Hygiene inspectors found “multiple risks to food safety” at a popular Indian takeaway – including a mouldy freezer and a bucket of raw chicken being stored at room temperature.
Simla Brasserie in Cliftonville has hundreds of five-star ratings on food delivery app JustEat, but Thanet District Council officers found its facilities in a shocking state when they visited in May.
Simla Brasserie in Margate was given a one-out-of-five food safety rating. Picture: TDC
Grim pictures show the grimy services in the kitchen, described as being “heavily encrusted with grease and carbonised deposits”.
The inspectors also found the seal of the chest freezer was “covered in mould”, “dirty wiping cloths” and food being kept in black bin bags in a bin in the freezer.
They warned that the standard of cleaning in food areas was “very poor” – although things had improved by the time of a follow-up visit last month.
The original report following the May 22 inspection was damning, with the Northdown Road venue given a one-star rating out of five.
It said: “Equipment around the cooking ranges and oven were covered in grease and debris and heavily encrusted with grease and carbonised deposits.
Storage containers at Simla Brasserie in Margate were found to be dirty and encrusted with food. Picture: TDC
“At the time of visit, it was noted that cooked rice and a bucket of raw chicken were being stored at room temperature in the kitchen.
“These foods are high risk and will support the growth of food poisoning bacteria and must be kept at or below 8C.”
Staff at the tandoori kitchen were warned of multiple risks to food safety in the way they had been storing and handling food.
The hygiene report said: “For example, raw frozen prawns were stored directly above ready-to-eat foods, such as paneer, and raw meats stored above the other ready-to-eat foods in the kitchen chest freezer – this may result in cross-contamination.
“Some foods were being stored inside a bin lined with a black refuse bag in the kitchen chest freezer.
Inspectors ordered staff at Simla Brasserie in Margate to thoroughly clean the kitchen and food storage areas. Picture: TDCInspectors found touch points at Simla Brasserie in Margate – such as light switches – had a buildup of dirt and grease. Picture: TDC
“The majority of food containers that were used for food items in fridges, were dirty and appeared not to be effectively washed between uses, as multiple old labels were still on the containers and they were encrusted with food debris.”
TDC officials found various areas of the kitchen were filthy, including the walls, ceiling and floors and storage shelves.
A can opener was discovered dirty and encrusted with food and officers also complained there were no hygienic hand-drying facilities.
They advised thoroughly scrubbing and disinfecting the kitchen from top to bottom and maintaining it to a better standard going forward.
Returning to the restaurant on June 27, health inspectors found most of the required cleaning and repair work had been completed.
Simla Brasserie in Cliftonville, Margate, was revisited in June with inspectors finding “all required works have been carried out to an adequate standard”. Picture: Google Maps
“I am now satisfied that all required works have been carried out to an adequate standard,” the officer affirmed.
Simla was contacted for comment several times by KentOnline.