In a sweep by the Department of Health through restaurants and party halls in at Jamaica, Jackson Heights, Astoria, Woodside and Brooklyn, several establishments have been hit with penalties or orders to close, including three Bangladeshi establishments that closed. Violations of food administration regulations – the city’s guidelines for running eating establishments – bring steep fines. Many restaurant owners have restarted their businesses after renovations that bring their shops up to code and obtaining new permits to reopen.

At a visit to popular Bangladeshi restaurant at Jamaica, health inspectors noticed that there was no food in the showcase kept in the front of the restaurant. A conversation with the counter attendant revealed that the restaurant had been previously fined for keeping food in the case that was not kept properly warm, which is a violation. The restaurant now keeps food in the back and serves it up when it is ordered. The fact that several restaurants in the area have closed is a reminder to abide by the rules.

The Health Department steps up inspections during the summer vacation season when families do more eating outside the home. Health inspectors are keeping a close eye on Bangladeshi restaurants due to their frequent violations.