MANHATTAN – In what’s become a concerning trend on the Upper East Side, another popular restaurant has been shut down by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene after receiving its first inspection since before Covid-19 pandemic began. Noche de Margaritas has four stars on Yelp and even one recent review noted the Mexican restaurant was clean, however, inspectors say they found multiple critical violations.
Located at 1726 Second Avenue between East 89th and 90th Streets, Noche de Margaritas is family-owned and serves traditional Mexican dishes.
Pozole corn soup, burritos, deep fried chimichangas and sizzling fajitas are all on the menu, as well as what the restaurant’s website describes as “the best frozen margaritas”— which come in a baker’s dozen of fruity flavors including passion fruit, mango, kiwi and guava.
Outside Noche de Margaritas on Tuesday, a bright yellow flier with large black all-capital letters was stuck to the glass front door.
“Closed by order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene,” the notice dated May 31st reads.
ALSO READ | T Bar Set to Make Triumphant Return to the Upper East Side
During a Health Department inspection on Memorial Day, Noche de Margaritas racked up a total of four violations, three of them critical, accounting for forty four violation points.
Far fewer than other recent closures— such as the 105 points racked up last month by Ravagh Persian Grill or the 67 points by Bilao— but enough for the Health Department to close the establishment until the violations are fixed.
On Monday, DOHMH inspector said there was evidence of mice or live mice in the restaurant itself, noting that the facility is not vermin proof and could be attracting rodents.
ALSO READ | Tre Otto Italian Restaurant Closes Permanently After 12 Years
Noche de Margaritas was also cited for food going unprotected from sources of contamination, and having an improper or unapproved sewage disposal system.
In a review dated May 7th, a little more than three weeks before the inspection, Elite Yelp user Sierra R. said “the service was honestly wonderful and the restaurant was clean.”
Prior to the May 31st inspection, the Mexican restaurant had not been inspected in nearly two years, since February 19, 2020— a common theme among recent restaurants recently closed by the health department.
Upper East Site reached out to Noche de Margaritas for comment on the closure, but we did not hear back by time of publication. We’ll update the article accordingly.
For updates around the clock, follow us on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook
