By Gabriela Resto-Montero
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
UPPER EAST SIDE — A late afternoon electrical fire burned through the eating area of Fat Sal's Pizzeria on Second Avenue Monday afternoon, the FDNY said.
Workers inside the pizzeria at 1301 Second Avenue at 83rd Street said that a transformer on the shop's neon sign malfunctioned and started the fire around 3:30 p.m. FDNY would only say that the blaze was caused by an electrical fire.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze at the front of the restaurant within a half hour, the fire department said.
The storefront of the tiny restaurant was smashed in and covered with debris and smoke and water damage marked the tables and chairs in the dining room after the fire was extinguished.
Luckily for the owners, the kitchen at the back of the shop remained intact.
There weren't any customers eating in the restaurant at the time of the fire and there were no injuries, workers and FDNY said.
A man who identified himself as the restaurant's owner said it was too early to tell when the pizza place will re-open.
"We're bummed but okay," he said.
Fat Sal's operates three other locations, including restaurants in Midtown and Chelsea.
