Target 11: Restaurant inspections revisited

When restaurant inspectors spot issues, Target 11 seeks answers. In 2012, four restaurants have been slapped with consumer alerts, including one today. Target 11 Consumer Investigator Robin Taylor went to see how they're doing now.

The four restaurants were given a serious wake-up call: either fix the problems now or you'll be shut down. So that's what they did. They corrected the violations, but they know the Health Department will be keeping an eye on them and can drop in unannounced at any time.

On Jan. 31, the Health Department posted a big, yellow "Consumer Alert" sticker on the door of Mullen's Bar & Grill on the North Shore after finding dead mice, 150 mouse droppings and 5 inches of grease on one area of the floor.

Since then, the restaurant has cleaned up its act. What I saw was a spotless kitchen and prep area.

They've been reinspected twice, passing both times.

"They have really cleaned things up there. Yes, they've done a very good job there," said Steve Steingart, the chief of food safety for the Allegheny County Health Department.

One of the owners said they are now going for a diamond rating, which is a standard of excellence set by the Health Department that only the cleanest restaurants receive.

On March 6, another consumer alert went out for Tram's Kitchen, a well-known Vietnamese restaurant in Lawrenceville.

"There were multiple alleged foodborne illness reports to us on different occasions within a two- or three-day period," said Steingart.

At least 10 people had gotten sick.Seven of them reportedly came down with the highly contagious norovirus.

The owner closed voluntarily for a week.

Since then, Tram's Kitchen has passed two reinspections, but business is down 60 to 70 percent.

"Everything good so far," said Thao Le, the owner of the family-run business.

The restaurant is getting some positive press. Pittsburgh Magazine just named Tram's Kitchen the best restaurant in the city for Vietnamese food.

On April 2, the Health Department slapped another yellow sticker on the door of Rudy's Grill in McKees Rocks.

They found carving meat that hadn't been put away, and it wasn't the first time. Rudy's Grill has been cited for temperature violations again and again and again.

Since then, the neighborhood bar has passed inspection.

"I didn't change one thing. I just turned the fire up hotter. That's all," said Frank "Gus" Aiello, the owner.

The owner said after serving lunch, he's putting everything in the refrigerator, and he's keeping the food he's serving warm. But now, he says, the soup is too hot.

"I burned three people's tongues here. That's it. I'm done talking," said Aiello.

The Health Department said the common denominator in all of these cases is that the kitchens didn't have someone on duty who was trained in food safety, and that's something that's required by law.

A food safety manager can teach other employees the rules, and that could prevent people from getting sick.

WPXI