For Aubrey and Philip Blanda, it was supposed to be a special night out. After nearly a year of trying, they'd finally scored tickets to see "The Book of Mormon" on Broadway. On a friend's recommendation, they'd made a reservation three weeks ahead for a fancy pre-theater meal at Midtown's La Grenouille. They'd left their teenage sons at home and driven in from Glen Ridge, NJ. But the couple hadn't even gotten through their appetizers when someone strode in and ruined their evening.
Just before 6 p.m., as Aubrey was finishing up her mushroom risotto and Philip his foie gras, a health inspector waltzed into the elegant French restaurant. The kitchen ground to a halt to deal with the ensuing inspection, and the couple's server informed the Blandas the restaurant would not be able to serve them any more food.
Anne Wermiel
Last month, Aubrey and Philip Blanda had a special dinner at La Grenouille ruined by city health inspectors.
"I was really looking forward to [the meal]," laments Philip, 51, an IT professional. "Not that going without oxtail is a tragedy, but . . . I thought it showed a real lack of understanding on the city's part, to come into a service-oriented business and interrupt them."
Last month, La Grenouille was subjected to two Health Department visits, despite consistently having an "A" grade. (The first was a regular annual inspection, which interrupted a dinner Mayor Bloomberg was having at the restaurant; the second was the result of an anonymous tip.)
Although not exactly widespread, a dinner ruined by a health inspection is a growing nuisance for New Yorkers looking to enjoy a romantic meal or celebrate with friends, only to be shown the door.
The number of restaurant inspections by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has risen sharply in recent years. In 2002, there were 33,254 inspections. Last year, there were 98,176, according to figures from a report by Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, a mayoral candidate.
Earlier this month, Dan Stewart, a 33-year-old magazine editor, wanted to take a friend visiting from London to Brooklyn Star for a cocktail. When they walked into the Williamsburg eatery on a busy Thursday at about 8 p.m., an embarrassed server informed them that a health official had just come in and the restaurant was only serving soda and water — no food or booze.
"I was bummed, because Brooklyn Star does a mean Old-Fashioned, and I'd wanted to show it off to a friend from out of town," recalls the British native who now lives in Clinton Hill. "Of course, we're more than familiar with overzealous bureaucrats in the UK."
According to restaurateurs, Mayor Bloomberg's blue-coated buzzkills are increasingly invading city eateries during peak times, shutting down service for several hours and leaving diners hungry and businesses broke. (La Grenouille owner Charles Masson estimates he lost $30,000 in revenue due to inspections in a single night.)
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Spoiler Alert!
Dengan url
http://bahayaprostat.blogspot.com/2013/04/spoiler-alert.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Spoiler Alert!
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar