Update: Health Department Report On Closing of Popular Restaurant, Giovanni's

Last week we reported one of the most popular restaurants in the area, Giovanni's, had been closed by the Department of Health.  While on site, I asked several managers what was the reason that they were closed down and their answers ranged from, "...something broke in the kitchen" to "There is a gas leak and we got shut down."  The real reason is what can only be described as a gross lack of sanitary conditions in such a popular restaurant.  


According to New York City's Department of Health website the following violations were present at the time of inspection resulting in a whopping 78 violation points which resulted in the closing of Giovanni's:
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Violations from 08/12/2010 Inspection

Tip! "Critical" violations are displayed in red.

Violation points: 78 Establishment Closed by DOHMH. Violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed. Sanitary Violations 1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation. 2) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations. 3) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan. 4) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. 5) Live roaches present in facility's food and/or non-food areas. 6) 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. 7) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service. 8) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. 9) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist. 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. 11) Other general violation. Administrative Violations 1) Manufacture of frozen dessert not authorized on Food Service Establishment permit. ======================= As you can clearly see from the above excerpt straight from NYC's DOHMH website, it was clearly not a "gas leak" as reported by one of the unidentified managers.   Clean your act up, Giovanni's!  I wonder what Carmen Arroyo and other local elected officials who are constantly seen eating there think about this???