Armenian restaurant Garden Bay Cafe (1788 Sheepshead Bay Road) has renovated its location and tossed up a new sign. According to a member of the family that owns the restaurant, they’ve also done some work on their menu by expanding the offerings. We hope that doesn’t mean they’ve removed classics like the blackened trout Village Voice gushed over. (UPDATE: Apparently the sign isn’t finished yet. It should be ready in about a week.)
Down the block, Ginger Rose Hair Design Studio (1804 Sheepshead Bay Road) has closed two thirds of its storefront operation for renovations. They’re still open for business and expect to finish the work in about a month.
We also just got word that Chop Stix Stir-Fry, Asian Noodle, Sushi, & Grill … err… Chop Stix (3790 Nostrand Avenue), formerly known as Peking Kitchen, got its hands on a liquor license and is now serving up sake and other booze.
Finally, it looks like Brand Z For Less (1805 Avenue U) got an extension to its lease. The sign that went up a few weeks ago saying “Must Vacate January 31st” now says “Must Vacate February 28th.”
Construction is ongoing on a new restaurant on Sheepshead Bay Road near Emmons Avenue. Across the street from El Greco and wedged between Assemblyman Cymbrowitz’s office and Garden Bay Cafe, the location was previously used by the Armenian cafe as an expansion of its restaurant and an outdoor seating area. So we got to thinking they were renovating. But a flustered employee confirmed that the construction is a new and different establishment, not to be associated with Garden Bay. It’s always great to see new places to eat open up in the area and it appears as if the building going up has at least two levels. Maybe the psychic can clue us in!
Less than two weeks after crowning Garden Bay Café the neighborhood’s top dog in food inspection violation points, a new contender has swept in, stealing the title. La Sorrentina 11 Pizzeria, at 1652 Sheepshead Bay Road, took the prize with 45 violation points, a narrow 4-point margin from the neighborhood’s now-second-place Garden Bay. But unlike the Armenian gastro-wrecked-omy destination, La Sorrentina’s victorious failure came on its follow up visit.
Read on after the jump to see its nine violations, as well as how it compares to its inspection just under a month ago. Also see a restaurant that received an honorable mention for an astounding 60 violation points, but was disqualified from receiving the Bite’s title of “…Ewww.”
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Garden Bay Café, the Armenian restaurant on Sheepshead Bay Rd. between Shore Parkway and Emmons Ave, has not only failed its inspection, but has garnered the most violation points of any restaurant in the area: a startling 41.
The violations listed include:
1.) Pesticide use not in accordance with label or applicable laws. Prohibited chemical used/stored. Open bait station used.
2.) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin exist.
3.) Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
4.) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
According to the Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, the violations requiring immediate action were remedied appropriately. But the 41 violation points was still a huge jump from its previous scores of 11 (11/9/06) and 9 (1/17/06). The new high score puts it just ahead of Anyway Café on Oriental Blvd. (37), La Sorrentina Pizzeria on Sheepshead Bay Rd. (36) and – can you believe it? – Kennedy Fried Chicken on Ave. X (33).
Way to go, guys, nice hustle. But maybe next time you should remember the point system in this game is a little more like golf.
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