NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed July 29 - August 5

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 takeout spot in Fort Greene and a couple Manhattan pizzerias.

Here's all the eateries that the Department of Health closed down since July 29, 2022:

MANHATTAN

Empire Garden (911 Columbus Ave): 86 violation points

1. Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
2. Insufficient or no hot holding, cold storage or cold holding equipment provided to maintain Time/Temperature Control for Safety Foods (TCS) at required temperatures
3. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
4. Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
5. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
6. Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.

iPizzaNY (3801 Broadway): 80 violation points

1. Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
2. 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.
3. Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
4. Food, supplies, and equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5. Food, supplies, and equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6. Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
7. 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.
8. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
9. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
10. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies.
11. Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
12. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

Jollibee (609 8th Ave): 53 violation points

1. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
2. 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.
3. Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
4. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies.
5. Food, supplies, and equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Margari Pizza (1072 2nd Ave): 61 violation points

1. Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
2. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
7. 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.
8. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies.
9. Toilet facility not maintained or provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle or self-closing door.
10. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
11. Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
12. Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
13. Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.

BROOKLYN

Yang No 1 Asian (109 S Portland Ave): 78 violation points

1. Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
2. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
3. Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
4. Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
5. Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
9. Tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area.
10. Food, supplies, and equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Almah Cafe (109 S Portland Ave): 77 violation points

1. Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
2. Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn where required. Jewelry is worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
3. 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.
4. Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
5. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
6. Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
7. No hand washing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Hand washing 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.
8. 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.
9. Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.

QUEENS

El Fogon Costeno (10912 Northern Blvd): 63 violation points

1. Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.