NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Jan 21-28

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 dumpling spot in Brooklyn and a coffee shop in Queens.

Here's all the eateries that the Department of Health closed down since Jan. 21, 2022:

Manhattan

218 (218 Grand St): 84 violation points

1. Single service item reused, improperly stored, dispensed; not used when required.
2. Sewage disposal system improper or unapproved.
3. Food, food preparation area, food storage area, area used by employees or patrons, contaminated by sewage or liquid waste.
4. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5. Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
6. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.

Ginger & Lemongrass LES (153 Rivington Street): 70 violation points

1. Thawing procedures improper.
2. Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies.
3. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
4. Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
5. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
6. Single service item reused, improperly stored, dispensed; not used when required.
7. Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
8. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.
9. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
10. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

Saigon Vietnamese Sandwich (369 Broome Street): 49 violation points

1. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
2. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
3. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used.
4. 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.
5. Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
6. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

Taza Cafe and Deli (350 Park Avenue South): 70 violation points

1. Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
2. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
3. 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.
4. Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
5. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
6. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
7. 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.
8. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. Single service item reused, improperly stored, dispensed; not used when required.

Brooklyn

Bogaty (9522 Avenue L): 62 violation points

1. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
2. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
3. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
4. Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
5. 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.
6. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
7. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
8. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Hills Kitchen (252 Knickerbocker Avenue): 69 violation points

1. 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.
2. Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
4. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
5. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
6. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
7. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
8. Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
9. Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
10. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
11. Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.

Varenichnaya Pelmini Varenichky (3086 Brighton 2 Street): 50 violation points

1. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
2. Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
3. Mechanical or natural ventilation system not provided, improperly installed, in disrepair and/or fails to prevent excessive build-up of grease, heat, steam condensation vapors, odors, smoke, and fumes.
4. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
5. Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Queens

La Baguette Shop (19109 Jamaica Avenue): 50 violation points

1. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.

Stella's Coffee Shop (2213 Jamaica Avenue): 59 violation points

1. Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
2. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
4. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
5. Proper sanitization not provided for utensil ware washing operation.
6. Canned food product observed dented and not segregated from other consumable food items.
7. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
8. Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

Taj Mahal Restaurant (148-01 Hillside Avenue): 62 violation points

1. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
2. Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
3. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5. Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
6. Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer or thermocouple not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding.