Grot Melbourne restaurants 2024: CuPanda, Lambs on Lygon, Old Durbar, Little Tim Tam exposed
EXPOSED: Peking duck kept with rat poo, cockroaches near raw food and heated arguments with health inspectors are just some of the incidents at Melbourne’s filthiest restaurants.
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Health inspectors are back out in force dredging through Melbourne’s grottiest restaurants and exposing heinous conditions to keep the community safe from food poisoning.
Multiple Victorian eateries including a city chow shop which handled Peking duck with rat poo, a Lygon St institution which was caught with a dead rodent and an Indian joint which had a heated moment with health inspectors have been named and shamed this year.
See the full list.
CUPANDA KITCHEN
A mouse-infested Chinese restaurant was caught operating in “revolting” conditions which included allowing rat poo to be in contact with cooked meat.
CuPanda Kitchen boss Dianping Zheng closed his business down after Melbourne City Council health inspectors discovered horrifying breaches during multiple inspections.
Inspectors first hit CuPanda after it received a “complaint regarding alleged food hygiene concerns” in September 2022.
Inspectors ran an eye over CuPanda which Zheng had operated at the ground floor of the old UniLodge building at 106 A’Beckett St.
Council inspectors spotted filth including rat droppings on eating utensils and shelving at the restaurant located in earshot of Victoria Market.
Grease and grime build up, food debris, uncovered raw and cooked food, kitchen and food preparation area clutter, broken taps and inadequate access to hand wash basins were also observed.
Inspectors also spotted “unacceptable” breaches including processed food stored uncovered on benches overnight and “large uncovered sauces” stored under a handwash basin.
The council, which also detected rampant rodent activity, ordered CuPanda be shut down immediately.
CuPanda and Zheng were able to rectify the issues and reopen to customers but the council returned almost 12 months later to discover filth had again engulfed the premises.
Inspectors discovered many of the same issues from its 2022 visit and evidence of “live mouse activity” in the food preparation area during last September’s inspection.
Alarmingly, inspectors also discovered rodent droppings in contact with stale meat juice and food including Peking duck and pork belly.
The council also found Zheng failed to “eradicate and prevent the harbourage of pests” in food preparation areas.
The council again ordered Zheng be closed down until all breaches were rectified.
CuPanda eventually reopened on October 5 last year but, according to Zheng, closed its doors for good in March this year.
Magistrate Belinda Franjic was scathing in her evaluation of CuPanda and Zheng’s conduct.
“(The photos) are revolting to look at … they depict premises that were filthy, clearly unhygienic and, even to the most untrained of eyes, clearly fell well short of any food standards and anything that a reasonable person will regard as appropriate conditions for food preparation and storage …,” she said.
Zheng and his company Nick & Alex Pty Ltd were convicted and collectively fined $38,000.
Zheng, 52, of Balwyn North, was also ordered to pay Melbourne City Council $11,328 in court costs.
CRINITI’S CARLTON
Pest-riddled Italian restaurant Criniti’s Carlton was convicted and fined a whopping aggregate $65,000 for multiple food act breaches.
CCPR Pty Ltd, which owned the Carlton venue of the restaurant chain, failed, when storing food, to store the food in such a way that it is protected from the likelihood of contamination.
The Faraday hot spot did fail, when storing potentially hazardous food, to store it under temperature control.
Criniti’s Carlton also failed to maintain food premises to a standard of cleanliness where there is no accumulation of food waste.
The business also failed to maintain all fixtures, fittings and equipment, having regard to its use, and those parts of vehicles that are used to transport food, and other items provided by the business to purchasers to transport food, to a standard of cleanliness where there is no accumulation of food waste.
Criniti’s Carlton also failed to take all practicable measures to eradicate and prevent the harbourage of pests on the food premises and those parts of vehicles that are used to transport food.
CCPR Pty Ltd, which offended in October 2022 but was convicted in January, was also ordered to pay $3465 costs.
LAMBS ON LYGON
Late night Carlton institution Lambs On Lygon kept serving customers despite being ordered to close after dead mice, cockroaches and rat droppings were found littered throughout the grubby restaurant.
Health inspectors swarmed Stephen Yannoulidis’s popular Lygon St hangout after Melbourne Council received several complaints mice and cockroaches were “observed” at the eatery.
Inspectors ran their eyes over the restaurant multiple times between August 2022 and March last year.
