Restaurants & Bars

NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed May 10 - May 17

An Eataly pizza kiosk was among the restaurants shut down by health inspectors this week.

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.

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

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.

Find out what's happening in New York Cityfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Here's all the eateries that the Department of Health closed down since April 12:

Manhattan

272 Uptown Pizza (272 W. 135th St.)

Violation Points: 28

  • 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.

Eataly NY LLC (Kiosk) (999 Broadway)

Violation Points: 38

  • No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers.
  • 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.

Erin McKenna's Bakery (248 Broome St.)

Violation Points: 0

  • Failure to post or conspicuously post healthy eating information

Great Taste Bakery (3335 Catherine St.)

Violation Points: 49

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
  • Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
  • Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.

Bronx

Cooler Runnings Vegetarian Grill (1785 Nereid Ave.)

Violation Points: 74

  • 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.
  • Food contact surface, refillable, reusable containers, or equipment improperly constructed, placed or maintained. Unacceptable material used. Culinary sink or other acceptable method not provided for washing food.
  • 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.
  • Nuisance created or allowed to exist. Facility not free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive or annoying condition.
  • 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.

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