Forest Hills Thai Eatery Closed After Roaches Found In Inspection

FOREST HILLS, QUEENS -- A Forest Hills Thai restaurant was closed for the second time in a year by the Health Department after an inspector found live roaches and other health hazards in the eatery.

Thai Pot, at 103-07 Queens Boulevard, was temporarily shut down after failing a health inspection on Feb. 1. The restaurant racked up a total of 55 violation points - eateries must score under 14 for an A grade and 28 to stay open - for five health citations, three of which were critical, health department records show.

The eatery's most critical violations included having live roaches in the kitchen, storing cold food at above 41 degrees and not keeping a hand-washing station in or near its food preparation and bathroom areas, the health report said.

The health inspector also cited the restaurant for not vermin-proofing its premises and improperly constructing its non-food contact surfaces.

Thai Pot won't reopen until it passes its next health inspection, which is slated for July 7, the report said.

This isn't the Forest Hills restaurant's first sour run-in with health inspectors, records show.

The health department temporarily closed Thai Pot last summer after it scored 48 health violation points in a another health inspection on July 3. Mice and live roaches were among a handful of health hazards found during the inspector's visit, according to a health report.

Health department records showed Thai Pot reopened just over a month later after barely passing its next health inspection on Aug. 19. Though the inspection didn't yield any critters, the restaurant still racked up 22 health violations for three citations the health department deemed "critical."

In the report, an inspector called the restaurant's personal cleanliness "inadequate" and described seeing employees working in soiled garments and preparing food without wearing a hair net. The restaurant was also cited for not having a proper Food Protection Certificate.

Lead photo via Google Maps.