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Alert lifted at popular Pittsburgh restaurant after roaches, other health violations

PITTSBURGH — UPDATE (11/11/19): The consumer alert for Las Velas in Market Square has been lifted, according to the Allegheny County Health Department.

ORIGINAL STORY: A popular Pittsburgh restaurant has a roach problem, and the health department is letting the public know.

Las Velas, located in Market Square, did not get a raving review on its latest health inspection – more than a dozen violations were noted, including roaches found in the kitchen.

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A “consumer alert” sign is plastered on the restaurant’s front door to make sure people know what the health department found.

However, the owner told Channel 11’s Amy Hudak it’s actually a good thing.

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David Montanez said a whole team is coming in to clean up his restaurant and get it up to code.

“We were keeping cold food not at the temperature we're supposed to and hot food not at the temperature we're supposed to,” he said.

Montanez told Channel 11 they fired their exterminator and hired a new company to come once a week.

Employees will also undergo mandatory training after the health inspector witnessed a cook eating while on the job.

Montanez said he appreciates the inspector’s findings because by being strict, that is the “only way I’ll keep my food at a great quality.”