The court heard the inspectors uncovered “revolting” conditions throughout food preparation and customer service areas at the bustling Greek souvlaki restaurant.
Grubby breaches spotted by inspectors included “evidence” of “live pest activity”.
Inspectors also detected dead mice, “mature” cockroaches, rat droppings and rodent faeces near or where raw food was prepared for customers.
A dead cockroach was found in the cocktail shaker at the venue’s bar and a live cockroach was spotted among take away food containers.
A dead mouse was spotted on the floor within the “service bar” and rodent faeces were also found in the customer service area.
Mice faeces was also spotted on the bench in the “servery” during each inspection.
Rat poo was also discovered in the cool room near raw onions and scattered throughout the business, the court was told.
Health inspectors also discovered food and grime build up on a rotisserie spit holder, rodent droppings at the base of a rusted dough mixer and raw meat in contact with packaged plastic water bottles.
Dirt and grime was found throughout the kitchen and food preparation areas and disgusting “ponding” water seeped in the coolroom.
An inspector also spotted a kitchen door which was left open to the street was not supervised nor “pest proof”.
Council officers had enough and ordered Lambs on Lygon St close down to rectify its grubby standards on March 10 last year.
The council also ordered Lambs display the food act closure notice in a prominent position but Yannoulidis defied inspectors and kept his pest-riddled business open and serving customers for a week.
Yannoulidis, who has run Lambs at the same location since 1982, also failed to display the notice where it could be easily seen.
Magistrate Michael Gurvich said the food safety breaches were “revolting”.
Yannoulidis and Lambs on Lygon St both avoided a conviction but were fined $25,000 each and ordered to pay $7727.50 in court costs.
TIRUPATI INDIAN GROCERY MINI MART AND RESTAURANT
Tirupati Indian Grocery Mini Mart and Restaurant Werribee’s various food act breaches were so serious the grotty venue was prosecuted at the County Court.
Thirupathi Peddi, who owns the Glen St business, was convicted and fined $46,000.
Peddi admitted, on behalf of the business, to assault, obstruct or attempt to obstruct, threaten, abuse, insult, intimidate or attempt to intimidate an authorised officer or other person in the exercise of his powers or authorities … (under the Food Act).
Peddi, who was convicted in February this year, was also ordered to pay $80,000 in court costs after failed to comply with multiple food safety orders.
The breaches, which occurred between May 2021 and March 2022, included handling food intended for sale in a manner that will render, or is likely to render, the food unsafe.
did handle food intended for sale in a manner that will render, or is likely to render, the food unsafe.
Tirupati Indian Grocery Mini Mart and Restaurant also handled food intended for sale in a manner that will render, or is likely to render, the food unsafe.
The business, which was prosecuted by Wyndham Council, handled food intended for sale in a manner that will render, or is likely to render, the food unsafe.
The Indian hotspot also failed to maintain food premises and all fixtures, fittings and equipment, having regard to their use, and those parts of vehicles that are used to transport food, and other items provided by the business to purchasers to transport food, in a good state of repair and working order having regard to their use.
The business also failed to take all practicable measures to prevent pests entering the food premises and have facilities for the storage of garbage and recyclable matter that adequately contain the volume and type of garbage recyclable matter on the food premises.
Peddi also failed to have hand washing facilities that are located where they can be easily accessed by food handlers.
It also failed to take all practicable measures to prevent pests entering the food premises
and failed where potentially hazardous food is handled, to have a temperature measuring device that can accurately measure the temperature of potentially hazardous food.
LITTLE TIM TAM
Trendy Chapel Street restaurant Little Tim Tam had rodent poo in its kitchen, where a dead cockroach and fly were also found inside a container of flour.
The Prahran Asian fusion restaurant which serves “Thai and Vietnamese inspired flavours” was dobbed in for “unsanitary conditions” by a member of Victoria Police in April 2022.
A Stonnington Council food safety inspection uncovered raw meat stored outside a fridge and rodent droppings on kitchen shelves.
The restaurant was ordered to clean up its act but failed a second inspection where more rodent poo was found in addition to the dead cockroach and fly.
A live cockroach was also found living in a hole in the wall.
The company was slapped with an $1875 fine but failed to pay it, resulting in criminal charges which were heard at the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in August.
