Cafe @ Cornell Tech Receives C Grade From NYC Department Of Health Restaurant Inspection, Management Apologies To Roosevelt Island Community And Promises Improvements - Students Ready To Cross Invisible Tram/Subway Barrier And Try Out Nisi Restaurant

Last Sunday, I visited the Roosevelt Island  Cafe @ Cornell Tech to order my favorite Mango Smoothie. I was very surprised and disappointed to find this NYC Department of Health (DOH) Restaurant Inspection Grade C sign posted next to the Coffee/Juice Bar.

According to an October 5, 2018 NYC DOH Restaurant Inspection Report for the Cafe @ Cornell Tech:

Violation points: 37

Sanitary Violations

1) 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.

2) Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

3) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.

Yesterday, I asked Cornell Tech representatives to comment on the failed restaurant health inspection report and received this reply from the Cafe @ Cornell Tech Management, Constellation Culinary Group:

October 22, 2018

Dear Roosevelt Island Community:

Our company, Constellation Culinary Group (formerly Starr Catering Group), has been operating The Café @ Cornell Tech since 2017. We have had restaurants, cafés and catering businesses in New York City since 2011 and today we operate 18 locations throughout the city.

On Friday, October 5, The Café was inspected by the New York City Health Department and regrettably received a ‘C.’ The only grade that is acceptable to us is an ‘A.’ We have failed to meet that expectation and are profoundly sorry for not fulfilling our commitment to all of you, our valued guests.

Food safety is our top priority and we have committed significant resources to immediately address this situation. We have already implemented the following corrective measures and are looking to schedule a follow-up inspection in the very near future.

With full transparency, the grade was the result of the following key issues:

• The presence of fruit and food flies in the kitchen and dry storage room.
• Standing water on the kitchen floor beneath the dishwasher and sink.
• Food particle build up on the floors of the dry goods storage room.
• Required maintenance of ice machines not carried out per specification.

We want to assure you that our daily food handling practices, including the use of gloves for ready-to-eat foods and food held and served at the correct temperatures, were not an issue.

We took immediate action following the inspection, including completing the following corrective measures:

• We have replaced our General Manager effective immediately with a new General Manager, Christopher Lewis, who brings more than 15 years of foodservice operational leadership experience to the team.
• We have re-assigned supervision to Vice President of Operations, Rob Esplen, who has been onsite, working with the management team over the past two weeks.
• We have selected a new pest management provider who has already carried out its services with excellent results. Based on industry best practices, the exterminator is providing eco-friendly, FDA-approved treatments every three days until the problem is completely eradicated.
• We made necessary plumbing repairs to correct the standing water issue.
• We completed necessary maintenance to the ice machines.
• We hired a third-party sanitation and food safety consulting firm to remain on
• site this past week to conduct refresher cleaning and sanitation training with the team and implement best practices across the operation. This firm will conduct follow-up visits on a monthly basis moving forward to monitor progress.
• We have installed door sweeps on all kitchen doors

If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact Scott Steenrod, Managing Director, at scott.steenrod@constellationculinary.com.

Sincerely,

Simon Powles, CEO
Scott Steenrod Managing Director

The Cafe has become a favorite spot for many Roosevelt Island residents and visitors,

and you can't beat the views from the outdoor patio, even in cold weather.

But, I have heard grumblings from Cornell Tech students who have not been happy with the food offering at the Cafe. These students are ready to cross the invisible Roosevelt Island Tram/Subway barrier to Main Street and try out the Nisi Restaurant and any new restaurant that may open in the future.

Below is the most recent NYC DOH Health Inspection Restaurant Grades for Roosevelt Island.

All received A's except for the Cafe @ Cornell Tech C Grade.

Here's how NYC DOH scores and grades restaurants.