NYC Restaurants Ordered Closed October 31 - November 14

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 October 31:

Manhattan

New Kam Lai (514 Amsterdam Ave.)

Violation Points: 47

• 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.
• Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
• 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.
• 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.

Dimsum Palace (27 Division St.)

Violation Points: 45

• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
• Thawing procedure improper.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

Famous Sichuan (10 Pell St.)

Violation Points: 69

• Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.
• 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, 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.
• 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.
• Food adulterated or misbranded. Adulterated or misbranded food possessed, being manufactured, produced, packed, sold, offered for sale, delivered or given away.
• Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
• 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.

Muji (20 Hudson St.)

Violation Points: 94

• No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers.
• Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
• Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
• 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.
• 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.

Muji Café (75 9th Ave.)

Violation Points: 72

• Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
• 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.
• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.

Brooklyn

Bo Bo Chinese Restaurant (1601 Cortelyou Rd.)

Violation Points: 51

• Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
• Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
• Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
• Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
• Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include houseflies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies.
• Contract with a pest management professional not in place. Record of extermination activities not kept on premises.

Empire Taco (617 Wilson Ave.)

Violation Points: 52

• Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint, not worn where required. Jewelry worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
• 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.
• Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
• Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
• 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.

Queens

Sweet Bamboo 2 (107-56 Suptin Blvd.)

Violation Points: 33

• 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.