Midtown Lunch

A few weeks ago it was the former newsstand on 6th Ave., and now (according to a post in the forums by Lunch’er “copyboy”)  Indus Express is the latest Indian joint to be closed by the Department of Health (on 48th btw. 5+6th). If you want to find them on the DOH website, they’re still [...]

Lunch’er Carolyn sent in this terrible news yesterday: “As I was on my way to pick up my beloved samosa chat, I found that Indian Newsstand on 6th between 37+38th was shuttered! I didn’t see any notices, but I just thought I would spread the word. Also, just so the people know, they [...]

It looks like Variety Cafe (the giant generic Midtown Deli on 48th btw. 5+6th) has been closed by the department of health for the second time in 3 years. According to somebody on the scene they hung a sign in the window claiming the infractions were minor (like “leaving the cap off the orange juice”.) [...]

via Twitter: “Rock Center Dunkins and Booster Juice got DOH’ed for expired permits. I suspect Starbucks called it in.” Update: from Blondie and Brownie “The Dunkin is back up and running. By the afternoon they were square with the DOH.”  Praise jeebus!

The Roast Pork from Cafe Cello (on 45th btw. 5+6th)
I was pretty sure that you could only get swine flu from hanging out with live pigs, or going to school in Queens- but now the internets have me worried that you can get it from eating pork! Thinking that maybe this is why Cafe [...]

My heart almost exploded on Friday afternoon as I walked towards a shuttered Cafe Cello (on 46th btw. 5+6th.)  It might be the first time in Midtown Lunch history where I was actually *hoping* to see a DOH sticker.  Dealing with the alternative scenario (the place shutting down entirely) would have been too much for [...]

“Thought I’d let you know that Delmonico’s deli at 41st and Lex is closed for cleanup today. Seems they had a gas explosion and were closed by the Health Dept., according to a worker who answered the phone there.” Thanks to Lunch’er Howard for the tip.

I got this terrifying email re: Tehuitzingo, the Mexican bodega on 10th Ave. btw. 47+48th with the little taco window in the back:
“My husband went into Tehuitzingo Deli last week and spoke with the owner. The landlord has doubled his rent! He’s trying to hold on but I’m afraid the place may have to [...]

It’s been a bad few weeks for Midtown burgers. First Five Guys gets closed down for a month by a fire, and now this. The Goodburger on 45th btw. 5+6th has been closed by the Department of Health due to a “clerical error on their permit”. (This is probably true, because it [...]

There was kind of a coincidental convergence of Thai food news yesterday, much of it centered around Topaz on 56th btw. 6+7th.   It started with this comment, copied from the Department of Health Website:
TOPAZ THAI RESTAURANT
Violation points: 101
Inspection Date: 12/22/2008
Violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.
Sanitary Violations
1.) Other [...]