Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Crocodile Lounge, Home Of Booze And Free Pizza, Shut Down Over Vermin
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Mar 7, 2014
Modified Mar 7, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Published Mar 7, 2014
Modified Mar 7, 2014
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Crocodile Lounge, the east side home of free pizza and not-so-free booze, has been shut down by the Department of Health for a variety of health code violations including evidence of live rats and mice in the kitchen.
After posting on their Facebook page on Wednesday night that they had "a major pipe burst in the bar," the restaurant remains closed not because of a burst pipe, but because of a series of health code violations.
The sanitary violations (which can be read in their entirety on the DOH website), include:
1) Evidence of rats or live rats present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
2) Evidence of mice or live mice present in facility's food and/or non-food areas.
3) Food not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
4) Wiping cloths soiled or not stored in sanitizing solution.
5) Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to attracting vermin to the premises and/or allowing vermin to exist.
Crocodile Lounge also failed to post the "All Employees Must Wash hands” sign in their bathroom, which is honestly kind of a gimme.
"Everyone has a job to do and [the Health inspectors] are just doing their job," an employee of Crocodile Lounge told Gothamist. Crocodile Lounge plans to reopen tonight, and claims that they did have pipe breaks that contributed to them closing for two days.
[H/T DNAinfo]
Tagged
cleanliness
Crocodile Lounge
department of health
Health Code violation
Max Rivlin-Nadler
Max Rivlin-Nadler has been a contributor to Gothamist since 2013. He has also reported for the New York Times, NPR, and The Intercept. His years-long investigation into New York City's arcane civil forfeiture laws led to a series of reforms which altered a practice that had been taking millions from poor communities for decades. Recently, he brought back a surfing habit from a few years on the west coast, and would love to see you all out in the Rockaways.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Published Oct 19, 2026 at 1:31 p.m. ET
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
Food
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
Egyptian, Moroccan, Algerian and Tunisian food is delicious but underrepresented in the city.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .