By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/ Producer
INWOOD — Popular Dyckman Street restaurant Mamajuana Cafe was temporarily closed by the Department of Health Thursday, but reopened Friday night after making required changes to their plumbing and electrical systems.
The restaurant was closed because of a number of critical health code violations noted during an inspection on Nov. 11, including "dirty" and "cracked" eggs, "evidence of rats or live rats present," roaches, "filth flies" and "live animals other than fish in tank or service animals in the kitchen and restaurant," as well as "inadequate" personal hygiene, among other complaints, according to the DOH.
Although the restaurant is usually quiet during the day — a stark contrast to its controversial bustling nighttime scene — its corner on Dyckman Street buzzed with activity Friday morning as men from several repair trucks walked in and out of the space with tools and large sheets of wood.
A representative of the restaurant, who identified himself as Carlos, said the workers were making electrical and plumbing fixes and patching holes in walls, issues he said contributed to the problems found by the Health Department.
The DOH returned for an inspection Friday afternoon and approved the restaurant to reopen, according to restaurant co-owner Victor Santos.
The DOH did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
In August, DNAinfo reported that Mamajuana was among the worst rated eating establishments in Inwood, racking up 50 violation points during a May inspection.
Victor Osorio, owner of Mamajuana, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but in August told DNAinfo the department’s ranking system was a positive tool.
"I think it’s great, it will push everyone to do what they have to do," Osorio said at the time. "It’s fair. They don’t ask much, just the things you need to do."
The restaurant re-opened for dinner at 5 p.m. Friday.
