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John “Cha Cha” Ciarcia ain’t exactly having a great week. As if it wasn’t enough that his Coney Island bar, Cha Cha’s, is in peril, the Health Department has closed his Mulberry Street restaurant, Cha Cha’s in Bocca al Lupo. Records show that a November 18 inspection turned up live roaches, flies, and sanitation and contamination issues (the report is below). That all added up to a hefty 85 violation points. Meanwhile Cha Cha’s boardwalk dive was socked with 55 points back in June and is still waiting for a grade (if it matters at this point). What’s going on here? Can’t Cha Cha pull any strings? He’s the “Unofficial Mayor of Little Italy,” after all — and he rolled with Phil Leotardo’s crew on The Sopranos!
Violation points: 85
Establishment Closed by DOHMH. Violations were cited in the following area(s) and those requiring immediate action were addressed.
Sanitary Violations
1) Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
2) Live roaches present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas.
3) Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies present in facility’s food and/or non-food areas. Filth flies include house flies, little house flies, blow flies, bottle flies and flesh flies. Food/refuse/sewage-associated flies include fruit flies, drain flies and Phorid flies.
4) Hand washing facility not provided in or near food preparation area and toilet room. Hot and cold running water at adequate pressure to enable cleanliness of employees not provided at facility. Soap and an acceptable hand-drying device not provided.
5) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
6) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
7) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
8) Plumbing not properly installed or maintained; anti-siphonage or backflow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly.
9) Non-food contact surface improperly constructed. Unacceptable material used. Non-food contact surface or equipment improperly maintained and/or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
