To-go food from a local restaurant had a small cockroach - what is the right way to handle this? (restaurants, shops)

[dkf747]

Just give the nearest cross streets.

[xboxhaxorz]

Unacceptable and this place needs a visit from a health inspector

If they have a problem, then they need Orkin to come by every 24 hrs and take care of it

[LuvVA]

I called the health department and provided the details. I was told that the department would order for an inspection and i was told that they get lot of such complaints for various restaurants.

[wonderwall]

Thanks for doing the right thing. This is completely unacceptable.

[LuvVA]

I got a call from health department few days back to very my complaint and was told that an inspection would be done the same day.

I have been checking the website since then but don't see latest inspection. It shows last inspection done in Jan-2014.

[Dan_in_DC]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

To-go food from a local restaurant had a small cockroach - what is the right way to handle this?

If you were in Florida, you might be able to order palmetto bugs with your meal. Palmetto bugs look almost exactly like brown roaches, except they can fly, and they are HUGE -- like 1-1/2" long (or longer, depending on the variety). And they are high in protein, too. A dozen palmetto bugs could be a hearty side dish, or a crunchy snack, for anyone who is into such "delicacies."

There's a cute palmetto bug picture right here: Palmetto_Bug

Here in Virginia though, we usually have smaller cockroaches than that. However, if you didn't like the roaches you got, there are several ways you could handle it next time:

A. Take your carry-out order right back and scream loudly so all can hear that your order was skimpy on the cockroaches (an especially effective tactic if the restaurant is busy); OR ...

B. Look for another carry-out place that serves bigger cockroaches (or more of them); OR ...

C. Ask to see the size of the restaurant's cockroaches before placing your order, to make sure you're getting your money's worth; OR ...

D. Just don't order roaches with your meal the next time. Perhaps try bloodworms instead.

On the other hand, if your objective is to have fewer cockroaches in your cuisine, then you might want to make a quick confidential phone call to your local Health Department at the first opportunity.

Health Inspectors in Virginia are very diligent, and routinely inspect restaurants once or twice a year. However, if you call about a potential health hazard, Health Inspectors respond very quickly.

Before his retirement, my brother was a Health Inspector for Fairfax County for a number of years. Whenever he was working our neighborhood, he would call and ask me if I knew of any "dirty" restaurants that needed to be "prioritized" for inspection. And he would move them to the top of his list if he thought they might have serious health issues.

The Health Inspector you call will basically do the same thing. And if your Health Inspector doesn't call you back about that inspection in the next few days, call your Health Inspector again. Keep calling every week or so until you have an answer. And don't you dare go back to that restaurant again until you have seen a satisfactory Health Inspection Report with your own eyes.

[LuvVA]

I called the health department to get the update on the inspection.

Looks like during the inspection, they didn't find pest issues, the restaurant provided proof for pest control etc.

There is nothing health department can do anymore. But I am sure I am done with that place.

[r small]

Originally Posted by ameridreamNoT

sounds like an Asian Restaurant for sure. Please do yourself and everyone a favor by reporting it to the HHA for a thorough investigation. This is normal in Virginia. There is one in Falls Church, VA that has cockroaches also but I am not going to name it either.

I once saw a rat scampering across the floor in an Asian restaurant in Falls Church. I won't name the retaurant but it's in the Culmore shopping center on Rt. 7. Anyone familiar with the area will know what I'm referring to.

[dkf747]

Originally Posted by LuvVA

I called the health department to get the update on the inspection.

Looks like during the inspection, they didn't find pest issues, the restaurant provided proof for pest control etc.

There is nothing health department can do anymore. But I am sure I am done with that place.

I sure wish there were some way you could name the place. I don't want to find out the hard way. Don't do it though, you don't want to get sued.

[Bigfoot424]

I'll bet I've been in more restaurants, after hours anyway, than any health inspector. If a roach or any similar insect would keep you from going to restaurants then you might want to never eat out again. I had access to many restaurants late night once they closed for training purposes and I searched hundreds in my 30 years in LE. There are many clean ones but quite a few of them are far from any of us would call "very clean."