The Pierre Hotel, a major NYC landmark, has reopened recently after a $100 million renovation by its Indian owners, Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces.

Located near Central Park at 5th Avenue and 61 St, the Pierre offers 189 redesigned residential-style guest rooms, including 49 suites.

Pierre, New York City
(Pix: Taj Hotels web site)

Since we have more time than we know what to do with, we played around with booking a Grand 1-Bdrm Suite at the Pierre for September 24 for just one night.

Folks, the rack rate shown us was $13,772.30 (no typo here) for one night.

Cheap, na? Continue Reading…

Bombay Grill Indian restaurant on Lexington Avenue in New York City has evidence of mice or live mice, flying insects or live flying insects in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas, says the New York City Department of Health after inspecting this Indian restaurant on January 24, 2008.

Bombay Grill received 22 Violation Points and passed the NYC Health Dept’s January 24, 2008 inspection.

Though an improvement over the 46 Violation Points in the previous inspection of December 31, 2007, Bombay Grill’s recent performance is still above the average violation point total of 14 for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

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

According to the NYC Department of Health inspection report of Bombay Grill on 1/24/2008, violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Sanitary Violations observed at Bombay Grill:

1.) Immersion basket not provided, used or of incorrect size. Incorrect manual technique. Test kit and thermometer not provided or used. Improper drying practices.
2.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
3.) Toilet facility not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door.
4.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
5.) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6.) Evidence of flying insects or live flying insects present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
7.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

The NYC Department of Health said a Notice of Violation was not issued as a result of this inspection.

Bombay Grill Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points

12/31/2007 – 46
11/20/2006 – 18

Pongal is the fourth Indian restaurant on Lexington Ave in the Curry Hill area to have failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection in recent months.

Pongal Indian Cuisine restaurant on Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill of New York City is not vermin proof and there is evidence of mice or live mice in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas, says the New York City Department of Health after it inspected the restaurant on February 20, 2008.

Pongal Indian Cuisine restaurant on Lexington Avenue received 38 Violation Points, a significant deterioration over the 27 and zero Violation Points in the previous inspections of November 13, 2007 and November 28, 2006 respectively.

To pass the NYC inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 violation points or less.

According to the NYC Department of Health inspection report of 2/20/2008, violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Sanitary Violations observed at Pongal Indian Cuisine on Lexington Ave, Manhattan:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
3.) Garbage Continue Reading…

After failing the last New York City Department of Health inspection, Devi restaurant has done better in the latest inspection on January 15, 2008.

In the latest inspection by NYC Health Department, Devi received 18 violation points compared to the 31 violation points it received on November 15, 2007.

A NYC restaurant needs a score of 27 or less to pass the NYC Health Dept inspection.

Although an improvement over its previous bad performance, Devi’s latest violation points are still above the average violation point total of 14, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

According to the NYC Department of Health inspection report of 1/15/2008, violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Sanitary Violations observed at Devi:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
3.) Cold food held above 41°F (smoked fish above 38°F) except during necessary preparation.

The NYC Health Department said a Notice of Violation was not issued as a result of this inspection.

Devi Previous NYC Inspection Reports

Date | Violation Points

11/15/2007 – 31

Sitar Indian Cuisine in Midtown West Manhattan has failed a restaurant inspection conducted by the New York City Department of Health for the second time.

Sitar Indian Cuisine in New York City failed the restaurant inspection conducted by the New York City Department of Health on January 7, 2008 after receiving 57 violation points.

Sitar Indian Cuisine located at 58 West 56 St in Manhattan failed an earlier inspection conducted by NYC Health Dept on November 11, 2007 after receiving 49 violation points.

To pass the NYC Health Dept inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 violation points or less.

Sanitary Violations observed on January 7, 2008 at Sitar Indian Cuisine are:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Toilet facility not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door.
3.) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
4.) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5.) Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
6.) Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of potentially hazardous foods during cooking, cooling, reheating and holding.
7.) Cold food held above 41°F (smoked fish above 38°F) except during necessary preparation.
8.) Hot food not held at or above 140°F.

The NYC Department of Health said that Sitar Indian Cuisine requires compliance inspection.

A Notice of Violation, however, was not issued as a result of this inspection but the Violation Point total received by Sitar Indian Cuisine is above the average violation point total of 14, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

Sitar Indian Cuisine Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points

11/21/2007 – 49

If you plan on eating out at an Indian restaurant in New York City, Queens or Long Island, you might want to check out our comprehensive Indian Restaurant Reviews section.

Our Indian restaurant reviews cover North Indian, South Indian, Indian-Chinese, Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian.

Whether you’re heading to Downtown, Mid-town, Upper West Side, Upper East, Flushing, Jackson Heights or Hicksville, we’ve got em all covered.

You may also want to take a peek at some of the Indian Restaurant Inspection Reports we’ve uncovered just for you.

Give our Indian Restaurant Reviews a spin and hey, even if you don’t agree with us the reviews still make for interesting reading.

After failing the last two New York City Department of Health inspections, Jewel of India restaurant has fared better in the latest inspection on November 8, 2007.

In the latest inspection by NYC Health Department, Jewel of India received 22 violation points compared to the 40 violation points it received in October 2007 and 44 violation points it got in September 2007.

A NYC restaurant needs a score of 27 or less to pass the NYC Health Dept inspection.

Although an improvement over its previous pathetic performance, Jewel of India’s recent showing is still above Continue Reading…

Today, tomorrow, next week, the week after, privileged Wall Street insiders who are considering breaking the law will have to ask themselves one important question: Is law enforcement listening?

- Preet Bharara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York on October 16, 2009 after filing insider trading complaints against several individuals including three desis.

Saravanaas  (Shravanaas) located on Lexington Ave in Curry Hill area is still not vermin proof, still has evidence of flying insects or live flying insects and evidence of mice or live mice present in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas, says the New York City Department of Health after it inspected the restaurant on September 30, 2008.

Saravanaas Indian restaurant on Lexington Avenue of Manhattan received 12 Violation Points in the New York City Health Dept. inspection of September 30, 2008.

To pass the NYC Health Dept. inspection, a restaurant must receive 27 violation points or less. Saravanaas passed the NYC Health Dept inspection of September 30, 2008 by receiving 12 violation points.

Sanitary Violations observed at Saravanaas Indian restaurant during the September 30, 2008 inspection:

1.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
2.) Evidence of flying insects or live flying insects present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
3.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

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 Saravanaas is below the average violation point total of 15, for all NYC restaurants on their most recent inspection.

Saravanaas Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points

9/10/2008   – 33
4/28/2008  -  36
12/27/2006 – 19
09/15/2005 – 17

Related Stories:
Saravanaas Fails NYC Health Inspection, Again
Saravanaas Fails NYC Health Dept Inspection
Saravanaas Restaurant Review

Gandhi Indian restaurant located at 345 East 6th St, Manhattan scored a hatrick with New York City Health Department Inspection on January 22, 2008 by receiving 0 Violation Points for the third time in a row.

Gandhi Indian restaurant received 0 Violation Points in the January 8, 2008 and December 26, 2007 inspections conducted by NYC Health Dept.

The consistent 0 Violation Points record marks a significant improvement over some of the previous inspection reports when it received 83 Violation Points (June 27, 2007) and failed the NYC Health Dept inspection.

Gandhi – Previous NYC Inspection Reports:

Date | Violation Points
01/08/2008 – 0
12/26/2007 – 0
07/11/2007 – 4
07/10/2007 – 30
07/06/2007 – 16
06/27/2007 – 83
01/29/2005 – 18