Two more restaurants found untidy, fined

A day after a popular restaurant was asked to shut operations for not maintaining cleanliness, health officials from the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) conducted inspections at two more restaurants on Church Street on Wednesday.

BBMP Health Standing Committee Chairman, S Venkatesh Babu, along with other officials, inspected Three Quarter Chinese and Coconut Grove. On finding the kitchen and surrounding areas dirty, the restaurant owners were asked to pay a fine of Rs 10,000. They were asked to keep the restaurants closed till they rectify the mistakes.

“I have asked the owners and staff to keep the kitchen clean and close them till it is done,” Venkatesh Babu told Deccan Herald. While the staff of Three Quarter Chinese denied that there was an inspection, the manager of Coconut Grove, Aravindan, admitted to the inspection by a BBMP team.

“We were not asked to pay any fine but advised to maintain the kitchen and surrounding areas clean,” he added. On Tuesday, the BBMP officials from the East zone had carried out an inspection at Koshy’s. A show cause notice was issued and a fine of Rs 25,000 was imposed on the owner.

“Old stoves and rusted vessels including a hot water boiler belonging to the British era were being used there. The restaurant owner has assured us that he will replace it and upgrade the kitchen in two days,” said one of the BBMP officials.

Despite the showcause notice, Koshy’s was kept open on Wednesday teeming with loyal patrons. Niranjan J, who has been visiting the restaurant for over a decade now, admitted that the place lacks hygiene. “The only reason why people come here is due to its laid back atmosphere and also because it is kept open till late in the night,” he said.