NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Dec. 1 - 8

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.

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 Dec. 1:

Manhattan

The Handpulled Noodle (3600 Broadway)

Violation Points: 61

• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
• Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
• Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.

Mr. Paris Catering Co. (56 Loisaida Ave.)

Violation Points: 104

• 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.
• Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained.
• No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers.
• 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 rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• Food service operation occurring in room or area used as living or sleeping quarters.
• 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.
• Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.

Brooklyn

Tom's Restaurant (782 Washington Ave.)

Violation Points: 80

• 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.
• Tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area.
• TCS food removed from cold holding or prepared from or combined with ingredients at room temperature not cooled by an approved method to 41 °F or below within 4 hours.
• 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.
• Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
• 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.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
• 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.
• Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.

Ilegal Taqueria (614 Wilson Ave.)

Violation Points: 41

• Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• Food allergy information poster not conspicuously posted where food is being prepared or processed by food workers.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• 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.
• Hot TCS food item that has been cooked and cooled is being held for service without first being reheated to 165º F or above within 2 hours.

Queens

Blue Bar (35-16 Farrington St.)

Violation Points: 61

• Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
• 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.
• No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers.

Pokewave/That Place (3507 Broadway)

Violation Points: 50

• 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.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
• Meat, fish, molluscan shellfish, unpasteurized raw shell eggs, poultry or other TCS offered or served raw or undercooked and written notice not provided to consumer.
• No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers.
• Wash hands sign not posted near or above hand washing sink.