All stories about "Doh Chronicles"
DOH Chronicles: What Really Happened At Cabrito?
West Village: Just before the weekend everyone's favorite goaty joint, Cabrito, was shuttered by the Department of Health. A worker said it had to do with 'improper steps', not cleanliness, interesting for a DOH shutter. And when a PR rep for the restaurant, Cameron Levkoff, contacted us Saturday morning letting us know the place was back open, she also cited structural issues: "There were a few structural repairs that needed to be taken care of. As BarFry was never informed of these infractions, the owner was not aware of any outstanding issues." But the story doesn't end there. According to the DOH report— which publicists should all remember, is in the public domain— the restaurant incurred 70 violation points, and they're not very pretty:
The rodent infestation, the flies, the grease!!!>>
DOH Chronicles: DOH Inspector Arrested for 'Shaking Down' Restaurateur
KENSINGTON— Last Thursday a city health inspector named Etibar Aliev was arrested for soliciting and accepting a $500 bribe and a bottle of liquor from the owner of Green Pavilion restaurant in Kensington, Brooklyn and was arraigned in court the next day. According to the complaint, after a bad inspection on Tuesday, Aliev told the Green Pavilion's owner that he would give the restaurant a pass if he got something in return. They agreed to meet two days later. When the inspector returned, someone had already complained to the DOI, which sent officers to the scene to monitor the exchange. Aliev accepted the $500 cash bribe from the restaurateur and on his way out asked if he could take a bottle of liquor from the bar. Soon after he was arrested, fired, and charged with numerous counts of corruption. If convicted he faces seven years in prison. DOH czar Dr. Thomas Frieden said he was "deeply disappointed" but did not mention any measures prevent further corruption. No word yet on whether or not the restaurant owner got to wear a wire.
· NYC investigators arrest restaurant inspector [Newsday]
· DOH Chronicles: Williamsburg Sweep Continues; Tai Thai, Lazy Catfish the Latest Victims [~E~]
We heard through the DOH line and this Chowhound post seems to confirm: Mamoun's DOH'ed. The poster doesn't mention which location, but we're guessing it's the original glorious MacDougal St. spot. Please DOH, we have so little. Don't take away our $3 falafel. [EaterWire, CH]
DOH Chronicles: Williamsburg Sweep Continues; Tai Thai, Lazy Catfish the Latest Victims
Williamsburg: The Williamsburg DOH sweep continues today with two more shutters. Yesterday, we learned that the nabe's most popular gay bar Metropolitan was shuttered, forcing the confused crowds to trudge over to Trophy Bar. Now we learn that Tai Thai, a restaurant on Bedford and North 5th and Lazy Catfish the southern-themed bar and restaurant on Lorimer and Conselyea Streets are ensnared in the DOH's net as well. We repeat our warning to burgh restaurant owners from yesterday: keep it clean. Your surprise inspection may be next.
· DOH Chronicles: DOH Hits Metropolitan Bar [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: DOH Hits Metropolitan Bar
Williamsburg: Sure it's no Veniero's or Bao Noodles even, but we bet there are a couple of you out there who'd be saddened to know that Metropolitan Avenue bar Metropolitan has been shuttered by the DOH. And remember restaurateurs in the burgh, when the DOH strikes, they often do a neighborhood sweep. So put on those hair nets and restock the soap in the servers stations pronto.
· DOH Chronicles: Little Pie Company the Second Bakery Taken Down in DOH Sweep [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Little Pie Company the Second Bakery Taken Down in DOH Sweep
Hell's Kitchen: The second bakery in as many days to be felled by the DOH, The Little Pie Company is sporting the Department's notorious yellow sticker today. Says a tipster: "...was walking by the Little Pie Company on 43rd, this afternoon, and noticed not one, not two, but THREE bright yellow DOH stickers!!!...They were hosing down a bunch of big bins outside, so I shudder to think what may have been in them. I guess if the DOH can happen to Magnolia, it can happen to anyone." Damn right it can.