Magistrate Michael Gurvich, who ordered the company pay $3000, which included costs to Stonnington Council, condemned the food safety breaches, saying consumers deserved better.
“The defendant understands these breaches are unacceptable,” he said.
“They are revolting and occurred on two separate occasions.”
The court heard Little Tim Tam eventually rectified its “noncompliance” issues and requested the fine be transferred to a payment plan on the basis of financial hardship.
“This is not the most serious end of offending. I do not intend to impose a conviction in these circumstances,” Magistrate Gurvich said.
AASHIANA INDIAN RESTAURANT
The owner of Balwyn eatery Aashiana Indian Restaurant was convicted earlier this year after breaching the Food Act.
The Belmore Rd business was fined $5000 and ordered to pay $122.50 in court costs after it supplied food “by way of sale that was not of the nature or substance demanded by the purchaser”.
Aashiana Indian Restaurant breached the act in May last year but the conviction was recorded in May this year.
OLD DURBAR FLINDERS
Grubby Melbourne restaurant Old Durbar Flinders was serving customers while infested with rats and cockroaches and littered with rodent droppings.
The City of Melbourne prosecuted Old Durbar Flinders owner Ramesh KC Pty Ltd after a customer complained about an “alleged sighting of pests” at the Nepalese eatery.
A council health inspector who investigated detected multiple alarming food safety breaches at the prominently placed venue directly opposite Flinders St Station in June last year.
The Melbourne Magistrates’ Court heard the inspector eyeballed grotty conditions throughout the premises including “cockroach activity” in a bar cupboard.
Cockroaches were also discovered nestled above and beneath the dishwasher and in gaps along the wall.
Fridge temperatures were found to be at dangerously high levels and more cockroaches were also discovered in the kitchen.
Rodent droppings were also discovered in a storage shelf above a food preparation bench and on other kitchen shelves.
Exposed food was also discovered in the fridge and freezer units and the stove and ovens were found to be dirty with grease build up and “other visible matter”.
A benchtop chopping board was stained due to inadequate cleaning and grease was found built up on the floors and wall of the kitchen.
The rear door to the alleyway allowed “pest entry” to the restaurant, the court was told.
“Heavy rodent droppings” were also discovered throughout the dry storage area and on multiple food packets.
The court heard several food items and containers were found to be “contaminated” and cockroaches were also discovered in the rear food storage area.
The inspector also observed a live rodent scurrying along the shelf of a food storage area.
Conditions in the dry store including unrequited equipment “enabled the harbourage and breeding of pests”.
The council ordered Old Durbar Flinders, which was first registered in October 2021, shut its doors on June 20.
The owners were also ordered to affix a food act closure order notice in a prominent position at the entrance of the restaurant.
The restaurant was ordered to remain closed until the owners had rectified grubby conditions and could not reopen until it was safe to serve food to the public.
The owner, represented at court by co-director Suganya Navaratnam, closed its doors but defied council orders to display the notice.
Inspectors swarmed the restaurant the next day and found some breaches had been rectified but “significant rodent activity” was “still evident”.
Old Durbar Flinders reopened after all breaches had been rectified and the closure order was revoked on June 23.
The court heard inspectors examined Old Durbar Flinders again on August 19 but the restaurant passed without any further breaches.
Ramesh KC Pty Ltd avoided a conviction but was fined $2000 and ordered to pay $4780 in court costs.
NOW & THEN CAFE
Kew coffee spot Now & Then Cafe was convicted and fined an aggregate $30,000 for multiple food act breaches.
Then Holdings Pty Ltd, which owns the High St cafe, breached the act multiple times on August 21 last year.
Now & Then Cafe, which was convicted in May this year,
Then Holdings Pty Ltd was also ordered to pay costs of $168.62.
Now & Then Cafe did fail, when processing food, to take all necessary steps to prevent the likelihood of food being contaminated.
The business also failed to maintain at or near each hand wash facility, a supply of warm running water.
The cafe did fail to provide, at or near each hand washing facility single use towels or other means of effectively drying hands that are not likely to transfer pathogenic microorganisms to the hands.
Now & Then Cafe did fail to maintain all fixtures, fittings and equipment, having regard to its use, and those parts of vehicles that are used to transport food, and other items provided by the business to purchasers to transport food, to a standard of cleanliness where there is no accumulation of food waste.
