Patrons leave popular Glenelg eatery Beach Burrito after spotting unwelcome rodent guest

Hungry punters at a popular restaurant were left horrified after an unwelcome visitor scooted by – with many guests leaving in disgust.

Patrons at a popular Glenelg eatery were left horrified after a rat did a dash across the restaurant.

A diner at Beach Burrito Co, who did not wish to be named, captured vision of the rodent scampering from the ceiling in the upstairs section of the restaurant, before it scuttled across the floor.

The vision was captured last Monday night, April 12, and obtained by Seven News. It also shows diners leaving the restaurant in disgust.

Vision of a rodent upstairs at Beach Burrito at Glenelg on Monday last week. Picture: Seven News

The rodent makes a dash across the floor at Beach Burrito at Glenelg on Monday last week. Picture: Seven News

Beach Burrito Co chief operating officer Angus Warren said the video showed the less glamorous side of hospitality.

“I’ve had a chance to view the video, and it’s always a little surprising to see a visitor where you don’t want them,” he said.

“But things like this are a fact of life. It’s part and parcel of living and operating a business in a densely populated and built up area.

“We all enjoy the great benefits of living and working in such a vibrant and busy suburb, but it’s never without its challenges.”

Mr Warren said like all food businesses on Jetty Rd at Glenelg, Beach Burrito undergo routine inspections from City of Holdfast Bay health inspectors.

“In the past seven years we have always enjoyed at least a four-star rating (with five being the highest possible),” he said.

Mr Warren said the most recent inspection was on Wednesday, April 15.

He said the biggest issue when dealing with pest issues was that on one side of Beach Burrito Co’s building they have a derelict tenancy, which has been vacant for almost 10 years.

Beach Burrito Co is a popular dining option along Jetty Road. Pic: Dylan Coker

“On our other side we have an old building that has just had major renovations performed so you can imagine what that has done for the local furry friend population,” he said.

“I remind everyone that we at Beach Burrito take the health and safety of our customers as our highest priority and maintain best practice food handling procedures in our kitchen.

“This video unfortunately showed the less glamorous side of hospitality that every operator is aware of.”

Mr Warren said Beach Burrito employed a company to inspect, maintain and perform the necessary tasks required to keep incidents like this from happening.

“Nevertheless, they will always happen despite best endeavours. Our professional team are all over this report and they are doing everything they can and need to be doing.”

A spokeswoman for the Holdfast Bay Council said that since July 1 last year, 205 inspections of food premises in the council area had been undertaken, with only five fines issued.