Following a failed health inspection on Thursday, October 24, Bagel Talk cleaned up its act and passed its re-inspection last week. The popular bagel shop at 368 Amsterdam Avenue (between 77th and 78th streets) has been serving the community since 1998.
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On Monday, Bagel Talk’s owner, Abid Islam, invited ILTUWS to check out their operation and discuss what happened.
“We never took our customers for granted,” said Islam as we sat at one of the tables outside his shop. “The buck stops with us, and we dropped the ball this time.” He explained that a basement freezer was the main reason for their previous score of 76, which led to the immediate shutdown. Behind a door in the next room is the building’s garbage disposal area, and the door sometimes swings open, allowing rats and bugs to get near the freezer. They’ve since stopped using that freezer and switched exterminators. Everything appeared neat and clean during our visit.
Bagel Talk earned a score of 4 in its first and only re-inspection on November 4 (a score of 13 and under is considered an A). However, they were issued two violations which are still open:
- “Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.”
- “Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.”
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“I believe in second chances,” said Gloria R., a customer who told ILTUWS she’d been coming to Bagel Talk for over a decade. “They make the best bagels in the neighborhood, and they’re really nice. My family loves coming here to sit down and commiserate with our neighbors.”
Another guest was surprised to learn that Bagel Talk had failed a previous health inspection. “It’s a little weird holding a bag of bagels from a shop you just found out failed a health inspection,” said a patron who asked to remain anonymous. “I’m not sure I want to bring these where I was planning to anymore. Thanks for telling me—I almost wish you didn’t,” they added with a laugh.
Islam also mentioned that Bagel Talk will be closed for a few weeks in January as they plan to do some renovations.
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Ewww.