Something is rotten with the state of Indian restaurants on Lexington Avenue.

Barely a few weeks after Dhaba was ordered closed, its neighbor Pongal is now bearing the brunt of the New York City Health Department fury over poor hygiene.

On May 15, 2012 the NYC Health Department ordered Pongal closed following an inspection.

NYC Closes Dirty Pongal – 69 Violation Points

Pongal – High Violation Points

Pongal NYC received a whopping 69 Hygiene Violation Points in its May 15, 2012 NYC health inspection with some pretty horrific violations.

Evidence of Mice and Other Violations

While closing Pongal Lexington Ave, the NYC Health Dept.’s inspection report cited following sanitary violations (Critical violations marked in red):

* Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
* Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.
* Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
* Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.
* Food worker does not use proper utensil to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment.
* Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
* Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
* Covered garbage receptacle not provided or inadequate, except that garbage receptacle may be uncovered during active use. Garbage storage area not properly constructed or maintained; grinder or compactor dirty.
* 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.
10) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

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Lexington Ave NYC Indian Restaurants

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Indians are notoriously dirty and filthy.

Where else but India can you find a few hundred million people shitting on the road, sidewalk, playground, beach, park, trains, buses and virtually any other place you can find.

And now these dirty Indians are exporting their filth to New York City.

Anjappar Chettinad South Indian Cuisine on Lexington Ave is the latest NYC Indian restaurant to inflict its FILTH on New Yorkers.

The two-months old restaurant has scored a disgraceful 88 Violation Points Score following a recent ungraded New York City Health Department inspection ( on April 25, 2012).

Anjappar Chettinad – Whoppping 88 Violation Points

Anjappar Chettinad which opened its doors for business in February 2012 had the following violations:

Ugly and Critical Hygiene Violations

Here are the ugly and critical (marked in red by the NYC Health Dept.) violations unearthed during the April 25, 2012 inspection:

* Tobacco use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area observed.

* Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.

* Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

* Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

* Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.

* Hot food item not held at or above 140º F.

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

* Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Other Hygiene Violations

Besides critical violations like evidence of mice etc, Anjappar Chettinad was also found to have following sanitary violations:

* Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
* Canned food product observed dented and not segregated from other consumable food items.
* Thawing procedures improper.
* Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Anjappar Chettinad Related Stories:
Anjappar Chettinad NYC Review – Middling Fare, Don’t Get Your Panties in a Twist

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Update: Dhaba Reopens After Fresh Inspection

The NYC Health Department has closed Bollywood actor Shiva Natarajan’s Dhaba Indian restaurant at 108 Lexington Ave following an inspection on April 3, 2012.

Dhaba scored 77 violation points in the inspection.

Read the details here.

Update: The NYC Health Department has authorized the reopening of Dhaba following a new inspection in which the restaurant scored 2 violation points.

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Three more NYC Indian restaurants have fallen.

Pricey Indian restaurant Devi NYC, takeout restaurant Tawa Tandoor (W.34th St) and crappy Indian restaurant Baluchi’s W 56th St are the latest NYC desi eateries to kiss the dust.

Devi NYC

Devi NYC on E 18th St in Manhattan was run jointly until a year ago by Suvir Saran and Hemant Mathur.

Then Hemant Mathur moved out of Devi and went on open Tulsi NYC.

Devi NYC’s web site has a notice that says:

Devi is Closed as of April 1, 2012.

Devi was a pricey Indian restaurant with $14.00 Tandoori Chicken, $18.00 Baingan, $28.00 Chicken Malabar, $32 Shrimp Biryani and $14 Kararee Okra sides.

No, we never had the good fortune or misfortune of dining at Devi.

Tawa Tandoor W 34th St

Tawa Tandoor located on W. 34th St in midtown Manhattan near Macy’s was primarily an Indian takeout joint.

Tawa Tandoor web site has a notice that says:

Sorry! We are Closed.

The irony with Tawa Tandoor is even a prime location and a focus on takeout could not save this Indian restaurant.

Baluchi’s W 56th St

Crappy Indian restaurant Baluchi’s on W 56th St in midtown Manhattan is another desi eatery that has shut its doors.

Baluchi’s W.56th St was a different kind of Indian restaurant.

You see, it refrained from offering All You Can Eat Lunch Buffet like a lot of Indian restaurants in NYC.

Instead it used to offer 50% off lunch specials.

Yes sir, we visited Baluchi’s outpost on W 56th St and found its food to be trashy accompanied by disgusting service and disgraceful tipping practices.

By the way, Benares now occupied the space of Baluchi’s.

Which NYC Indian restaurant is gonna bite the dust next?

Watch this space.

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Of the 141 Indian restaurants listed by the New York City Health Department in Manhattan, 78 received the coveted  ‘A’ grade.

