Two popular restaurants located in Dublin’s city centre were issued with closure orders by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in September.
A Closure Order is served where it is deemed that there is or there is likely to be a grave and immediate danger to public health at or on the premises.
According to the inspector’s notes published online, both restaurants were found to be a ‘serious risk’ to customers’ health due to the high potential for contamination.
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Rodent droppings were found in store rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, meaning there was a prominent presence of rats on site - which could ultimately contaminate food and drinks being served.
The two restaurants affected by the closure orders were:
- Prime Steak Ltd. trading as Rustic Stone on South Great George’s Street
- Bow Lane restaurant on Augnier Street
A statement recorded by the inspector at Rustic Stone noted: “There was a loose wooden covering over a gap in the wall directly behind cooking appliances and adjacent to dry store.”
It went on to say, “Rodent droppings were also noted in under stairs structure behind hot hold unit. This structure was open and led to the kitchen.”
The inspector then gave reasoning for the closure order and said: “The above conditions lead to a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely to render the food unfit for human consumption.”
As for Bow Lane, the inspector found “multiple holes and gaps in walls and ceilings both interior and exterior. These were noted throughout the premises on the ground floor and first floor.”
They went on to say rodent droppings were found “in the ground floor hallway leading to the keg room and drink stores. There were droppings noted in the area behind the ice machine.”
They also found rodent droppings in the staff toilets, in the bottle store room, and in the hallway leading to it.
The official also noted the door to the roof was open during the inspection, and rat droppings were found both on the roof and by the door.
Finally, the inspector revealed that “rodent droppings were present in the kitchen beneath and behind equipment.”
Similar to the above, the inspector said the reason for the closure order was that “the above conditions lead to a serious risk of food being contaminated with pathogenic bacteria likely to render the food unfit for human consumption.”
Both of these orders may be lifted if the premises has improved to the satisfaction of the authorised officer.
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