The NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Dec 27 - Jan 3

NEW YORK — 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 well-being, New York City’s Health Department is watching.

Every year, inspectors go unannounced into more than 24,000 restaurants 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 in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn – 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 since Dec. 27, 2019, according to the Department of Health:

Manhattan:

BIG NICK'S PIZZA / GYROSHOP

70 W 71ST ST

Violation points: 49

• Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
• Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.
• Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
• Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
• 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.
• Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

A SLICE OF NEW YORK

727 EIGHTH AVE

Violation points: 64

• Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
• Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
• Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
• Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
• Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
• Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
• Thawing procedures improper.
• Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
• Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.

Brooklyn:

No restaurants.

Queens:

NEW CHOI HEE III

Violation points: 41

• Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
• Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
• Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
• 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.