2 Pine Township restaurants cited by Health Department for cockroaches
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Update, April 21: After an inspection on Thursday, the consumer alert for Thai Place North has been lifted. All major issues have been resolved.
The Allegheny County Health Department posted consumer alerts at two restaurants located next to each other in the North Hills, after finding cockroaches in the kitchen and other cleanliness violations during inspections on April 13.
According to the report, Dive Bar & Grille on Perry Highway in Pine was cited for live cockroaches found in the kitchen and back room near the walk-in refrigerator. The restaurant was also cited for having multiple surfaces encrusted with old food, grease and dust.
Dive Bar & Grille did not immediately return a request for comment.
Next door at Thai Place on Perry Highway, aka Thai Place North, live roaches were found in both kitchens, the dish room, behind coolers and on the drying rack, according to the inspection. Old grime and food residue were found throughout the kitchen, the report said.
Thai Place owner Santi Thamwiwat said that all cleanliness issues have been resolved since the inspection, and he is awaiting a return visit from the health department to check the restaurant again.
“Everything has been taken care of,” said Thamwiwat.
He said Thai Place restaurants have been in business for 32 years and have never had any complaints before about cleanliness or food poisoning. Thamwiwat added that like many restaurants, Thai Place North has struggled with filling jobs and has experienced staff shortages during the pandemic.
Inspection reports for facilities can be found at the Allegheny County Health Department website at eapps.alleghenycounty.us/restaurant.