Business & Tech
UWS Restaurant Big Nick's Shut Down By Health Department
The pizza and burger spot on West 71st and Columbus reopened days after a disastrous health inspection.
UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Upper West Side pizza and burger spot Big Nick's was shut down by the city Department of Health this week after a disastrous inspection that turned up evidence of pests and improper handling of food, according to city records.
A Dec. 30 inspection netted the West 71st Street and Columbus Avenue eater a whopping 49 violation points, city records show. It only takes 28 points to get a dreaded "C" grade, and any more than that generally results in a shutdown due to a public health hazard, according to the Department of Health's grading methodology.
Monday's inspection revealed that Big Nick's failed to store cold food items at safe temperatures, failed to exercise adequate cleanliness and also revealed presence or evidence of live rats, mice and roaches in the restaurant. The previous inspection on record for Big Nick's took place in Dec. 2018, and the restaurant scored an "A" grade.
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An employee at Big Nick's didn't comment on the closure when asked Friday, but said that the restaurant had been re-inspected and cleared to open.
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