Health Dept. Shuts Down Plan B Citing Roaches, Mice

The Department of Health shut down the Vanderbilt Avenue sports bar  yesterday evening citing “public health hazards.”

“Live roaches and mouse activity were observed in the kitchen along with contaminated food. Also, the supervisor did not have a Food Protection Certificate,” a Department of Health representative said via e-mail.

On Dec. 21 Plan B received an A on its inspection with only 5 violation points. However during an ungraded inspection on June 9, the restaurant received 16 violation points for storing or using prohibited pesticides and for the “critical” violation of keeping food at the wrong temperature, according to the NYC Department of Health website. 

Restaurants with a score between 0 and 13 points earn an A, those with 14 to 27 points receive a B and those with 28 or more get a C, according to the DOH.

Plan B’s manager, Robert Wissenbach, said the violations were due to flooding in which “sewage came up in the basement” and he expects the Vanderbilt Avenue sports bar to re-open in two days.

As for the contaminated food, Wissenbach said the food was sitting out for 30 minutes, 10 minutes longer than allowed.

“We’ve pretty much addressed all the issues and have an appointment to go back,” he said.