EAST VILLAGE — The Sunburnt Cow, the boozy Australian brunch spot flooded by Hurricane Sandy last year and shuttered by the city's Health Department last week, will reopen Friday night for service.
Inspectors returned to the restaurant on Thursday and declared it fit for service again with a C grade, according to the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which had not yet updated its website listing.
The Sunburnt Cow on Avenue C was shut down after it racked up 56 health violations points March 8, with inspectors finding evidence of rats, food preparation surfaces that were not properly washed and cross-contamination of raw and prepared food, according to the department's report.
The new inspection on Thursday found less serious violations, including water in the basement and debris littering the floor.
The owner of the restaurant, Heathe St. Clair, blamed the continuing recovery from Hurricane Sandy for his restaurant's shutdown.
"The Cow has always been a good business," St. Clair said.
"We will be busy — we will be packed [on the weekend]," he added, noting the restaurant has parties booked for Friday and Saturday night and a full brunch service is expected.
Like other restaurants on Avenue C, the eatery's basement flooded during Sandy. Much of the avenue's establishments experienced months of gas, electricity and internet outages.
In 2011, the NYPD raided The Sunburnt Cow due to suspected illegal drug activity, according to the blog EV Grieve.
