A LEBANESE restaurant that was forced to temporarily close this summer due to a cockroach infestation in its kitchen has been revisited by hygiene inspectors.

Standards were found to have been transformed at Beirut Lebanese when members of Oxford City Council’s health team inspected it for a second time this year on October 2.

The Headington business was given the top rating of five stars, marking a complete turnaround from its previous zero-star score, which was awarded four months ago.

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It came at the same time as a forced closure which was prompted by a customer complaint about the Osler Road business, with officers from the council’s Business Regulation team called to investigate on June 20.

They found an active infestation of cockroaches in the kitchen posing a ‘significant risk of food contamination’.

A hygiene emergency prohibition notice was issued requiring immediate closure of the restaurant.

Following a hearing at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, the court issued a formal closure order until the business could show it was cockroach-free.

The creatures are serious pests because they have been found to carry disease-causing bacteria including Salmonella.

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Manager Abdul Humrash said he and his staff had 'worked very hard' to turn things around within six weeks and that inspectors had been impressed when they revisited the business. He added: "I want to thank our customers for continuing to support us.

"We have lots of local regulars and we are thankful they have come back since we reopened."

Of the three categories used to judge businesses, food hygiene and structural compliance – how clean the building is – were judged as 'very good', while confidence in management was 'high'.

Reviews for the restaurant since it reopened have been positive on website TripAdvisor.

One recent customer wrote: “So good to see this fantastic, cosy little restaurant back in operation. As we have in the past, we opted for a selection of (vegetarian- but they have meat-based and plant-based stuff too) mezze, and were not disappointed.

“The staff are friendly without being overbearing, the ambiance is great: a lovely evening meal for the two of us.”

Another glowing online review stated: “Delicious extended family lunch. Very kind and genuinely attentive hosts and seriously delicious food. Everyone said they will definitely be back when in Oxford.”