· DOH Chronicles: Panya Bakery Down, Out [~E~]
The all powerful DOH was able to do something that neither the neighbors, the SLA, nor the police could do— they shuttered Club Kalua, the Queens strip club where Sean Bell died in a hail of police bullets in late 2006: "Club Kalua was cited by the Health Department for a number of violations on June 6, including evidence of mice, unsanitary food surfaces and misplaced safety signs. A notice was tacked on the club door announcing the closure, saying the topless dance spot is being renovated." [NYP]
DOH Chronicles: Panya Bakery Down, Out
East Village: No this is not a restaurant. But the Japanese Bakery Panya, on Stuyvesant St. near St. Marks Bookshop, sells a number of delicate crustless sandwiches and intriguing baked goods that have somewhat of a cult following in the East Village. We can see why the tiny shop might not have passed muster with the DOH, but here's hoping for a speedy recovery.
· DOH Chronicles: Them's Fighting Words [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Them's Fighting Words
Soho: The awesome signage above can be found pasted in the doorway of MacDougal Street's Kati Roll, which was recently shuttered by the DOH. All we have to say is, bravo KR, way to own it. Not only are you fighting back, you're doing it on your own fun-loving stationary. Much better than covering it up with plywood a la Toloache.
· Doh Shenanigans: The Sneaky Toloache [~E~]
DOH Shenanigans: The Sneaky Toloache
Midtown: In all our days chronicling DOH'ing around the city we've never seen such bold signage shenanigans. Some try covering the DOH's sign with their own handmade versions, some close their gates over them, and then of course there's this move. But leaning a large wooden board against the window? Our roving photog reports:
"This place has some nerve. There are two DOH stickers on there, one on the front window, which they've covered with the giant plywood and one on the door casing under the awning, which they've covered with a menu (though you can still see it from the back). When I passed there around 7 there was a woman at the hostess stand and a worker in the kitchen area AND a gaggle of tourists looking at the menu by the door completely oblivious to the obscured DOH stickers."Well, you've got the tourists fooled Toloache, and perhaps that's all that really matters.
· DOH Shenanigans: Desperate Times at Diablo [~E~]
East Village: It may have been a fun weekend for all you hungover chefs and meat-loving barbecue fanatics, but it was business as usual for the DOH. Their latest victim: the East Village's Filipino fast food joint Elvie's Turo Turo, which got this lovely white sign on Friday (did the DOH run out of its signature yellow paper?). But don't worry, they say they'll open today at 1 o'clock. The temp should break 100 around then so it will be perfect timing for some hot Philippine cuisine.
UPDATE: This commenter is right. It's the DOB, explaining the curious white sign.
· Diablo Royale Kicked While Down [~E~]
Another reminder that it's not all bad news during shitshow week: Tony Dragonas, the street vendor battling the DOH for the right to continue vending, cut a deal with the Dept. before his scheduled hearing today. Serious Eats has the terms of the deal but basically the Health Dept. shook him down for a cool three grand and is making him take a five day health class. Lesson: public outreach campaigns definitely work, but the DOH will always win in the end. [SE]
EaterWire: Luca Lounge Officialy Not Doneski, Milant DOH'ed, Reality TV News, and a Latte Art War for Charity
EAST VILLAGE— Just last month everyone thought (per a sign in the window) that East Village veteran Luca Lounge was a goner. Not So! An email from the owner: "...we quite suddenly and unfairly did lose our lease due to an unexpected and outrageous rent increase. However, we fully intend to stay in this community and are planning to move the restaurant to 222 Avenue B - this location is just next door to our original space. So do plan to see a new, improved, and definitely alive and kicking Luca Lounge by the end of July." [EaterWire]
MIDTOWN EAST— Midtown Lunch is reporting that Midtown East staple Milant got a visit from the DOH: "...I talked to somebody at Milant who claimed it was a freezer temperature issue, which they immediately fixed on Friday afternoon. Now they’re just waiting for the inspector to return to give them the green light..." [Midtown Lunch]
Latte Art Throwndown, Reality TV ahead.>>Some restaurants don't take a DOH'ing lying down. Alice's Tea Cup on East 64th is suing the city for not inspecting it fast enough after its original DOH shuttering last March. Owners say the 8-day closure hurt both profits and their reputation, and they want Bloomberg to pay up. [NYS]
The Week in Eater: 9th Street Market Shuttered, Chefs on the Move, a West VIllage Red Alert, a Double Deathwatch and More!
This week's stories: 9th Street Market BLOCKBUSTER Shutter, RED ALERT: DOB and DOH on West Village Sweep, Double Deathwatch: Beer Table and Burger Shoppe, Eater Inside: Sheridan Square, Early Word on Surf Lodge, DOB Shutters Employees Only, and Jody Williams OUT at Morandi.
