We learned the hard way that the DOH temporarily closed one of our perennial favorites, Yaffa Cafe on St. Mark's Place... when we showed up for a meal...
Per the DOH website, the city issued 60 violation points ... No. 1 on the list: "Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation."
Anyway, we look forward to going back when they reopen.
UPDATE: They reopened Friday.
Me and two of my friends showed up for breakfast there on Wednesday, and we ordered, and they served our beverages, and then we waited and waited for our food. The waitress told us an inspector was there, and they couldn't start cooking until he left. Then after more waiting, the manager came over and told us that the inspection was going to take even longer and that they couldn't serve us but we could stay and enjoy our beverages on the house, which was nice. Anyway, I feel bad for everyone who works there and is losing money. I hope they can rectify the situation and get back to business soon. I need my Yaffa breakfasts!
ReplyDeleteIf the place is in that bad they cant even cook while the inspector is there they have problems. DOH doesn't stop you from cooking, if you cant cook clean or sanitary you have no business in the kitchen
ReplyDeleteTHe DOH never told the servers not to serve food. The owner took upon to stop serving food. And it was not that the kitchen was unsanitary. It was the basement on the other side of Yaffa Café that got written citations. Unfortunately, since Yaffa Café used a small part of the basement; Yaffa Café was fined for the WHOLE basement even though it belonged to the apartments above.
Deletesometimes the violation is as simple as not having the proper piece of paper, or not having the official DOH piece of paper (that you have to pay for) that allows you to reopen.
ReplyDeleteit can be a health problem or a money problem.
these days it's hard to tell the difference.
a missing "no dogs" sign can close you.
Consistently awful for years
ReplyDeleteYet you kept coming back? Interesting.
Delete@9:45 I don't know about that; this happened to me at Veselka once. They came for an inspection at lunch hour and no orders were filled for the next 90 minutes or so.
ReplyDelete"If the place is in that bad they cant even cook while the inspector is there they have problems. DOH doesn't stop you from cooking, if you cant cook clean or sanitary you have no business in the kitchen"
ReplyDeletepfft you know nothing about how these nazi health inspectors operate, you cannot cook in front of them, they will make up stuff as you go along, ie, you cut the sandwich with a knife and before you even set it down they are giving you a ticket because knife blade has crumbs on it..that is how ridiculous these inspectors are...but hey thier goal is to collect 40 million dollars from the 25000 restaurants in city for bloomberg, here is good reading about this corrupt money making system...
http://www.silive.com/opinion/editorials/index.ssf/2011/12/for_the_department_of_health_i.html
I just inspected my kitchen and gave myself 103 violation points. But that grilled cheese and bacon sandwich sure tasted good.
ReplyDelete