Filthy Kitchens, Rats And Roaches: See The NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed This Week

NEW YORK, NY — Filth flies, roaches, mice and unwashed hands — restaurants across the city have dirty secrets they’d rather you didn't know about. Fortunately for the diner’s health, New York City’s Health Department is looking.

Every year, inspectors venture unannounced into more than 24,000 kitchens in the city. Of them, the majority are fine, but some fall disgustingly short of the city’s cleanliness requirements.

The most common violations, according to the city, are food stored at wrong temperatures, vermin, "plumbing" issues — the mind boggles and basic food safety protocols not being followed.

Every week, Patch will tell you which restaurants have gotten the chop – try not to read over your lunch break.

Inspection scores above 28 earn eateries a C grade and extra-close monitoring from the city’s health department – which could decide to shut it down.

These are the restaurants closed down in the last week, according to the Department of Health:

Brooklyn

Vaqueros

Address: 1541 Myrtle Ave.

Violation Points: 42

• Hot food item not held at or above 140 degrees
• Food contact surface improperly constructed or located (unacceptable material used)
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service
• Non-food contact surface improperly constructed and improperly maintained (unacceptable material used)

Sofia Pizza Restaurant

Address: 2822 Coney Island Ave.

Violation Points: 55

• Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas
• Personal cleanliness inadequate (outer garment soiled with possible contaminant, effective hair restraint not worn in area where food is prepared)
• Tobacco use, eating or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed
• Hot food item not held at or above 140 degrees
• Facility not vermin proof.
• Plumbing not properly installed or maintained
• Non-food contact surface improperly constructed and improperly maintained (unacceptable material used)

Margarita Island Inc.

Address: 1105 Bowery St.

Violation Points: 151

• Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan
• Filth flies or sewage-associated flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
• Sewage disposal system improper or unapproved
• Food contact surface improperly constructed or located, with unacceptable material used
• Hand-washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room, with no soap and an acceptable hand-drying device provided
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service
• Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred
• Facility not vermin proof
• Toilet facility not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door

Starlite Lounge

Address: 1213 McDonald Ave.

Violation Points: 35

• Evidence of mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas
• Facility not vermin proof
• Pesticide not used in accordance with label or applicable laws, with prohibited chemical use/store and open bait station used

Queens

KFC

Address: 15212 Rockaway Blvd.

Violation Points: 78

• Cold food item held above 41 degrees
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan
• Filth flies or sewage-associated flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas
• Insufficient or no refrigerated or hot holding equipment to keep potentially hazardous foods at required temperatures
• Facility not vermin proof

Kelly’s Pub

Address: 13611 41st Ave.

Violation Points: 61

• Food, food preparation area, food storage area and area used by employees/patrons contaminated by sewage or liquid waste
• Evidence of mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas
• Filth flies or sewage-associated flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas

Great East Chinese Food

Address: 2930 Union St.

Violation Points: 56

• Hot food item not held at or above 140 degrees
• Cold food item held above 41 degrees
• Insufficient or no refrigerated or hot holding equipment to keep potentially hazardous foods at required temperatures
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service
• Thawing procedures improper
• Plumbing not properly installed or maintained

Country Taste

Address: 15428 Northern Blvd.

Violation Points: 139

• Cold food item held above 41 degrees
• Filth flies or sewage-associated flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas
• Food contact surface improperly constructed or located. Unacceptable material used
• Hand-washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room, with no soap and an acceptable hand-drying device provided
• Insufficient or no refrigerated or hot holding equipment to keep potentially hazardous foods at required temperatures
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service
• Facility not vermin proof
• Food contact surface not properly maintained
• Non-food contact surface improperly constructed and improperly maintained, with unacceptable material used
• Proper sanitization not provided for utensil-washing operation

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