RED ALERT: DOB, DOH Set Loose on all of West Village!!
Chang to the bunker, women and children to the basement of Morandi, strong men report to the Waverly. This West Village situation has gotten out of control and we don't know who's next. Employees Only (in the Danger Zone above) and Diablo Royale (smack dab in the Strike Zone) are already down for the count. But once the DOB and the DOH taste blood they won't stop at closing down a paltry two. Here at Eater HQ, we're calling an official red alert, and we're suggesting all you restaurants in the Strike Zone (Westville, I Tre Merli) the Danger Zone (Maremma, Lima's Taste) and outer regions (the Pig, The Owl) to heed the warnings and be on the lookout for the city's agents.
· CODE RED: DOB Joins West Village Sweep, Employees Only Latest Victim
DOH Shenanigans: Desperate Times at Diablo
West Villge: Tricky, tricky Diablo Royale. Look, we already know you were shuttered by the DOH yesterday. Covering up their yellow sign (see lower right hand corner) isn't going to fool anybody. But good luck with that flooded basement and everything.
· Diablo Royale Kicked While Down [~E~]
CODE RED: DOB Joins West Village Sweep, Employees Only Latest Victim
The real aftermath of this weekend's flood are just coming to light. Both the DOH and the Department of Buildings are sweeping the West Village this week, shuttering flood victims left and right. Yesterday Diablo Royale, right on the strike zone, was closed by the DOH for "unsanitary conditions," and reps at the department told us they are visiting every restaurant in the vicinity of the water main break to "check for public health issues associated with the flooding, power failures, etc." Today we find out the Department of Buildings has shuttered Employees Only, just blocks away from the troubled area. The homemade sign from the EO staff says they are "working out minor building issues, which may be true, but the DOB's sign tells of a more dire situation:
"The Department of Buildings has determined that conditions in this premises are imminently perilous to life.DOH Chronicles: Diablo Royale Kicked While Down
West Village: One would think that the DOH would give the restaurants in the vicinity of the massive flood over the weekend a break before inspecting. A week or two would be nice, just to let the folks clean out their waterlogged basements. But remember, the DOH does not screw around. West 10th Street's Diablo Royale just got the hammer drop per that neon sticker in the window, and a correspondent overheard workers saying that the flooded basement was the major infraction. NB: this most recent hit took place near the ominous hulking shell of Les Deux Gamins.
· Disaster Report: West Village Water Main Break [~E~]
· The Shutter: Les Deux Gamins [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Save the Dragonas Street Cart!
Last week veteran Midtown street vendor Tony Dragonas made the news when the Times learned that the DOH wants to close down his operation in order to "protect he public health." According to reps from the DOH, the cart received 19 violations last year, and Dragonas has not fixed the problems. Naturally, his fans, street cart fanatics, and the ever-present advocate the Street Vendor Project aren't taking this lying down and maintain the complaints are coming from a "jealous restaurateur". The above video, a kind of a call to arms, shows that a) New Yorkers could care less about his DOH fines, and b) the Dragonas cart isn't just a spot for a cheap lunch; rather, it's a "New York institution."
· Save Tony! [Street Vendor Project]
· DOH Chronicles: Street Cart Edition [~E~]
DOH Chronicles Double Duty Edition: Cafe Tina & The Little Bigger Place
1. Tribeca: A tipster reports that The Little Bigger Place, an American/Mexican restaurant on West Broadway that got some attention back in '01 for opening back up right after 9/11, was one of the DOH's latest victims. An Eater spot check confirms: place is down. Says the reader: "Yesterday workers were being let in to help clean with the door locked quickly behind them." Perhaps that means that it's down but not out.
2. Soho: And the DOH is busy this week. They've also hit up Cafe Tina, a divey little cafe and wine bar on Prince between Sullivan and Thompson. We don't think this one is getting back up again however, since Frederick LeSort has already been reported as opening a new space there to be called LeDen.
The week's not out, so we doubt this will be the last time the DOH strikes before the holiday weekend. Be on alert.
