EVERY week in the Oxford Mail, we investigate restaurant hygiene at eateries across the city on behalf of our readers.
We celebrate the good, but also highlight the bad to give readers the most informed choice possible.
But what happened to the places that we’ve covered in the past?
We have gone back a year to look at some of the less favourable hygiene reports from across Oxford and see if things have improved.
Sushimania, Park End Street, Oxford
When was it inspected?
Inspectors went in four months after it opened in October 2017 and weren’t impressed by what they found.
What was wrong with it?
The restaurant got a two-star rating after hygiene teams raised concerns its salmon, sea bass and tuna might not be safe.
They also discovered ‘sticky and dirty’ drawers and raw meat stored close to ice cream.
What did the restaurant say?
Sushimania said it was ‘disappointed’ not all the appropriate procedures were being followed and said that chefs and management had undergone ‘in-depth’ coaching as a result.
Has it improved?
Yes! The team has delivered on its promise to improve and secured a four-star rating (the second best available) when inspectors went back in on June 7 last year.
Euro Supermarket, Cowley Road, Oxford
When was it inspected?
Inspectors went to the convenience store in February 2018
What was wrong with it?
Officers discovered a number of problems, including raw meat being stored near ready to eat foods, confusion over the sell-by dates of smoked meat, and the lack of a food safety management system.
The inspectors’ report read: “You must not store any food or drink in the yard as they are exposed to pests. “The bathroom window must be closed at night to avoid allowing rodents and pests in.”
It added: “Food must not be stored on the floor of the walk-in fridge or freezer to avoid contamination and to allow adequate cleaning.
“Raw meat must be stored separately or below ready to eat products in the fridges and freezers to avoid cross contamination.”
It got a one-star rating.
What did the owners say?
They did not comment
Has it improved?
Yes! Inspectors went in on February 19 this year and were impressed by the changes that had been made. They awarded Euro Supermarket a four-star rating.
Unfortunately, the supermarket was found to be selling fake cigarettes following a raid by trading standards.
Oxford’s Grill, Cowley Road
When was it inspected?
City council inspectors visited the takeaway in January 2018.
What was wrong with it?
It was criticised over out-of-date smoked salmon and ‘unsafe’ beef carpaccio.
Oxford’s Grill, which also serves Mediterranean food, was given a one-star food hygiene rating.
The inspectors found a range of problems, including a dirty kitchen and walls, a risk of rodents entering the premises and unsafe food. Beef carpaccio – which is served raw – must only be served if a method to ensure its safety is used, such as controls in the supply chain, or ‘sear and shave’ which sees the outside of the meat cooked then shaved off.
Inspectors said: “You serve beef carpaccio but have no methods in place to ensure it is safe to eat – you serve it directly from the raw delivered meat with no treatment.
“You must not sell the beef carpaccio unless you put in place a safe method ie sear and shave,”
They also found two packs of smoked salmon beyond their use-by date of December 31 – 10 days before the inspection.
What did the owners say?
Manager Fetai Karabulut said he was ‘shocked’ by the rating but had made improvements and hoped for a revisit
He said: “Originally the inspector said it would be a three so I was shocked.”
Has it improved?
Yes! Inspectors revisited on July 23, 2018, and gave Oxford’s Grill three stars – two more than before.
Grillers and Pizzas, Cowley Road
When was it inspected?
City council inspectors visited the takeaway in August 2018.
What was wrong with it?
It was shut and issued with a Hygiene Emergency Prohibition Notice on August 1 last year for multiple food hygiene failures.
These included 'filthy conditions, no hot water, contamination risks and heavy fly activity'.
The council’s decision to close the fast food restaurant, which was previously the location of Peri Peri Original takeaway, was supported by Oxford Magistrates’ Court.
It was allowed to reopen after two days when the council’s environmental health officers were satisfied that the risks to health had been removed.
What did the owners say?
They did not comment
Has it improved?
No, not in terms of its hygiene rating. Though the fly problem has been solved, the takeaway still has its zero star rating – the worst possible. It received the score on August 1, 2018 and as of April 17, has not been reinspected either at the owners’ or council’s request.
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