NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed Oct. 13 - 20

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 the sole eatery that the Department of Health closed down since Oct. 13:

Queens:

Spring Thai Fusion & Bar (96-40 Queens Blvd.)

Violation Points: 50

• Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• 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.
• 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.
• Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.