NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Jan. 10 - 17

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 Jan. 10.

Manhattan

Bites of Xian 88 (1711 2nd Avenue)

Violation Points: 58

• Tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from an open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area.
• Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
• Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• No handwashing facility in or adjacent to the restroom or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Handwashing 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.
• Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

Misoya (129 2nd Avenue)

Violation Points: 11

• Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
• 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.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.

Queens

Tropical Smoothie Café (3149 Steinway Street)

Violation Points: 29

• Accurate thermometer not provided or properly located in refrigerated, cold storage or hot holding equipment.
• Food containing a prohibited substance held, kept, offered, prepared, processed, packaged, or served.
• 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.
• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

BBQ Village (11812 Hillside Avenue)

Violation Points: 55

• 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.
• Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
• 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.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.