· DOH Chronicles: Bao Noodles Closed by DOH [~E~]
Street cart edition: The DOH is trying to close down the well-known Dragonas kebab and burger cart on 62nd and Mad for having 42 outstanding health code violations. His customers, street vendor advocates, and greasy food lovers are trying to keep it in business, natch, while the DOH maintains they need to "protect the public health." [NYT via Midtown Lunch]
DOH Chronicles: Bao Noodles Closed by DOH?
Murray Hill: And the Murray Hill shutterings continue. The latest victim: Bao Noodles. This is a more mysterious case than Curry Leaf or Popeye's however, because we can't say with complete certainty that this is a DOH'ing. We received a tip late last week that the Vietnamese noodle joint was sporting an ominous yellow sticker, and the restaurant's inspection in April was bad enough to require a follow up compliance inspection. The evidence isn't in the Bao's favor. Sadly by the time Eater correspondents arrived on the scene, the gate was down, construction sign up. But we know better than to believe those signs. Official DOH word is forthcoming.
UPDATE: From the DOH: "Bao Noodle was closed on Wednesday, May 14 following an inspection that found a vermin infestation. An estimated 15 flies were found in four separate areas of the restaurant. Other conditions contributing to the closing were over 10 lbs of food kept at hazardous temperatures."
· DOH Chronicles: Curry Leaf [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Curry Leaf Closed for "Plumbing Repairs"
Murray Hill: There have been a number of downmarket options getting the DOH treatment over in Murray Hill. First Popeye's and now well established Curry Hill joint Curry Leaf. According to the signage on the door, the restaurant is closed for "plumbing repair", but luckily there are a gazillion other Indian joints in the nabe to try out while these guys get it all straightened out.
· DOH Chronicles: Popeye's on Lex Down for the Count [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Popeye's On Lex Down for the Count
Murray Hill: Popeye's on 26th and Lex has been closed since Friday by the intrepid folk over at the DOH. We received a surprising number of emails about this one, including one from a husband with a pregnant wife craving fried chicken. And while inquiring minds want to know, there's no word on the reopening.
· DOH Chronicles: DOH Chronicles: Miracle Grill Rounds Out Record DOH'ing Week [~E~]
DOH Chronicles: Miracle Grill Update
West Village: For those of you wondering why West Village staple Miracle Grill is still closed, the DOH informs us it failed its "reopening inspection" on Friday following their initial failure on Wednesday. There weren't mice droppings in food boxes, but we'll give you the juicy details anyway:
"Miracle Bar was closed on Wednesday, May 7 following an inspection that found evidence of a vermin and rodent infestation. About 130 mice droppings were found in the kitchen and basement food storage area. Additionally, over 200 fruit flies were found in the kitchen and basement and live roaches were observed in the coffee prep area in the kitchen...because of a continued vermin infestation, Miracle Bar failed their reopening inspection on Friday."While a number of great restaurants could fail the DOH inspections, especially these days as they crack down on minor offenses, the whole live roaches and hundreds of flies situation is pretty nasty. Get it together people.
· DOH Chronicles: Miracle Grill Rounds Out Record DOH'ing Week [~E~]
· DOH Chronicles: Mice Droppings Found in Veniero's Chocolate [~E~]
The Week in Eater: Veniero's DOH'ed, Sparky's Shuttered, Ikea Sneak Peek, and More!
It's time for the Week in Eater, where we review some of the week's most newsworthy stories.
This week's stories: DOH Chronicles; Mice Droppings Found in Veniero's Chocolate, Sparky's Shuttered, Andrew Carmellini Discusses Future Projects, Eater Sneak Peek: Red Hook's Ikea, Song 7.2 Opens in Under Five Days!, Eater Inside: Savarona, and The Gatekeeper: The Stanton Social's Abbi Miller.
DOH Chronicles: Miracle Grill Rounds Out Record DOH'ing Week
Emphasis on Mental
West Village: Man, the DOH does not mess around. Sparky's, Veniero's, and now the West Village's Miracle Grill. A tipster writes in: "Some friends were eating there on Wednesday night and while they were there, the closing signs went up…health department style." And the story is confirmed with a spot check. Let's hope the DOH doesn't shutter them for good a la Sparky's, as it was hard enough when the East Village to lost its branch. Perhaps it depends on whether the closure was due to vermin or a a lack of sinks.
· DOH Chronicles: La Vela [~E~]
· DOH Chronicles: Mice Droppings Found in Veneiro's Chocolate [~E~]
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