Massapequa Restaurants Cited: Massapequa Diner, Primavera, More

MASSAPEQUA, NY — Do you know how clean your favorite restaurant is?

The New York State Health Department performs routine inspections of all food service facilities in the state. Several types of inspections are done — including comprehensive inspections that evaluate the sanitation, maintenance, and food service operations of a facility; and follow-up inspections for a facility that has been cited for critical and non-critical violations. More information about different types of violations can be found at the bottom of this article.

State inspectors check kitchens everywhere: in churches, schools, golf clubs and more. They also monitor the cleanliness of snack bars, kiosks inside entertainment venues, bakeries and bars.

All information comes from the health department's database. You can see the most recent inspections by clicking here.

These inspections were conducted between Nov. 15 and Nov. 23, 2021.

Massapequa Diner, 4420 Sunrise Highway, Massapequa

• Last Inspected: Nov. 16, 2021
• Violations:
  • 3 Critical
    • Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or below 45°F during cold holding, except smoked fish not kept at or below 38°F during cold holding
    • Potentially hazardous foods are not stored under refrigeration except during necessary preparation or approved pre-cooling procedures (room temperature storage)
    • Enough refrigerated storage equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained or operated so that all potentially hazardous foods are cooled properly and stored below 45°F as required
  • 7 Noncritical
    • Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
    • In-use food-dispensing utensils improperly stored
    • Non-food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
    • Adequate, leakproof, non-absorbent, vermin-proof, covered containers not provided where needed
    • Garbage storage areas not properly constructed or maintained, creating a nuisance
    • Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof construction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin

Primavera Italian Sepcialties, 810 Hicksville Road, Massapequa

• Last Inspected: Nov. 15, 2021
• Violations:
  • 3 Critical
    • Potentially hazardous foods are not cooled by an approved method where the food temperature can be reduced from 120°F to 70°F or less within two hours and 70°F to 45°F within four hours
    • Potentially hazardous foods are not kept at or above 140°F during hot holding
    • Enough hot holding equipment is not present, properly designed, maintained and operated to keep hot foods above 140°F
  • 4 Noncritical
    • Improper thawing procedures used
    • Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
    • Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
    • Adequate, leakproof, non-absorbent, vermin-proof, covered containers not provided where needed

Crostini Pizza, 947 North Broadway, Massapequa

• Last Inspected: Nov. 19, 2021
• Violations
  • 0 Critical
  • 9 Noncritical
    • Food (ice) contact surfaces are improperly designed, constructed, installed, located (cracks, open seams, pitted surfaces, tin cans reused, uncleanable or corroded food contact surfaces)
    • Non-food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
    • Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
    • Insects, rodents present
    • Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof construction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin
    • Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
    • Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans.

Stuff-A-Bagel, 912 Carmans Road, Massapequa

• Last Inspected: Nov. 17, 2021
• Violations:
  • 0 Critical
  • 3 Noncritical
    • Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
    • Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
    • Toilet facilities inadequate, inconvenient, dirty, in disrepair, toilet paper missing, not self-closing doors, missing hand wash signs

Ephesus Mediterranean Cuisine, 514 Park Blvd., Massapequa Park

• Last Inspected: Nov. 16
• Violations:
• 0 Critical
• 2 Noncritical
• Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
• Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces

Red "critical" violations relate directly to factors that could lead to food-borne illness. These violations generally involve the food source and condition, food cooking and storage temperatures, sanitary practices of food workers, water and sewage, pest contamination of food, and the use of toxic materials.

Blue "non-critical" violations do not directly cause food-borne illness but could negatively affect the operation of the restaurant. They relate to the design and maintenance of the establishment as well as cleanliness.

Editor's note: These citations are taken from the state Department of Health's database. Citations listed in this article may have been resolved by the time of publication, despite there being no amendments made on the department's website.