Topic ID 7226
Food Ratings for Hertford establishments http://ratings.food.gov.uk/enhanced-search/en-GB/%5E/sg14/alpha/0/%5E/%5E/1/1/10
Reply ID 94255
Very interesting to scan through that list and see some of the restaurants being scored as I expected...with the occasional surprise springing up. There is certainly at least one location that didn't surprise me with it's extremely low score, considering what I've seen from their kitchens.
Reply ID 94259
Really surprised by the Millstream, only 1 star! They need to sort that out or it could really affect their business. Honestly, who wants to eat in an establishment with only a 1 star rating for food hygiene. I already stopped using the Peking House takeaway when I discovered it had only 2 stars. Interesting that not one of the Chinese or Indian restaurants has more than 3 stars. Personally anything less than 3 is unacceptable but generally I wouldn't eat somewhere unless it's a 4 or 5 star.
Reply ID 94260
quote:Probably the one that's consistently scored 1 star previously, suggesting they're not interest in improving. Given that the upper floors were condemned as unfit for human habitation it's perhaps unsurprising that the kitchen is little better. I'm completely mystified why anyone would want to eat there.
Originally posted by City Fella
There is certainly at least one location that didn't surprise me with it's extremely low score, considering what I've seen from their kitchens.
Reply ID 94261
quote:Really interesting website well done to Hertford Born and Bred for posting this. The one that did shock me was the Vine in Ware - rated 1 star in February this year. Certainly doesn't fit with the image that they are trying to portray.
Originally posted by hertford born and bred
Food Ratings for Hertford establishments http://ratings.food.gov.uk/enhanced-search/en-GB/%5E/sg14/alpha/0/%5E/%5E/1/1/10
Reply ID 94262
It would be interesting to see the actual reports or at least what the ratings mean. I assume points are deducted for technical offences such as not displaying certain signs or not being able to show documentation as well as real hygiene offences such as pests and poor kitchen practices. It would be useful to get context sometimes and the FSA's FAQs don't really explain this.
Reply ID 94263
Looks as if it may be a bit out of date as the Warren House is on there from 2004 but can't see The Whistling Duck!
Reply ID 94264
Andrew you are right that many of these could demonstrate a disregard for procedure rather than for food hygiene. I used to manage premises with staff canteens in London and we would sometimes have ad-hoc visits by environmental health who would shut down the kitchen/canteen for spurious reasons and I'd have to call them back and argue the case to re-open. Often these were maintenance issues such as crazed floor and wall tiles, no signs, no colour coordinated chopping boards etc. but they tallied up. Thank goodness they didn't visit one particular place when the door had been left open, as happened regularly, and the kitchen was full of pigeons! It may be the case for many of the restaurants featured here - on the flip side I've had to take apart cooking ranges and kitchens in some establishments and have been horrified with what I've found!
Reply ID 94265
Marilyn - the Whistling Duck is in SG13 - gets a '4'.
Reply ID 94266
quote:Ah thanks......................
Originally posted by Golden
Marilyn - the Whistling Duck is in SG13 - gets a '4'.
Reply ID 94267
The ratings are approximations and the line between each star can be a little blurry but I believe the FSA are working hard at removing the ambiguity. I do know that my OH 5 star establishment was downgraded to a 4 star establishment last time because of two things. One, the documentation was in a file which happened to be in date order (the newest stuff was on top) but the inspector said it should be in alphabetical order or have a contents page. I don't dispute this would be a good thing but the hygiene of the shop was not compromised. The second issue was an inexperienced inspector taking a temperature reading from the wrong place (complicated but they took it through packaging which gave inconsistency rather then right into the heart of the product which was in excess of requirements, for pies if you are interested) Because of my 'insider' knowledge, I would happily eat in a 4 star as well as a 5 star, and possibly consider a 3 star. However I would avoid a 1 star and 2 star. To clarify, if there is evidence of pest infestation, I think the rating is zero. Also worth noting that the inspections are free and unannounced (they really are, they usually wait in the queue and when at the front they then show their credentials, useful information is gained whilst waiting in a queue) but if the owner/manager can improve they can then pay for an extra inspection. I am therefore suprised that some on the list don't sort themselves out and get an extra inspection.
Reply ID 94268
quote:If they are consistently scoring 1 star then why has action not been taken against them? I thought that for those scoring extremely low scores, they were given a deadline of when they needed to show improvements?
Originally posted by Stevequote:Probably the one that's consistently scored 1 star previously, suggesting they're not interest in improving. Given that the upper floors were condemned as unfit for human habitation it's perhaps unsurprising that the kitchen is little better. I'm completely mystified why anyone would want to eat there.
Originally posted by City Fella
There is certainly at least one location that didn't surprise me with it's extremely low score, considering what I've seen from their kitchens.
Reply ID 94269
Block buster were on that list!! Odd.
Reply ID 94270
I notice that for some restaurant establishments the inspection was many years ago and for me anything over 2 years is too long and not a good indication of high hygiene levels or lowering of levels either. Unless either annual of 2 yearly inspections take place as establishments come and go and also change ownership etc, etc I thinkg these need to be taken with a pinch of salt (pardon the pun)
Reply ID 94271
A "strange" one is the Ram Inn. Zero Stars Urgent Improvement Necessary ! But as far as I know they haven't served food for years. So does the inspection cover their beer, celllar, bottle storage etc or just 'food' ? Glad to see my favourite take away V&V Bengeo got 5, but never doubted that.
Reply ID 94272
quote:I think that is only if they get a zero. Getting a 1 means a damp cloth is wiped around once a week. I think we need to be clear that if there is any risk to public health, the premises is shut down immediately. The score of 1 is a damp cloth but not procedures and no guarantees but probably ok. Analogy for hand washing after visiting the toilet: 0 = They do not. 1 = Have been asked to and probably do 2 = Have been asked to and have been seen to 3 = Do it as a matter of course 4 = Do it and record they have done it. 5 = Have full hand washing training records sorted alphabetically by employee. Trained and assessed yearly and Manager conducts spot checks. Disclaimer : made all the above up based on my understanding, no genuine reliable source.
Originally posted by City Fella If they are consistently scoring 1 star then why has action not been taken against them? I thought that for those scoring extremely low scores, they were given a deadline of when they needed to show improvements?
Reply ID 94278
lots of Chinese and curry score low, just because of paperwork?
Reply ID 94416
I don't think any of our kitchens would score a three because of the standards required. Possibly not twos. If you've got pets that go in the kitchen then that's probably a zero. I'm not suggesting we shouldn't worry if a restaurant has a low rating, especially if it is making no effort to improve, but if there had been really serious breaches of food hygiene which had caused, or had potential to cause, harm to the public, something would have been done. I recently ate at a top London restaurant, came home completely satisfied, watched a bit of tv and went to bed a couple of hours later. Later that night, the world fell out of my...Well I won't go into details but my point is you just can't tell for certain. If you do suffer from food poisoning after eating at an establishment, report it to the local Environmental Health Officer via the Food Standards Agency website.
Reply ID 94452
Nice to see there are lots of local food related businesses with 4's & 5's :) Couple of those ratings made me raise my eyebrows. Oh yeah, if anyone is put off by the ratings for the Chinese places in Hertford, check out Ocean Palace in Hoddesdon, they scored 5 out of 5 :D Take the reviews on just-eat of Ocean Palace with a pinch of salt, I think a few people are put off by the lady with the strong chinese accent who speaks quite loudly, and her english isnt the best, she's actually nice & polite though, think a few people thought she came across as rude... best chinese food between Ware, Hoddesdon & Hertford though for sure :)