Mon dieu, is Indian Taj a restaurant or Satan’s hovel?

This Jackson Heights, NY restaurant not only failed the New York City Department of Health inspection after amassing a whopping 89 violation points but also notched up some weird violations.

Man, one of the violation points was for Interference with or obstruction of the duties of an officer of the Department.

Interfering or obstructing the Health Dept officer?

We’ve never heard of this kinda nonsense before. What were these Indian Taj bozos thinking of achieving with such bizarre behavior.

Folks, the lengthy list of sanitary violations at Indian Taj makes for depressing reading.

For instance, food at Indian Taj in Jackson Heights, New York, is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service, says the NYC Health Dept. after inspecting this Indian restaurant on February 08, 2010.

Further, food contact surface is not properly maintained, or not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred, according to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of February 08, 2010.

By the way, the NYC health Dept. notes that wiping cloths at Indian Taj are dirty or not stored in sanitizing solution.

Ugh.

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

Since Indian Taj restaurant (37-25 on 74 Street, Jackson Heights, NY)  received a massive 89 Violation Points in its February 8, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection, it obviously failed the inspection.

Sanitary Violations observed at Indian Taj, Jackson Heights during the February 08, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Food contact surface not properly maintained.
3.) Canned food product observed severely dented.
4.) Interference with or obstruction of the duties of an officer of the Department.
5.) HACCP plan not approved and/ or approved plan not on premises.
6.) Wiping cloths dirty or not stored in sanitizing solution
7.) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
8.) Food contact surface not properly maintained, or not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Continue Reading…

Folks, if you are planning on a meal at Dhaba Indian restaurant, a serial hygiene offender, you might want to read the New York City Health Department inspection reports before your visit. 

The NYC Health Dept. has repeatedly brought up hygiene issues at this restaurant, which failed the city inspection twice last year!

In its latest inspection of this Manhattan Indian restaurant (on February 19, 2010), the NYC Health Dept. says personal hygiene is inadequate, clean outer garments and effective hair restraint is not worn at Dhaba NYC.

According to the NYC Health Dept inspection report of February 19, 2010 sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil is improperly used or stored at Dhaba NYC located on Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill area.

Dhaba located at 108 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan received 12 Violation points in its February 19, 2010 inspection and passed the NYC Health Dept. inspection.

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

Sanitary Violations observed at Dhaba, NYC during the February 19, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained. Continue Reading…

Chennai Indian Bistro located at 1663, First Avenue, NYC not only serves spoiled samosas to unsuspecting diners (if you go by our dining experience) but is also a dirty Indian restaurant as per the recent NYC Health Department Inspection Report.

The January 14, 2010 New York City Health Department Inspection report is a dark stain on Channai Indian restaurant.

The inspection points to evidence of, or live rats in facility’s food and/ or non-food areas and harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist.

Further, food at Channai Indian restaurant is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

That is not all folks.

Chennai Indian Bistro has other hygiene issues as well.

Personal hygiene at Channai NYC Indian restaurant is inadequate, clean outer garments and effective hair restraint is not worn according to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of January 14, 2010.

Chennai Indian restaurant located at 1663, First Avenue in Manhattan received a whopping 48 Violation Points in its January 14, 2010 inspection and failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection.

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

Sanitary Violations observed at Channai during the January 14, 2010 NYC Health Dept. inspection:

1.) Immersion basket not provided, used or of incorrect size. Incorrect manual washing technique used. Test kit and thermometer not provided or used. Improper utensil drying practices used.
2.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
3.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist.
4.) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
5.) Personal hygiene inadequate. Clean outer garments, effective hair restraint not worn.
6.) Evidence of, or live rats in facility’s food and/ or non-food areas. Continue Reading…

Folks, we’ve said this a million times.

Indian restaurants run by our desis in the U.S. are obscenely filthy, more like public toilets in India.

Now one of these shit-holes has earned the dubious distinction of being forcibly closed by the authorities.

The New York City Health Department recently closed Madras Mahal on Lexington Avenue (Murray Hill) in Manhattan after finding serious sanitary violations at this Indian vegetarian restaurant.

Serial Hygiene Offender: Stay Away

Madras Mahal located at 104 Lexington Avenue failed two inspections conducted by the New York City Health Department in a row – the first conducted on December 29, 2009 (31 violation points) and the second on February 9, 2010 (61 violation points).

Here are some of the violations at Madras Mahal found in the February 9 inspection by the NYC health inspectors: Continue Reading..

Update:
Madras Mahal was reopened by New York City Health Department after it passed the NYC Health inspection of February 19, 2010 by receiving 0 Violation Points.

Folks, if we’ve said it once we’ve said it a thousand times.

NYC Indian restaurants are dirty, pay scant regard to hygiene and routinely fail the NYC Health Department inspections.

Take for instance Sukhadia Gokul.

This vegetarian Indian restaurant on W.45th St has yet again failed the recent NYC Health Department inspection (on November 17, 2009).

That makes it three NYC health inspection failures for Sukhadia in 2009.

A disgrace, if you ask us.

Sukhadia suffers from personal hygiene, mice, vermin and pesticide issues among other things, according to the November 17, 2009 health inspection report of the the New York City Department of Health.

Inadequate Personal Hygiene
Personal hygiene at Sukhadia Gokul NYC Indian restaurant in midtown Manhattan is inadequate and  clean outer garments and effective hair restraint are not worn, says the New York City Department of Health.

Also, food contact surface at Sukhadia Gokul is not properly maintained, or not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity, according to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report.

