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Midtown's Chicken Bar Closed For Day Over Violations

By DNAinfo Staff on May 27, 2011 3:52pm  | Updated on May 27, 2011 3:51pm

By Jill Colvin

DNAinfo Reporter/Producer

MIDTOWN — The popular Chicken Bar was back in business Friday after health inspectors shut it down for one day over serious violations.

The popular Eighth Avenue fast food spot, known for its hard-to-miss yellow mascot, was shuttered by the Health Department Wednesday after inspectors found a list of "critical" violations.

The problems including food "adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded" properly. Inspectors also found filth, flies and cold food kept too warm, the city said.

It was closed all day Thursday.

The closure comes less than a month after a May 9 inspection when the eatery managed to rack up a whopping 75 points for critical issues, including evidence of mice, flies, and inadequate "personal cleanliness" by staff.

Midtown lunchers give ChickenBar's classic grilled sandwich high grades.
Midtown lunchers give ChickenBar's classic grilled sandwich high grades.
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DNAinfo/Jill Colvin

Store manager Luis Fernandez said Friday that all issues have been addressed and insisted the closure had nothing to do with food safety problems.

He said a large pipe in the basement of the building was leaking thanks to faulty insulation and that he immediately hired a crew to repair the damage. Inspectors returned to the restaurant Friday morning and gave them permission to re-open, he said.

Asked about earlier inspections and specific violations, Fernanzez, 32, dismissed concerns.

"That has all been taken care of," he said. "Everything is fine."

The eatery welcomed its first customer, Alicia Castro, 57, of Queens, just before 1 p.m.

Informed about the violations, Castro said she was concerned.

"I wonder," she said after placing her order for the classic grilled chicken sandwich, one of her favorite foods. But the closure wasn't enough to stop her from chowing down.

"I love the sandwich they make," she said, adding that the restaurant always looks clean.

Hamilton Heights resident Leidy McLeod, 31, who works nearby, was more concerned.

"I’m scared now," she said, after being told of the closing. "I figured it’s so healthy. . .  But now I’m worried. I don’t want to get food poisoning."

After ordering, she remained concerned, adding "I don’t know if I should."

But in the end, she decided to dig into her sandwich, and happily munched away.

Juan Pava, 48, of Queens, who works in the neighborhood, said he’s eaten at  Chicken Bar nearly every day for the past two years, and has absolute confidence in the food.

The store was shut down by the health department this week.
The store was shut down by the health department this week.
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Courtesy of Azi Paybarah

"This is my favorite place," he said, as he dug into a chicken wrap.