STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A Stapleton restaurant that drew attention last summer as the backdrop for a campaign appearance by then-mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani has since closed—and officials say it never obtained a New York City health permit.
Istanbul Bay Authentic Mediterranean Restaurant, known as Istanbul Bay by its facade, at 500 and 502 Bay St., did not reopen for business last week. The Turkish restaurant opened in mid-June 2024.
Istanbul Bay on Staten Island at 500-502 Bay St. has operated since mid-June of 2024, although it never had a license from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri
Based on social media posts, the restaurant’s ownership closed voluntarily. A farewell message thanked customers and said, “We leave proud of what we created, the standards we kept, and the experience we offered every single day.”
Istanbul Bay thanked guests for their support. Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri
The restaurant had also drawn scrutiny earlier this year at a Community Board 1 meeting, where residents questioned why no DOHMH letter grade was posted in its window.
This week, following an inquiry by the Advance/SILive.com, a representative for the New York City health department said Istanbul Bay, 500–502 Bay St., “has never applied for or been issued a New York City Health Department food service establishment permit.” The statement was prefaced by a note that “the NYC Health Department promotes the safety of food served in the city’s restaurants by issuing permits and conducting inspections so New Yorkers and visitors can dine without fear of getting sick.”
Neighbors of the now-closed restaurant have complained that the eatery did not have a letter grade posted on its window. This is a look into the place as it is being cleaned out. Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri
Additionally, a representative from the New York State Health Department said there was no license on file with its office and referred questions back to New York City inspectors for jurisdiction. The agency noted that “food service establishments are permitted and inspected by the local health department with jurisdiction over the city or county where the establishment is located,” meaning the restaurant would not hold a state-issued food service license.
Istanbul Bay on Staten Island had almost a two-year run. Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri
Calls to other locations in the chain—in Bensonhurst and Bay Ridge—yielded mixed responses, though both acknowledged the Staten Island closure. A worker at 8002 Fifth Ave. said they were not quite sure about the Staten Island restaurant’s status, while a person who answered at 8605 Bay Parkway said the Staten Island business was closed for renovations after checking with a colleague.
Separately, a social media post from the Istanbul Bay location in Bay Ridge shows Mamdani visiting as a customer on April 1.
Timeline raises questions about permit compliance
The lack of a permit raises questions about how long the restaurant may have operated without a required city approval. According to social media posts, its official opening day was June 18, 2024.
Earlier in 2026, residents reported at a Community Board 1 meeting covering Stapleton, Clifton and Concord that the business appeared to be operating without a license. With no letter grade posted in the window, as required by the city health code, the concern was later conveyed verbally to the full board in March.
According to its Facebook account, Istanbul Bay on Staten Island opened on June 18, 2024.Advance/SILive.com | Pamela Silvestri
New Yorkers can report restaurants operating without a permit by calling 311 or filing a report online. The city Health Department is also investigating, according to a source familiar with the matter.
Dining and Cooking