Coco Roco Reopens

veets · May 2007

So I passed by over weekend and they have re-opened. Of course the sign said renovation but we know they closed for health code violations.. There really is no renovation that I could see.. they repainted a little.

So what are your feeling about going to this restaurant now?

This was one of my faves but I am skeeved out a little knowing they did incur the wrath of the Board of Health.

Realistically I probably ate in 3 restaurants last weekend that were more of a threat than Coco was at its very worst.

Also.. What is with this.. Have there been many restaurants in PS closed down recently for health code violations or do I just think there have been a lot because I participate on this forum?

nishi621 · May 2007

Not to sound naive-but, how do you know it was the health department? We eat there all the time and have been waiting for them to re-open. We have actually been going to the one on Smith Street in the interim.

Anyway, there were no health department signs at all, and usually when a place is shut down by the health department, there are signs plastered all over the place. Also, and of course, this could be a lie, the manager at the restaurant downtown told us that they were doing kitchen and bar renovations. Just curious, thanks.

Oh, and it does seem like tons of PS restaurants have been shut down recently, really makes me wonder.

em26 · May 2007

Is this the place ya'll are talking about?

The inspection in March looked pretty bad.

http://167.153.150.32/RI/web/detail.do?method=detail&restaurantId=40607422&inspectionDate=20070324

pitu · May 2007

Realistically I probably ate in 3 restaurants last weekend that were more of a threat than Coco was at its very worst.

that's a good thing to keep in mind

I don't want to eat where there's uncontrolled roach problems, or mouse poop for that matter, but some code violations make for better food when you're talking about internal meat temperature or something like fresh made mozzarela.

Did you read that thing in the NYT about the French chef that was CRUSHED when his place was closed, and he was using good technique in his high quality eatery. Most places that get awards from the dept of health are pre-fab cafeteria food...Atomic Wings and Bubba Gump Shrimp in Times Square got Golden Apples ferchrissakes!
I'd rather be in the hands of a real chef than a bleached up corporation.

The above has nothing to do with CocoRoco of course -- I always liked it, and never got sick from eating there.

brooklynpotter · May 2007

don't know, i read a lot of the violations about some favorite restaurants and i won't be eating there again..

i don't own a restaurant, so i really don't know how things work. but i do have a job and it can sometimes be complicated, and i follow the rules/laws because they're a: about safety and b: the law.

beninbrooklyn · May 2007

Yeah, as a long time Coco Roco fanatic (hmmmm, the sauce!!!!), i'm kinda bummed to read that health code report - yuck! I usually take those things with a grain of salt knowing that often restaurants get zinged on technicalities. However, there are some pretty serious sounding "Non-technicality" like problems listed there. Hnmmmm.

This crazy spate of health code violations is a result of a city-wide crackdown stemming from the famous "rats in a Taco Bell" incident in Manhattan a few months back. The Health Dept is on a tear!

shishkab · May 2007

very true, BP. but in certain circumstances, the laws in this case can be a bit overkill. basically the law has to apply to the lowest common denominator so that there are no major outbreaks of food poisoning, but sometimes the careful chef gets caught between having to choose the proper way to prepare her food so that it best suits the dish, or following the rules and destroying the subtlety and nuances of a perfectly prepared meal.

if we applied all the same food prep rules to our homes that they do in the restaurants, i'd venture a guess that at least 80% of homes would be shut down immediately.

i'm not saying the laws aren't important or should be ignored. lord knows if they weren't in place, automatons like Atomic Wings and Bubba Gump Shrimp would poison zillions of people. but i do sympathize with many serious chefs torn between what's best of the meal and what's best for the Board of Health.

veets · May 2007

Nishi621.. Unfortunately.. This thread was not started based on Idle gossip. There had ben an earlier thread that had a link to the Health Sept list of Restaurants and inspection reports and many of us checked that site out and came back here to the forum a little grossed out!.

veets · May 2007

One more thought I just checked that inspection report again and the previous one as well. Makes me go with the theory that the Dept is just getting stricter because March pt. evaluation was 94 and previous was 19 (which passes). Current violation included things about the toilet and such which certainly wwas in the same condition TO BE violated on both inspection reports and violations about keeping cooked food at a certain temp.. which must have been the same on both inspecitons cause that prob relates to the stream trays and the rotisserie.
Why am I over-thinking this? Well same reason that I posted this thread to begin with.. I haven't come to the point where I feel comfortable eating in this place again even though it has been on the A list for me for years!

nishi621 · May 2007

Yes, I just read the health code violations now for Coco Roco. I guess I am just curious as to why there were no "shut down by health department" signs on their door when they first closed up. Anyone know?

erikka · May 2007

Nishi621 wrote: Yes, I just read the health code violations now for Coco Roco. I guess I am just curious as to why there were no "shut down by health department" signs on their door when they first closed up. Anyone know?

No one does--they're always "closed for kitchen renovations"

veets · May 2007

I think that at least in PS when we see the sign closed for kitchen renovation we best be looking that eaterie up on the B of H site!! Except for rare occasion that seems to be a code word for.. you know what..LOl!!

nishi621 · May 2007

OK-I have seen closed by board of health signs posted on restaurants before-like Inaka for example. I was under the impression that the board of health did that themselves when they shut the place down. Learn something new every day.

erikka · May 2007

veets wrote: I think that at least in PS when we see the sign closed for kitchen renovation we best be looking that eaterie up on the B of H site!! Except for rare occasion that seems to be a code word for.. you know what..LOl!!

Often places will paper over the DOH sign put on the window as not to scare off customers--or hang a sign right over it claiming they're renovating. Eater.com has about a million pictures of this at both high and low end places.

jamzer · May 2007

Nothing wrong with a bad inspection report as long as the problem gets fixed.

carnivore · May 2007

Jamzer wrote: Nothing wrong with a bad inspection report as long as the problem gets fixed.

Yeah. They should actually promote it with a sign on the front door:

Now meeting the minimum acceptable standards of the Board of Health

veets · May 2007

Well we had dinner there Thursday Night.

LIght dinner.
THis is not a restaurant review..
Many of us have enjoyed the food ...report ....still reason to enjoy..
We had one creamy shrimp soup, one seafood soup( I think that is new on menu), One octopus entree which hubbie ate (I thought it was terrible!) and half a chicken (and that was delectible and sumptuous and just the best) Half picher of sangria and one Merlot (for me).. Three people ate.. I swear I won't tell you the bill (I forgot) or the tip (cause you fiends will attack me) But bottom line..

I peed before I left house so no bathroom trip.. Review.. Glad they are open and I was brave enough .

sennheiserz · May 2007

Hey gang, I used to work as the bartender there before I moved to the one in Carroll Gardens and eventually quit. The new renovations are really cool, yeah, they repainted but they also overhauled the bar and did some interesting tile work. The also allegedly overhauled the kitchen as well (and lord knows it needed it) but I didn't see it with my own eyes.

I never saw any animals when I was worked there but it was pretty gross, hopefully its better now...

Coco Roco Reopens

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