Koronet Pizza On UWS Closed By Health Department For Mice, Raw Food

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Giant pizza slice lovers look away. Koronet Pizza on the Upper West Side was closed on Monday by the New York Department of Health for a variety of nasty violations, including evidence of mice and raw food.

The pizza place is particularly popular with Columbia and Barnard students, located at 2848 Broadway (between West 110th and 111th streets).

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It is best known for its giant slices.

Koronet Pizza was one of two restaurants in New York City forced to cease operations by the city in the past week.

Here are the infractions that earned the Upper West Side spot 58 violations points and immediate closure:

1. Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
2. Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
3. Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
4. Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5. Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
6. Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

It appears that Koronet reopened on Wednesday, though, with the approval of the Health Department.

The pizzeria did not answer when Patch called and also did not respond to a Facebook message.

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.

"Let's be honest, nothing beats fresh and hot New York pizza," Koronet writes in the first sentence of its About section on its website.