Another Upper East Side restaurant has been shut down by the New York City Department of Health over unsanitary conditions inside the eatery, however, you wouldn’t know it simply by walking past Green Bean Cafe on York Avenue. That’s because the someone has rolled down the metal security shutters, blocking the infamous bright yellow closure order from being seen by the public.
Though we can’t see it, behind the roll down gate at Green Bean Cafe, located at 1413 York Avenue near East 75th Street, is the notice reading “Closed by Order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene.”
We know that because a Health Department inspector ordered the restaurant to be closed on Valentine’s Day, February 14th, after finding half a dozen sanitary infractions, most of them critical, totaling 54 violation points.
While there is no point threshold for a restaurant closure by the Health Department, violations identified by the inspector that can’t be immediately corrected require a shut down.
Evidence of mice inside the establishment, cross-contamination concerns and hot foods kept at dangerously low temperatures were all noted by the inspector, who also says dirty wiping cloths were being used by staff.
Inadequate ventilation inside the restaurant, as well as conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests were also noted during Tuesday’s inspection.
During a previous inspection last July, the first for Green Bean Cafe in more than two years due to delays caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, ten violations were recorded, eight of them critical, accounting for a whopping 145 violation points.
That time around the inspector noted the presence filth flies and mice, cross-contamination, sewage contamination, in addition to cold foods kept dangerously warm and hot foods kept dangerously cool.
A longtime breakfast and lunch spot with four stars on Yelp, Green Bean Cafe offers a wide variety of organic juices and smoothies in addition to coffee and pastries, eggs and potatoes, vegan sandwiches, wraps and salads.
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Larger entrees, including Pan Crusted Seitan with sweet potatoes, steamed greens and mushroom gravy and soba noodles cooked with peanuts, zucchini, broccoli and scallions, are also available.
Green Bean Cafe management could not beach reached by Upper East Site for comment.
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