Sunset Park Seafood Restaurant Closed For Mice, Roaches

SUNSET PARK, BROOKLYN — A seafood restaurant that was given nearly three times the violation points that require a business get shut down was one of three eateries in and near Sunset Park that health inspectors closed this week.

Happy House Seafood restaurant on Eighth Avenue got the worst inspection score of the three restaurants, receiving 81 violation points from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, records show. Any score about 28 requires inspectors to close the business.

Inspectors visiting the restaurant on Tuesday found that there were live cockroaches, filth flies and evidence of mice or live mice in the facility, records show. They also discovered that cold food was not being kept at the right temperature, that the restaurant was using food from an unapproved or unknown source and that food was contaminated or "adulterated."

The eatery was also not vermin proof, had improper hand washing facilities, a food contact surface that was not properly maintained and problems with its plumbing, records show.

An employee who answered the phone at the restaurant on Friday hung up before Patch could answer questions about the inspection.

Another restaurant inspected on Tuesday, Paradise Restaurant on Fort Hamilton Parkway, was also shut down, records show.

Paradise Restaurant was given 71 violation points by the department.

Inspectors found that there was evidence of mice or live mice, that the eatery was not vermin proof, that food was not kept at the right temperature and that it was not protected from potential contamination. The food surfaces were also not properly washed, for was found to be contaminated and there were problems with the mechanical or ventilation system, records show.

A call to Paradise Restaurant on Friday went unanswered.

The third restaurant, Super Pollo, was given only a few violation points above the threshold to close the business.

The Fifth Avenue eatery got 33 violation points during its visit from inspectors on Monday.

Inspectors also found evidence of mice at this restaurant and that it was not vermin proof. The eatery also had problems with its plumping, did not protect its food from contamination and was cooling its food by an improper method.

Super Pollo did not answer a phone call from Patch on Friday.