Chrysanthemum House, Doncaster East, closed due to food safety fears

Cockroaches, rats, stinking fly infested bins and dirty dishes piled up in the dining room were just some of the problems horrified inspectors allegedly found at this popular Doncaster restaurant.

Chrysanthemum House in Doncaster East has allegedly been in contravention of the Food Act since 2017, the court heard. Picture: Chrysanthemum House

A popular Doncaster East Chinese restaurant has been forced to close after allegedly contravening the Food Safety Act.

The four star rated Chrysanthemum House in Andersons Creek Rd was allegedly battling a severe rat and cockroach infestation when Manningham Council inspectors visited multiple times in 2019, the Ringwood Magistrates’ Court heard on Thursday, November 12.

Council prosecutor Georgie Ward told the court the eatery, owned by Qingbing Guo, had allegedly failed to meet food health and safety standards since 2017.

Worried inspectors made multiple surprise visits and allegedly found it crawling with cockroaches, a “substantial amount of rodent activity”, and dirty dishes stacked in the dining room, she told the court.

“There was food equipment stored in the toilet area, food stored on the kitchen floor, food stored in the cool room which was uncovered and exposed,” Ms Ward told the court.

“Food was stored unprotected from potential cross contamination and cockroaches were crawling around the food preparation and storage area.”

Horrified council staff were so disturbed by what they saw during an inspection in July, 2019, they ordered the restaurant’s kitchen hands to immediately throw out all the restaurant’s food lest it be consumed by an unsuspecting customer, she told the court.

But despite repeated warnings, the restaurant again flunked inspections months later in December last year and January this year after raw meat was allegedly found stored in washing baskets stacked on top of each other.

A foul odour was also discovered emanating from its leaking, fly-ridden outdoor bins, she told the court.

Mr Guo permanently closed his restaurant in February this year.

Chrysanthemum House carries a four star rating on Google and its website notes it prides itself on providing customers with an “authentic Chinese dining experience”.

Many customers complemented the restaurant’s tasty food in their reviews.

Others complained the prices were too expensive, service was slow and one disgusted customer wrote he found an insect in his meal.

Magistrate Tim Walsh adjourned the matter for a plea hearing in February.

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