The New York City Health Department closed Empire Szechuan Kyoto, a longtime Chinese restaurant at 193 Columbus Ave. on the Upper West Side, after an Oct. 20 inspection scored 64 violation points. City inspection records list evidence of mice, live roaches, filth flies, and cold food held above 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
That score is more than double the 28 points that would earn a C — under the city’s system, a lower score is better. As of Oct. 27, the city’s public inspection data showed no reopening inspection for the restaurant, which sits between West 68th and 69th streets.
For neighbors who order from the restaurant, the practical point is simple. Before placing a takeout or delivery order, check the restaurant’s status in the city’s ABCEats restaurant lookup, since an app listing alone does not show whether a kitchen has passed inspection.
Ten Violations Behind the Closure
The city’s restaurant inspection data records the Oct. 20 visit as a cycle re-inspection and lists the action as “Establishment Closed by DOHMH.” Inspectors cited 10 violations, seven of them marked critical…