Here is a list of some Indian restaurants that now proudly display the ‘A‘ Grade:

Agra Restaurant 807 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10065
Bombay’s 60 Pearl St New York, NY10004
Kashmir Restaurant 601 8 Ave, New York, NY 10018
Minar Indian Restaurant 138 West 46 St, New York, NY 10036
Swagat Indian Restaurant 205 West 29 St New York, NY 10001
Hampton Chutney Company 68 Prince St,New York, NY, 10012
Surya 302 Bleeker St ,New York, NY 10014
Sapphire Indian Cuisine 1845 Broadway New York, NY 10023
Bawarchi 1149 1 Ave New York, NY 10065
At Vermilion 480 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10017
Saravana Bhavan 413 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10024
Chola 232 East 58 St New York, NY 10022
Nirvana 346 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016
Junoon 27 West 24 St, New York, NY 10010
Haveli 100 Second Ave ,New York, NY 10003
Dawat 210 East 58 St, New York, NY 10022
Andaz1378 1 Ave, New York, NY 10021
Salaam Bombay 319 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10013
Taj Tribeca 18 Murray St, New York, NY 10007

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Saravanaa Bhavan Indian vegetarian restaurant on Lexington Ave has evidence of Mice in its food and/or non-food areas, according to a recent NYC inspection report.

How Disgusting.

Evidence of Mice, Potential Food Contamination

Saravanaa Bhavan has evidence of mice or live mice and its food is not protected from potential source of contamination, says the March 23, 2012 New York City Health Department inspection report.

BTW, both evidence of mice and potential food contamination are marked as critical violations and in red color.

* Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
* Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Saravanaa Bhavan Other Violations

Besides the evidence of mice, the NYC Health inspection report also cited other sanitary violations like facility not vermin proof et. al.

* Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
* Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.

Saravanaa Bhavan Violation Points

Saravanaa Bhavan received 19 Violation Points in its March 23, 2012 NYC health inspection and its grade is marked pending.

Saravanaa Bhavan Lexington Ave Related Stories

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Unhygienic, Mice Conditions Persist at Saravanaa Bhavan

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Delhi Heights Indian restaurant on 74th St in Jackson Heights has been reopened by the New York City Health Department following an inspection on March 28, 2012.

Delhi Heights – Reopened by NYC

Delhi Heights received 2 Violation Points in its March 28, 2012 NYC Health Dept. inspection.

Here is the list of Sanitary Violations cited in March 28, 2012 NYC health inspection report:

1) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

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Delhi Heights Jackon Heights – Mediocre Food, Lousy Service
NYC Closes Delhi Heights in Queens

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Delhi Heights Indian restaurant on 74th St in Jackson Heights has been closed by the New York City Health Department following an inspection on March 26, 2012.

Delhi Heights – Closed by NYC

While closing Delhi Heights, the NYC Health Dept.’s inspection report cited following sanitary violations (Critical violations in red color):

1) Sewage disposal system improper or unapproved.
2) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
3) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Delhi Heights Indian restaurant in Jackson Heights, NYC received 38 Violation Points in the March 26, 2012 NYC Health inspection.

Delhi Heights Related Stories

Delhi Heights Jackon Heights – Mediocre Food, Lousy Service

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Sigiri Sri Lankan restaurant at 91 First Avenue in East Village NYC has been has been reopened by the New York City Health Department following an inspection on March 23, 2012.

Sigiri East Village scored 14 Violation Points in the NYC Health Dept. inspection of March 23, 2012 and its hygiene Grade is Pending.

Sigiri East Village – Still has Evidence of Mice

The NYC Health Dept. had ordered Sigiri East Village to be closed on March 21, 2012 after an inspection in which the Sri Lankan restaurant scored 49 Violation Points.

But Sigiri East Village still has evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Here’s the complete list of Sanitary Violations observed at Sigiri during the March 23, 2012 NYC Health inspection (Critical violations in red color):

1) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
2) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
3) Food contact surface not properly maintained.
4) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Sigiri Related Stories

NYC Closes Sigiri in East Village

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average

Sigiri Sri Lankan restaurant at 91 First Avenue in East Village NYC has been closed by the New York City Health Department following a health inspection on March 21, 2012.

Sigiri received a high 49 Sanitary Violation Points in the March 21, 2012 health inspection.

Sigiri East Village – 49 Violation Points

Live Roaches, Evidence of Mice

According to the March 21, 2012 NYC health inspection report, Sigiri Sri Lankan restaurant has critical sanitary violations (marked in red color) such as:

Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.

Potential Food Contamination Issues

Besides the live roaches problem, the NYC Health Dept.’s March 21, 2012 inspection report on Sigiri also cites potential food contamination issues marked as critical and in red color.

Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan

Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.

Sigiri – Other Violations

Besides the live roaches, evidence of mice and potential food contamination issues, Sigiri Sri Lankan restaurant was also found to have other sanitary violations:

Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
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.
Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Benares NYC W 56th St - Below Average