BREAKING: Health Dept. Closes Di Fara Pizza
Noooooo!!!!!!
Slice reader Gabriel S. just emailed me: "Went by Di Fara looking for a slice today and saw that they were shut by the board of health yesterday. Do you have any details?"
I just called Dom DeMarco proprietor of legendary Brooklyn pizzeria Di Fara. He was at the restaurant, and he confirms that the Department of Health has closed the place "for little things."
"They say I've gotta wear gloves now—and a hat," Mr. DeMarco said. "It's all little things, like everybody else."
Despite the crap news, Dom seemed pretty chipper, taking things in stride. "I'd only wear a hat if I were bald. I'd rather pay the fine than wear the hat."
Mr. DeMarco estimates he'll be open again for business by Tuesday.
"I think it's their way of forcing me to take a little break," he said, jokingly.
Related: Latex Gloves in the Professional Kitchen? from the Serious Eats Talk section.
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8 Comments:
It takes a bit more than "little things" to get a restaurant closed for health code violation. From the many stories I've read about this place, I doubt I would ever take a trip to experience this so-called best pizza. Now that something like this has happened, I guarantee I won't go.
NickDavid at 7:49PM on 03/16/07
Actually, ND, it doesn't take much to get shut down. One salad dressing two degrees to warm can do it (well, that's a slight exaggeration...maybe two or three salad dressings). The reason more restaurants aren't temporarily shut down is because of the lack of staff. The Dept. of health has far fewer employees walking the beat that you can imagine for a city this size. And the only reason "better" restaurants don't seem to get cited for these minor offenses is...ummm...cash.
That being said, of course he should be wearing gloves. But a Dept of Health shutdown wouldn't necessarily keep me from a restaurant. I think they even have to post the offenses on the door. I'd check those out before making the decision to go back. Two degrees off a salad dressing? I'll be back. Video on the news of rats on the grill?
Not so much.
misssbhavens at 10:07PM on 03/16/07
Gloves? Gimme a break. Those pizzas come out of his oven so hot no germ could survive. Dom makes great pizza and he'll never wear a hat. I'll be there tuesday.
Hamburger America at 12:11AM on 03/17/07
I don't want to get all Bourdain about it but some of the best food I've eaten has come from the dirtiest restaurants.
Christopher Balla at 3:41PM on 03/17/07
This being some of the best food.
Christopher Balla at 3:45PM on 03/17/07
Gawker has a piece on it - looks like report from DOH, more detail. Mice related.
http://gawker.com/news/brooklyn/di-fara-pizza-one-slice-free-droppings-245575.php
kid.kreplach at 2:20PM on 03/20/07
To Nick David:
If you don't go, you will miss one of the truly great eating experiences I have ever had. Dom's pizza's are works of Art.
pjk at 10:28AM on 03/25/07
Looks like it was quite a bit of disgusting things that got them closed down, but there is no shortage of great pizza. Right when Di Fara is back open thats probably the best time to grab some because they'll have to actually pass this time (right?). What irritates me is that DeMarco wasn't honest with us.
digt at 4:27PM on 03/26/07