Thai Nam, a restaurant on Amsterdam Avenue between 80th Street and 81st Street that has been open less than a year, was closed this week by the Department of Health for health violations.
There aren’t many well-loved Thai spots on the Upper West Side (Land Thai Kitchen being the one glowing exception I can think of), and the arrival of a new restaurant in place of Indian restaurant Tamarind last June was greeted with a good deal of excitement.
But so far, Thai Nam has not impressed the Thai-hungry masses. The yelp reviews range from bad to worse: the place gets 1.5 stars and elicits comments like this: “Food was terrible, seemingly not based on actual recipes, but rather ‘stir-fried’ to be merely cooked and thrown together” and “It wasn’t tragically bad, just disappointing. Although I did almost die afterwards, but I don’t know that it was related.”
In its recent health inspection, Thai Nam racked up 73 violation points (more than 28 points results in a C grade and elevated scrutiny), after accumulating 52 points in September. Check out the details below (critical violations in red):
Sanitary Violations
1) Cold food item held above 41º F (smoked fish and reduced oxygen packaged foods above 38 ºF) except during necessary preparation.
2) Food Protection Certificate not held by supervisor of food operations.
3) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
4) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
5) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6) Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
7) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
8 ) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
For other recent health violation stories, click here.