Three Health Inspection Failures in 2009

Sukhadia Gokul has other hygiene problems as well, according to NYC Health Dept. inspection report.

For instance, Sukhadia Gokul facility is not vermin proof, harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist and there is evidence of, or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Yeeks!

Sukhadia Gokul located at 17 W.45th St of Manhattan received a whopping 50 Violation Points in its November 17, 2009 inspection and failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection.

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

Sanitary Violations observed at Sukhadia Gokul during the November 17, 2009 NYC Health Dept. inspection:

1.) Lighting inadequate. Bulb not shielded or shatterproof.
2.) Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
3.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist.
4.) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
5.) Food contact surface not properly maintained, or not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
6.) Personal hygiene inadequate. Clean outer garments, effective hair restraint not worn. Continue Reading…

Oh no, we’re not talking of Michael ‘Sivakumar’ Jackson’s son Surya.

Folks, we’re talking about Surya, the dirty downtown Manhattan Indian restaurant.

God, one of the crappiest NYC Indian restaurants we’ve had the misfortune to dine at.

Is it an irony or what that Shani, the trouble-giving son of Surya, the Sun God, in Hindu mythology, has got a vice-like grip on Surya, the NYC restaurant and refuses to let go.

First, Surya located at 302 Bleecker St in Manhattan failed New York City Health Department’s restaurant inspection of November 12, 2009 by receiving 30 Violation Points.

Now, nearly two months later Surya again failed the the NYC Health Dept. inspection (of January 5, 2010) by receiving 46 violation points – a considerable deterioration over the earlier failed inspection.

According to the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of January 5, 2010, Surya restaurant facility is not not vermin proof, has evidence of, or live mice in facility’s food and/or non-food areas and food protection certificate is not held by supervisor of food operations.

That’s not all, guys.

The NYC Health Dept’s inspection report of January 5, 2010 also indicated that the toilet facility at Surya NYC is not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self closing door, and hand washing facility is not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room.

How disgusting!

This is the third time Surya has failed the NYC Health inspection in the last 14 months (previous failures on November 12, 2009 and November 20, 2008).

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

Surya failed the NYC Health Dept inspection of January 5, 2010 by receiving 46 violation points.

Sanitary Violations observed at Surya during the January 5, 2010 inspection:

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.) Toilet facility not maintained and provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle and self-closing door. Continue Reading…

Dirty, dirty, dirty.

Darbar Grill in NYC is a dirty restaurant badly lacking in hygiene.

Folks, if you are planning on a meal at Darbar Grill Indian restaurant (157 East 55th St in Midtown East Manhattan ) you must read this post completely. 

Food at Darbar Grill is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service, says the New York City Department of Health after inspecting this Indian restaurant on December 3, 2009.

Also, milk or milk product at Darbar Grill is undated, improperly dated or expired.

Further, the NYC Health Dept. inspection report of December 3, 2009 also noted that Darbar Grill Indian restaurant is not vermin proof, harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist; there is evidence of, or live mice in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas and personal hygiene is inadequate, clean outer garments and effective hair restraint is not worn.

Darbar Grill Indian restaurant in Midtown East Manhattan received a whopping 60 Violation Points and failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection of December 3, 2009.

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

Sanitary Violations observed at Darbar Grill during the December 3, 2009 inspection:

1.) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained.
2.) Milk or milk product undated, improperly dated or expired. Continue Reading…

The last few times we spoke to NYC Indian restaurateur Satinder Sharma, a.k.a. Sati the man seemed to delight in badmouthing his rival desi restaurateur, the Bollywood star Shiva Natarajan (crocodile in the pond, very insecure, bad execution of Dhaba, anger management issues, a whiner et al were some of the juicy epithets Sati hurled at Shiva) or bragging about how much $$ he’d spent on cleaning up the basement of his flagship Brick Lane Curry House Indian restaurant on E.6th St in New York City or blowing his own trumpet (‘what I’m doing is right‘).

Oh wait, on one occasion the fella also went on and on ad nauseum ad infinitum about his obsession with hygiene at his restaurants, a fixation Sati proudly claimed to have picked up from his early days working on a cruise ship.

Folks, like a lot of desis this Sati fella is big on blah blah blah but seems low on action.

You see the New York City Health Department has recently put out a nasty report on Sati’s Brick Lane Curry Indian restaurant. Continue Reading..

Hygiene, it seems, is not a word found in desi restaurateur Nandita Khanna’s lexicon.

Nandita’s high-end Utsav Indian restaurant in New York City continues to be plagued by serious hygiene issues.

A recent NYC Health Dept inspection of Utsav (11/30/2009) brought up sewage disposal, adulterated food, live mice and vermin issues.

Yeeks.

Raw, cooked or prepared food at Utsav is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated and/ or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan, says the NYC Health Dept. after conducting an inspection of this Indian restaurant on November 30, 2009.

Also, Utsav Festive India restaurant facility is not vermin proof, harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist and there is evidence of, or live mice in facility’s food and/ or non-food areas, according to the NYC Health Dept. Continue Reading..

Food at Surya on Bleeker St in New York City is not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service, says the New York City Department of Health after inspecting the restaurant on November 12, 2009.

Further, the NYC Health Dept. also found that Surya Indian restaurant located in down town Manhattan is not vermin proof, harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist and there is evidence of, or live mice in the facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Surya located at 302 Bleecker St in Manhattan received 30 Violation Points and failed the NYC Health Dept. inspection of November 12, 2009.

This is the second time Surya has failed the NYC Health inspection in a span of 12 months (previous failure on November 20, 2008). Continue Reading…