restaurant aka Lucky Happy (5602 7th Avenue): 50 violation points

1. Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.
2. Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
4. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
5. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

Queens

Tong Hai Tung Bakery (4112 Main Street): 64 violation points

1. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
2. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
3. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
4. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
5. Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
6. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
7. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
8. Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.