Then Holdings Pty Ltd failed to maintain food premises and all fixtures, fittings and equipment, having regard to their use, and those parts of vehicles that are used to transport food, and other items provided by the business to purchasers to transport food, in a good state of repair and working order having regard to their use.
The business also failed to take all practicable measures to prevent pests entering the food premises.
The cafe did fail to ensure the design and construction of food premises, to the extent that is practicable.
It also did fail to ensure fixtures and fittings be designed, constructed, located and installed, and equipment be designed, constructed, located and, if necessary, installed, so that there is no likelihood that they will cause food contamination.
SARAWAK KITCHEN
Rat-infested Clayton Malaysian restaurant Sarawak Kitchen was busted with rat poo and dead rodents in contact with meat and other food.
Sarawak Kitchen owner Joe Wang pleaded guilty at the Moorabbin Magistrates’ Court this month to multiple Food Act breaches.
The filthy eatery was closed by a Monash council health inspector in December 2022, after a routine inspection uncovered the breaches.
The court heard an inspector attended the Clayton Rd restaurant on November 2, where they noted 13 breaches including a cool room with a temperature of 16.3C.
The cool room stored high risk foods – including chicken, fish and pork – with one bowl of marinated pork showing a reading of 14.1C.
The court heard the inspector gave the restaurant a high risk rating, before organising a follow up inspection to “assess improvements”.
The inspector returned on two more occasions, each time finding the restaurant operating while still in breach of the Food Act.
On the third visit, the court heard Wang had flown back to Melbourne from Malaysia to be present for the inspection.
The restaurant was operating as takeaway only, as well as fulfilling pre-existing catering orders.
Wang told the inspector he and his brother were “selling the business and would stop takeaway” the following week.
“Some orders have been paid for in advance, they need to be fulfilled,” he said.
During the third inspection, the cool room and food inside were temperature tested again, with a bowl of fried fish returning a 17.1C reading.
The inspector also noted evidence of a “significant rodent infestation”, including poo droppings around food preparation areas and on cooking equipment.
On the final inspection on December 22, the inspector found the Sarawak Kitchen had closed with no change to the conditions inside.
The court heard the rodent infestation had increased, where the inspector witnessed rodents running through the storage area and another one dead in a food bowl.
Sarawak Kitchen never opened its doors to the public again.
Magistrate Angela Bolger said the restaurant “shouldn’t have been allowed to degenerate to the point it had”.
“These are serious matters – they involve legislative rules to protect the public from harm,” she said.
“Falling short of the standards gives rise to risk which could result in a very real harm to the public.”
Wang’s business Tropical Kingdom was convicted and fined $45,000 and ordered to pay $14,784.23 in costs.
GROUNDWORK CAFE
A Ballarat cafe had rodent faeces and urine under shelves, thick oil and sludge deposits near fryers, and raw meat juice seeping throughout its fridges.
Dha Enterprises, which trades as Groundwork Cafe at Stockland Wendouree Shopping Centre, was sentenced in Ballarat Magistrates’ Court this month after pleading guilty to multiple Food Act breaches.
The court heard Dha Enterprises faced 44 charges over its failure to safely handle and store food, maintain proper records, and maintain a safe and clean environment between March 2023 and January 2024.
Over about 10 months, observations of the premises revealed broken crockery, oil and sludge pooling near cooking equipment, chicken blood and juices contaminating unprotected food, rodent faeces and urine in storage containers and on equipment and benches.
Rat droppings inside a sugar container, stagnant water pooling in a dishwasher, mould on walls, condiments such as mayonnaise being left at room temperature, food being unlabelled and out of temperature control was also discovered.
Photos taken by City of Ballarat environmental officers, who attended the shop on more than 15 separate occasions, depicted a “disorganised and revolting scene,” Magistrate Mark Stratmann said.
When the company’s director was interviewed, he said staff shortages were causing the issues.
His counsel told the court he had been “overwhelmed” after opening the cafe in May 2021 and being hit with Covid-related difficulties, such as the shutdown of Stockland Shopping Centre.
Although some improvements to the cafe’s conditions were made, the court heard they were “simply insufficient”, and the venue continually failed to meet its obligations.
Mr Stratmann said it was “remarkable that cases of food poisoning did not occur”.
He said the business’s management approach “compounded the nature and frequency of the breaches”.
Dha Enterprises was fined $40,000 and ordered to pay $8390 in costs.
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