Cafe University, the popular campus eatery, was shut down by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on Monday. The restaurant received a total of 145 violation points — three times the number of points needed to shut down an establishment.
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According to a Department of Health spokesperson, the cafe was shut down immediately after today's inspection.
"The establishment received violations for the presence of filth flies in food and/or non-food service areas," the spokesperson said in an email.
The inspector also observed "40 mouse excreta throughout the establishment." The restaurant will not be allowed to open until they correct the violations and pass another inspection. The restaurant declined to comment about the closure.
Cafe University is one of close to 200 establishments that accept NYU campus cash. According to NYU spokesman John Beckman, if an establishment in the campus cash program has serious health violations, its participation in the program will be suspended.
"Once the merchant has brought itself into compliance with the health department, it can reapply to participate in campus cash," he said.
"It's kind of surprising that Cafe University got those violations," CAS sophomore Hamza Fodderwala said. "I think the standards are really strict these days, but its a good thing. If places like Cafe University have a lot of violations they should be shut down."
SCPS Masters' student Krithika Raghavendra wasn't surprised by the cafe's poor heath rating.
"In general I think a lot of cafes in the area are dirty," she said. "It's overcooked food and it's overpriced."
