Roaches At Forest Hills Pizzeria Prompt Temporary Closure By City

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS — A pizzeria that's been in Forest Hills for over four decades was temporarily shuttered last week after inspectors found live cockroaches in the restaurant.

In addition to the pests, Mike's Pizzeria and Restaurant, located on Yellowstone Boulevard, wasn't following certain food safety protocols, the Department of Health learned during a Feb. 2 inspection.

The restaurant's food wasn't protected from contamination and food-prep surfaces weren't being properly washed, records show.

These "critical" violations prompted the restaurant's immediate closure, a move that the health department makes at least several times per-week with eateries that can't fix "public health hazards" (a roach infestation in the case of Mike's) at the time of inspection.

Restaurants that resolve violations are permitted to reopen.

Representatives from Mike's Pizzeria and Restaurant couldn't be immediately reached for comment about the closure.

This is the second longtime restaurant in Forest Hills to close over health department violations in the past couple of weeks.

Last Thursday, T-Bone Diner, another neighborhood institution, was shuttered after inspectors found rats and flies in the restaurant, which also wasn't following food safety protocols (news that did not come as a surprise to many locals).

Related Article: Decades-Old Diner Shutters After Health Department Finds Filth