The owners of Black Tree, the popular farm-to-table restaurant at 131 Orchard St., say they’ll be back open tonight after being shuttered by the Health Department earlier this week.
In an on site visit Wednesday, an inspector noted evidence of mice and rats, stated that a staff member’s “outer garment (was) soiled with (a) possible contaminant” and reported that “effective hair restraint (was) not worn” and that “(a) food (item was) not protected from (a) potential source of contamination.” The report also noted that a cold food item was “held above 41 degrees.”
A short time ago, co-owner Mac Sillick said the Health Department had cleared Black Tree to re-open. He said an exterminator had been on site three times in the past 24 hours to make sure all of the city agency’s concerns were addressed. A professional cleaning service came in for a top-to-bottom scrubbing of the storefront space.
Black Tree was opened by Silick and Sandy Dee Hall in 2013 and has won high praise for its creative sandwiches and locally-sourced entrees. The team is just beginning the buildout of a second restaurant in Williamsburg.
The closure was first reported by DNA Info.
