Urban Curry, Avalon: Cockroaches found in popular Indian restaurant
A cockroach infestation in a popular northern beaches restaurant ended up with the eatery’s owner in Manly court.
Manly
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A council food inspector discovered an infestation of cockroaches at a once popular northern beaches’ restaurant that received a 4.7 out of five star rating review, Manly Local Court has heard.
The court heard inspector also found an accumulation of “visible matter” on equipment in the kitchen of the Urban Curry Indian restaurant at Avalon Beach.
And, the court heard, cracked and missing tiles as well as dirty shelves and dirt around a hand wash basin led to the restaurant owner being charged with failing to comply with the Food Standards Code.
Last year the restaurant, on the corner of Barrenjoey and Careel Head roads, was given a 4.7 out of 5 rating by review website Restaurant Guru. It has also received four out of five stars from Google and Facebook.
Manly Local Court was told that the council inspector visited the premises in January 2019.
An agreed facts sheet tendered to court said Urban Curry had already been handed two prior penalty notices in March 2018 for failing to take measures to “eradicate and prevent harbourage of pests” and “failing to ensure food contact surfaces were clean and in a sanitary condition”.
It had also received three improvement notices in relation to cleaning and pests.
The facts sheet contained a series of photographs taken by the council inspector in January last year. Two of the photos showed live cockroaches.
Other images show a build up of what appears to be old grease on walls and fixtures.
The court heard the inspector discovered “multiple cockroaches” underneath a bench next to a hand wash basin.
Magistrate Michelle Goodwin said there had “certainly been a history of noncompliance”.
The restaurant has been closed since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its owner Charan Pratap Singh, who was not in court, now works as a casual truck driver.
His solicitor Charly Tannous said the hygiene breaches were not found as a result of customer complaints.
Mr Tannous said his client, who had four staff, cleaned the premises daily. He also submitted that the restaurant was regularly visited by a pest control business “however it appears it was not doing its job properly”.
Ms Goodwin convicted Mr Singh and fined him $200. He also had to pay the council’s legal costs of $2000.