A busy Upper East Side sushi restaurant ordered closed by the New York City Health Department, after an inspection uncovered everything from rodent and insect infestations to contamination concerns, has opened back up for business, slinging tuna rolls and tempura without permission from the City, Upper East Site has confirmed.
Sushi Para, located at 1457 Third Avenue, between East 82nd and 83rd Streets, was forced to shut down last Monday, March 13th, after racking up a total of 58 violations points spread across ten sanitary infractions, most of them critical.
However, on Friday, March 17th, instead of finding a dark storefront, Upper East Site discovered staff inside the Japanese restaurant hurriedly expediting orders.
During the lunch rush, delivery workers streamed in and out of the front door — which was missing the mandatory bright yellow notice posted by the Health Department inspector and meant to warn customers of the unsanitary conditions.
ALSO READ | UES Speakeasy Owner Chases Violent Serial Thief into East Harlem
According to the inspection report, rats and mice were found inside Sushi Para, as well as live roaches and filth flies associated with sewage or garbage. The inspector notes the restaurant doesn’t even have a contract with a pest control company and had no records of exterminations on site, as required by law.
Aside from the critter concerns, the inspector also found that hot foods were being kept at dangerously low temperatures, which runs the risk of getting customers sick, in addition to food and equipment not being protected from potential sources of contamination.
Sushi Para employees were also found to be wearing soiled clothes that could contaminate food and even not using effective hairnets.
Restaurants are prohibited from removing, covering or otherwise hiding the bright yellow closure order during their shut down — as some restaurants have tried. However, it is not clear where the one stuck to Sushi Para has gone.
ALSO READ | Neil’s Coffee Shop Evicted From Longtime Upper East Side Location by City Marshal
The Department of Health confirmed to Upper East Site on Monday afternoon that the restaurant is not yet allowed to remove the notice or be open and serving customers, as it has not been re-inspected.
When reached by phone, an employee at Sushi Para told Upper East Site the restaurant had been cleaned and they contacted the Health Department for a follow up inspection.
Update 3/20: Following Upper East Site‘s inquiry to the NYC Health Department, another inspector was dispatched to Sushi Para, which was ordered closed a second time. A bright yellow notice now stuck to the front door is dated Monday, March 20th, and reads “Closed by order of the Commissioner of Health and Mental Hygiene.”
