All-Avocado Restaurant Temporarily Shuttered By Health Inspectors

CHELSEA, NY — An all-avocado eatery was temporarily shuttered after health inspectors found filthy conditions, according to public records.

Avocaderia — which took off after a $400,000 investment from Shark Tank — opened its Chelsea location at 271 11th Ave. last May.

But Tuesday, Health Department inspectors found evidence of mice, food areas contaminated with sewage or liquid waste, and food surfaces not properly cleaned, according to the city's restaurant inspection report. The Health Department slapped the all-avocado restaurant with 45 violation points and ordered it to close.

An employee who picked up the phone at its Chelsea location told Patch Friday the eatery has since re-opened.

An Avocaderia spokesperson blamed a basement leak for the violations.

The spokesperson said that Monday evening, employees found a small leak in the basement sink. By Tuesday — the same day as the Department of Health inspection — water covered the floor near a grease trap, the spokesperson said.

The inspector ordered the leak to be fixed before getting back to business, per Avocaderia. Plumbers worked "round the clock" on the pipes and cleaned up the basement. By Thursday, the DOH confirmed to Avocaderia the "issue was fixed and we were good to go," the spokesperson said.

The eatery re-opened Friday, seven days a week, the spokesperson said.

Previously, DOH slapped Avocaderia with 21 violations points May 22.

The all-avocado restaurant first opened in Sunset Park. Shortly after the Shark Tank investment from Barbara Corcoran and Mark Cuban, it opened up its Chelsea location in the Terminal Stores Building.

The eatery opened a Time Out Market location at the new DUMBO food market Monday, per AM New York.