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Baluchi's Shuttered by DOH
Thursday, June 14, 2012 at 2:24PM 
Baluchi's, the chain Indian restaurant on Fifth between Second and Third Streets, was shut down by the Department of Health on June 8th after racking up an unsavory 72 violation points. Coupled with the rumors of a disgusting habit of one of the kitchen workers, Baluchi's is now offically one of the least sanitary restaurants in the neighborhood. Here are all the gory details:
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) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
4) Personal cleanliness inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn in an area where food is prepared.
5) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
7) Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
8) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
9) Covered garbage receptacle not provided or inadequate, except that garbage receptacle may be uncovered during active use. Garbage storage area not properly constructed or maintained; grinder or compactor dirty.
10) Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
DOH Closures in Food, Storefronts
Reader Comments (16)
hahahahaha, sorry, something about this just strikes me as funny
Least sanitary and least good.
The new indian just a few doors down is far better anyway. This place would be done if not for the fact that it is part of a chain.
This is not surprising. Go to the new Indian place farther down called Aarpan...it's delicious.
I second Aarpan. Had dinner there recently and it was the best Indian I've had in park slope.
So now I guess I am especially happy that I never felt drawn to eat in this place!
really? The new place is good? woot! Got to try it now!
I don't get it.... It's authentic isn't? the dirtier the better?
Here's another thumbs up for Aarpan! I used to live off of 6th st in the east village and have been dying for decent indian in the slope ever since we moved here 6 years ago. Aarpan is totally it. SO good.
Tell me it 'snot true!
Baluchis is a pretty big operation with something like a dozen restuarants in NYC and theyve been around for many years-Im suprised they let this location fail so miserably.
Had the food from Baluchi's twice when they first opened, it's like saying you want a good burger and going to McDonald's, blech! I'm going to the new Indian place now, I'm excited!
Quite glad that Aarpan opened just in the nick of time. I don't know that I'd order from Baluchi's again after reading through this list.
I stopped ordering from them after I saw s'notter do his business on the sidewalk.
I live above this restaurant, and I confirm the health department is right to close them down. I have never eaten there. The chefs are dirty. They stand outside to smoke, and I doubt they wash their hands afterwards. The owners seem surly. Based on a walk through of the basement for a cable problem, the rodent problem is bad. awful.
I've eaten at this Baluchi's a couple of times. The food wasn't bad and the staff was nice. The snot chef stuff makes for nice blog print, but your chefs are doing a whole lot of that behind closed doors at a lot of places.
That being said, sure, this is gross. I also ordered from Aarpan last night and quite liked it. Definitely not light on the spice.