Green Kitchen on First Avenue was closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site
Green Kitchen on First Avenue was closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site

Green Kitchen Closed by the NYC Health Department over Critical Violations

MANHATTAN – The luck of the Irish couldn’t help Green Kitchen on St. Patrick’s Day, when inspectors from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene visited the diner’s location on First Avenue — shutting the restaurant down that day over a number of violations, many of them critical.

Evidence of rats and live roaches were found inside the restaurant, located at the corner of East 77th Street, according Health Department inspection data from Thursday, March 17th— the day Green Kitchen was closed down.

“Closed,” the bright yellow notice reads in large black all-capital letters. “by order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene.”

Green Kitchen on First Avenue closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site
Green Kitchen on First Avenue was closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site

Several groups of people who stopped by the restaurant on Sunday afternoon did a double-take when they saw the Health Department’s order. One family could be heard saying “Ewwww” in unison from across the street.

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“It does not give you much confidence, does it?” another disappointed would-be customer told Upper East Site after arriving at the diner for lunch and seeing the notice.

“We’ll go somewhere else!” she shouted to an approaching friend.

Green Kitchen on First Avenue closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site
Green Kitchen on First Avenue was closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site

The DOHMH inspector found a total of five critical violations— including violations for cold food being held at temperatures that are too warm, food surfaces not getting cleaned or sanitized properly and cross-contamination of raw and cooked foods. 

Green Kitchen’s First Avenue location was last inspected more than two years ago, at that time the restaurant passed with flying-colors, receiving an ‘A’ rating on just 6 violation points. 

Green Kitchen on First Avenue was closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site
Green Kitchen on First Avenue was closed by the NYC Health Department/Upper East Site

Last Thursday’s inspection of the diner received a total of 55 points— significantly fewer than the 65 points that forced the closure of Neil’s Coffee Shop on Lexington Avenue earlier this month. 

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Neil’s reopened nine days later on March 10th, after a second inspection revealed only one non-critical violation and the diner was issued a ‘Grade Pending’ rating.

In response to an inquiry from Upper East Site on Sunday, Green Kitchen said “our 77th street location is temporarily closed until Monday or Tuesday, as we are making repairs to our kitchen.”

Meantime, Green Kitchen’s other location at the corner of East 84th Street and Second Avenue is currently open and passed its last inspection by the Health Department on February 28th. 

Update: Green Kitchen passed a second inspection by the NYC Health Department on March 23 and reopened to customers shortly thereafter. The restaurant currently holds Grade Pending designation.

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