NEW YORK — Filth flies, vermin and unwashed hands — 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.
Multiple restaurants citywide meet that fate every week. During the last seven days that list includes a fried chicken spot in Brooklyn and a pizzeria in Manhattan.
Here’s all the eateries that the Department of Health closed down since April 1, 2022:
Manhattan
Koronet Pizza (2848 Broadway): 58 violation points
- Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
- Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
- Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
- Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
- Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
- 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.
- Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
Brooklyn
Crown Fried Chicken (3149 Fulton Street): 55 violation points
- 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.
- Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
- Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
- Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
