Harlem And Uptown Restaurants Ordered Closed By NYC’s Health Department Last Week

From filth to flies — some restaurants across Harlem have dirty secrets they’d rather you didn’t know or think about. Fortunately for the diner’s well-being, New York City’s Health Department is watching.

Every year, inspectors go unannounced into more than 24,000 restaurants in the city. Of them, the majority are fine, but some fall disgustingly short of the city’s cleanliness requirements.

The most common violations, according to the city, are food stored at wrong temperatures, vermin, “plumbing” issues (the mind boggles) and basic food safety protocols not being followed.

Every week, the good folks at Patch will tell us which restaurants have gotten the chop – try not to read over your lunch break.

Inspection scores above 28 earn eateries a C grade and extra close monitoring from the city’s health department – which could decide to shut it down.

These are the restaurants closed down since May 3, 2019, according to the Department of Health:

Bardolino Pizza, 1505 Lexington Avenue

Violation points: 60

• Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
• Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
• Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
• Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
• Thawing procedures improper.
• 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.

Garden Cafe, 4961 Broadway Ave

Violation points: 102

• Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
• Food, food preparation area, food storage area, area used by employees or patrons, contaminated by sewage or liquid waste.
• Sewage disposal system improper or unapproved.
• Toilet facility not provided for employees or for patrons when required.
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
• Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

107 West Restaurant. 2787 Broadway

Violation points: 81

• Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
• Food, food preparation area, food storage area, area used by employees or patrons, contaminated by sewage or liquid waste.
• Sewage disposal system improper or unapproved.
• Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
• Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
• Thawing procedures improper.
• 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.

Click here to the list of closed restaurants in other parts