Elsewhere      01/07/2009  

Kefi Closed (For Tonight, Anyway) by the DOH

On the very day when Steve Cuozzo had raved about the value and quality of Kefi, the restaurant was, according to Eater, closed down for “missing paperwork” by the Department of Health. It’s probably not too great a blow to the place, since they have been filled at capacity since the day they opened, and the Cuozz’s tribute would only have made things worse, but still — when is the DOH going to go back to finding places that are actually health hazards?

Update: Kefi has an official statement about this DOH busines. To wit:

Due to a paperwork error, The Board of Health has temporarily closed down Kefi restaurant on the Upper West Side. Chef/Partner Michael Psilakis comments, “I was not aware of a pre-inspection certification that was needed, and I am rectifying this situation immediately”.

Absence of critical certificates results in immediate closure. Once the failure was imminent, Psilakis felt the inspector conducted the most thorough inspection he has ever been through in his professional career, which resulted in additional violations. The restaurant will be re-open as soon as possible.

Eater: New Kefi Shut Down By Department of Health

Comments

2 Responses to “Kefi Closed (For Tonight, Anyway) by the DOH”

  1. New York Journal on January 7th, 2009 7:24 pm

    Cuozzo also had some concerns, which I share: “I’m more concerned about kitchen lapses likely to pop up in a place doing so much volume and which just opened for lunch, as well.” I mean, let’s be honest: long-term, Psilakis and Arpaia won’t be there very often. They have a brood of other restaurants to look after, with more to come.

    And what do you expect the DOH to do? Either the restaurant has the permits, or it doesn’t. The restaurant will ALWAYS say it was a mere “paperwork error,” won’t they?

  2. Josh Ozersky on January 8th, 2009 6:50 am

    If you don’t have the permits that’s a paperwork error. I’ve been to Kefi a lot. It looks clean to me! But then, admittedly, I never think my favorite restaurants are in the wrong.

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