By Julie Shapiro
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
TRIBECA — City inspectors slammed Gigino Trattoria with 77 health violation points over the weekend, forcing the popular TriBeCa restaurant to close temporarily.
The Health Department found perishable food at unsafe temperatures, unsanitary conditions and evidence of mice during an inspection on Saturday at their 323 Greenwich St. location, according to the city's website.
Gigino also received violations for workers wearing soiled clothing, workers not wearing hairnets in the food preparation area, food utensils that were not properly cleaned and a bathroom that did not have toilet paper.
The poor results were a departure for Gigino, which has generally done well on its health inspections, earning just 10 violation points in an inspection last September.
The restaurant's management did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the closure, which was first reported by the blog Tribeca Citizen.
A woman who answered the phone at Gigino Monday afternoon said the restaurant at 323 Greenwich St. hoped to reopen either Monday evening or Tuesday.
Since Gigino was founded in 1994, it has become a TriBeCa mainstay, known for its mid-priced Italian food and kid-friendly pizza menu.
Owners Bob Giraldi and Phil Suarez and executive chef Luigi Celentano expanded the franchise with Gigino Wagner Park in Battery Park City, which offers a similar Italian menu.
Gigino Wagner Park received 38 violation points in a Health Department inspection Feb. 28, based on evidence of uncleanliness and food kept at unsafe temperatures, but the city did not shut it down.
Under the restaurant grading system the city introduced last year, establishments with 28 or more violation points receive a C grade and are reinspected monthly. The Health Department immediately shuts down any restaurant with extremely serious violations.
