By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — This is one top-10 list nobody wants to be a part of.
The restaurant at the Loews Regency Hotel, called 540 Park, ranks ninth in the top 10 lowest scoring Upper East Side restaurants and bars ranked by the Department of Health's recent restaurant cleanliness inspections.
The department released a comprehensive list with restaurants' scores last week as part of new standards that award letter grades based on a point system to businesses.
Although 540 Park Avenue hotel had yet to receive its letter grade from the department Monday, its miserable score of 44 (restaurants accumulate points for each violation) indicated that it would be getting a C grade — the lowest grade an eatery can get before it's shut down.
The restaurant, which according to the hotel's website "consistently ranks among the city's premier hotel dining destinations, garnering awards and wide acclaim," was docked for violations ranging from not keeping food properly refrigerated to issues with staff's personal cleanliness.
A spokesman for the Loews Regency declined comment.
But 540 Park Avenue's score was not the lowest of the low on the Upper East Side. That designation was awarded to Blue Moon Mexican Cafe, which received an inspection score of 69 when it was evaluated in December of 2009.
The restaurant's list of violations included evidence of mice in the food and non-food areas, spoiled or cross-contaminated food and improper food handling from the staff.
Management at the restaurant did not immediately return calls for comment.
At the other end of the spectrum, Starbucks Coffee chain cleaned up on the list with two of its stores ranking among the top three cleanest establishments in the neighborhood.
"We're really excited. It's not a one person thing," said Amanda Sookraj, 28, a supervisor at the Starbucks on First Avenue and East 75th Street, of the team effort involved in getting an A for cleanliness from the Health Department.
Sookraj said the store's emphasis on weekly deep-cleaning and constant monitoring of the dining area kept the place spotless.
Even though her store came out on top, Sookraj pointed out that high scores for health code violations did not necessarily mean a dirty restaurant.
"It could be a broken fridge or something the Health Department sees as a hazard," she said.
Vudu Lounge, on First Avenue between East 77th and East 78th Streets, earned the top spot, coming out as the cleanest establishment in the neighborhood during its last inspection.
The bar earned a perfect 0 score, indicating no violations from the Health Department.
With thousands of patrons coming through the bar every weekend, keeping a clean place is just good business, said Michael Stein, 24, manager and operator.
"Our business comes from repeat customers, we're not a tourist attraction," Stein said.
