Empire Wok restaurant reopens

WEBSTER – The Empire Wok restaurant was allowed to reopen this week after it had complied with all of the requirements stipulated by the Board of Health after a March 12 inspection by Health Agent Cathleen Liberty. . That inspection found eight critical violations that relate to food-borne illnesses, and the Board closed the restaurant on March on March 19. The bar was allowed to stay open.

“They successfully completed everything the Board asked them to do in order to reopen,” said Ms. Liberty.

The Board recommended that the restaurant increase the staff who are ServSafe certified, from just one, to two of the kitchen staff and two of the food prep staff, and that has been done.

Ms. Liberty also suggested that Empire Wok hire a  reputable food consultant to work with the staff to ensure ongoing compliance, and it has retained the Berger Food Safety Consulting company out of Boston.

Additionally, the restaurant hired a cleaning company who did “a spectacular job of cleaning the kitchen,” she said.

On a visit to the restaurant since it reopened, owner Dong Yeo Ying was happy to point out that he had taken advantage of the shutdown to do some renovation, including new carpeting throughout the restaurant and bar. He also rearranged the kitchen to accommodate a new walk-in cooler and make it more efficient.

Ms. Liberty said that normally food establishments are visited twice a year; Empire Wok will be inspected more frequently.