Pok Pok Temporarily Closed By The Department of Health
Image by Cody Swanson
Anyone hoping to get through their Monday with a heap of spare ribs and curry will have to wait (or trek into Manhattan); Pok Pok’s Columbia Street location was forced to close over the weekend after Department of Health inspectors took issue with a couple of the restaurant’s outdoor grills.
From the statement currently posted on their website:
“Unfortunately, Pok Pok Ny has been forced to temporarily close. The problem stems from our outdoor, covered cooking area where we keep our two charcoal BBQs. Until we can satisfy the city that we are compliant with DOB and FDNY code, in that the structure covering the BBQs is legal, we must remain closed. The rest of our facility was determined to be in “A” grade condition. We are working with the city as quickly as we can to reopen.
Our Whiskey Soda Lounge Ny, just across the street is available, as is Pok Pok Phat Thai, in the Lower East Side.
Sorry for the inconvenience.”
Gothamist also notes that the DOH report mentioned “food contact surface improperly constructed or located. Unacceptable material used,” as well as issues of “improper food contamination prevention and improper utensil storage,” totaling 50 violation points. But, as the restaurant’s statement notes, Whiskey Soda Lounge is still conducting business as usual (albeit much busier, we’d guess), so you can still get your wings fix tonight if it’s a must.
Follow Virginia K. Smith on Twitter @vksmith.
