Devi Fails NYC Health Dept Inspection

Dévi , the highly acclaimed Indian restaurant in New York City, has failed an inspection conducted by the New York City Department of Health on November 15, 2007 after receiving 31 Violation Points.

Co-chefs Suvir Saran and Hemant Mathur are the new owners of Dévi, which reopened on October 22, 2007 after closing on August 27, 2007.

To pass the NYC Health Department inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 Violation Points or less.

Since Dévi received 31 Violation Points, another inspection is required to assure that violations have been corrected and the restaurant adequately complies with regulations.

According to the NYC Department of Health inspection report of 11/15/2007, violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Sanitary Violations observed at Dévi:

1.) Lighting inadequate. Bulb not shielded or shatterproof.
2.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
3.) Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
4.) Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding.
5.) Cold food held above 41°F (smoked fish above 38°F) except during necessary preparation.

The NYC Department of Health said a Notice of Violation was not issued as a result of this inspection and that the violation point total received by Dévi is above the average violation point total of 14, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

Last month, the Dévi folks boasted upon the reopening of the restaurant:

Now entirely in the hands of this talented duo, the 75-seat Dévi, which retained its Michelin one-star rating for 2008, continues to celebrate the spirit of the Indian home, recreating authentic regional dishes to be enjoyed in a warm, sumptuous setting.

Now, if only Dévi would stop tooting its horn and learn to keep its restaurant clean enough to pass NYC Health Department inspection, we’d feel a lot better about eating there.