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Friday
Aug032012
Coco Roco Shuttered by DOH
Friday, August 3, 2012 at 2:20PM 
The latest victim of the Department of Health's hammer is Coco Roco, the Peruvian restaurant on Fifth Avenue between Sixth and Seventh Streets.
Many thanks to a tipster for forwarding along the above photo of the imfamous yellow sign that was pasted to the doorway after the restaurant, best known for its chicken, was shut down yesterday. Their grading has yet to be updated on the DOH website, so the grimy details will have to remain under wraps for now.
For those desperate for your Coco Roco fix, their Smith Street location (between Bergen and Dean) remains open.
tagged DOH Closures in Food, Storefronts
DOH Closures in Food, Storefronts
Reader Comments (17)
This is the 2nd time they have been shut down by the DOH. For once I can forgive, twice, I can't. I think I'm done with them
The 'grimy' details are in the method by which the DOH assesses our food establishments. Theirs is an accumulative method of racking up points (read: $) and in no way serves the public health. Sure, there are violations which certainly warrant fines and action but the majority of the points utilizing this current system are inflated and weighted and result only in exacting pain and suffering. This system is legalized extortion from the thriving bar and restaurant business in a city of declining income. I have spoken with restauranteurs in San Francisco who exist in the system NYC's was modeled after. There, the DOH works with the businesses to correct and teach the proper regulations are followed. Not by fining and closing these businesses then returning next inspection with a whole new set of unforeseen criteria to examine, but by inspecting and assisting in the correction process, then returning to ensure it has been done.
I am a long time owner of multiple food/beverage businesses over the last 17 years in NYC and I have never seen anything like this and choose to remain anonymous for fear of DOH reprisals. For the record, I have managed to not be shut down to date.
I was really looking forward to having Coco Rocco take out tonight for dinner and luckily saw your post and went to Pita Pan. :( Their chicken & tamalito verde are wonderful!! Though I save their steak for eating in, it also is really good! I rarely eat at Coco Rocco, but I have been a frequent take out patron since they opened, which is a LONG time ago. I'm sure that people will jump all over my comment, but I'm afeared that the DOH is on a $ making mission and exaggerates the problems to increase the fines.. I totally agree with the previous post that it is a system of legalize extortion. Give me a break!!
I have been a long time customer of coco roco and their food is always delicious. the plates, glasses and utensils were always clean. I too believe the DOH is doing something fishy with all these shut downs!
The inspection report for Coco Roco is up on the DOH website now; while they did rack up 49 points, it's interesting to notice that they were also inspected a month ago, and only got 12 points. Looks a little like an overzealous/extortionate inspector this time around.
Ah, the great neighborhood restaurants of the previous decade that are now complete shells of themselves. I wish them well, but this place had become inedible several years ago.
Really do agree with Cuban Slope on how this place has come down in quality. the service was always slow but the expectation of good food made the wait worth while. Last few meals I had there (over a year ago) were nothing special and have not been in there since. I wonder if they got points for the bathroom... it was kind of nasty.
On the other hand, I've loved everything I've had at Surfish thus far.
Sad to see some of the restaurants we loved ten years ago barely hang on. Remember when Mulino was packed every night and just had such a wonderful ambience to it? It's been years since I've seen it even half-full. Places stick around sometimes way after they've run their course.
They were open on Sunday.
Surfish is terrific. It is what happens when Peruvian food gets filtered through the hands of an amazing chef and it presented to customers as if they were special guests in the Chef's home.
Adding my comment only to buttress other comments about Surfish.... however, someone with close ties to the chef needs to let him know that the place looks like a fish and chips lunch spot from the outside.
I've brought a bunch of slope natives over there for the top notch (and priced as such) dinner menu and they all say the same thing.... Ï thought this was a take out joint."
The signage and outward appearance really confuses folks.
Never ate at Coco. But went to Surfish. Could be the worst meal I have ever had. I swear they heated up a Lean Cuisine and dumped it on a plate. Two people almost $100 for nothing. Never again
I don't believe you, Balki. Tell us what you ate. I have never had anything but stellar food at Surfish. My guess is you work at Coco and are trying to hide it by saying you've never eaten there. Why have you never commented here before?
I agree with Mr. RE though...the place needs a makeover, because it's not at all inviting from the outside. The sign looks amateur and you'd have no idea that the food is so top notch.
Don't be ridiculous, Cousin Larry, I mean, Balki.
I'm a Surfish fan but I will say that we've liked it less on our last few visits. We were going very frequently from the week they opened and it seems like the flavorful bits have been lost on some dishes--like they just stopped using garlic and cilantro and started overcooking the meat. I certainly wouldn't compare any of their food to a freezer dinner, though, and the service is great.
I'm also a Coco Roco fan, but I eat just a handful of things from the menu and those dishes have been consistently good over the years and they have good cocktails, which I love.
I think the physical lay out of the space Surfish occupies is problematic. It is very narrow and long. The service bar in the front is a bad choice but even as I say that where the hell else could it be put? First impressions are important. I like to either be able to look in to a storefront and see those happy dinners or if not that effect, to not "see in" at all like the set up at Conviium. The garden at Surfish is very welcoming and a friend of mine plays there every wed nite.
and now Juventino is closed by health department... Crazy....