NYIndia.us Blog

Why, Oh Why?

Why don’t Kosher Indian vegetarian restaurants in NYC like Bhojan keep their premises clean?

For the second time in less than five months, the NYC Health Department has unearthed evidence of Live roaches in Bhojan’s food and/or non-food areas.

Disgusting!

Folks, if we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a million times – Bhojan on Lexington Avenue is a notoriously unhygienic NYC Indian restaurant, often faring poorly in NYC Health Department inspections.

Live roaches is not the only critical violation at Bhojan uncovered by the NYC Health Department in its inspection of this Lexington Avenue Indian restaurant on November 3, 2011.

Here are some of the other sanitary violations (critical violations in Red) uncovered by the NYC Health Dept during its inspection of the the serial hygiene offender Bhojan:

* Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.

* Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.

* Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.

* Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

Bhojan on Lexington Ave ended up with 21 violation points.

Dhaba goes from Shameful C to A

Meanwhile, Bhojan’s sister restaurant and Lexington Avenue neighbor Dhaba, which had a C-grade until recently, has managed to get the coveted A grade following an inspection on November 3, 2011.

Dhaba scored 10 violation points in the November 3 NYC Health Department inspection.

Restaurant diners across major American cities have stated their preference for eating at hygienic restaurants.

According to a recent survey by restaurant guide Zagat, majority of diners in key U.S. cities said health department letter grades influence their dining decisions.

In the survey, 81% of diners nationwide said they were in favor of restaurants being required to post their health department letter grades.

Also, most diners said they’d eat only at restaurants that earn a B or better grade.

In New York City, 88% of restaurant diners said they’d eat only at restaurants with a B grade or better.

The numbers are similar for other major American cities like San Francisco (84% ) and Los Angeles (92%).

Zagat co-founder and co-chair Tim Zagat said:

Our surveyors’ support for the display of health department letter grades has grown as fast as support for the smoking bans a few years ago. By requiring restaurants to maintain sanitary environments, these laws are benefitting the overall safety of the consumer.

Indian restaurants in New York City are notoriously unhygienic with Live Roaches, Evidence of Mice and Poor Personal Hygiene among their long list of hygiene transgressions.