To still eat at this place?

[Lostsocksaresoannoying]

I've just found out that my absolute favourite takeaway has a food hygiene rating of 1.

Dh and I have been eating from this place for 15 years almost every other week with no problems. We've never found anywhere else like it in terms of we just love the food. We don't go out much and our weekend takeaway is just about the highlight of our week. We're not generally fussed about takeaways we just don't bother but we love this place.

We didn't go in somewhere for lunch today as it was rated 3, displayed in the window and I'm quite fussy about food hygiene, or at least I thought I was, we were saying how we wonder what our favourite takeaway is as we've never checked. So we checked online and it's rated 1, which means major improvements needed.

Aibu to just pretend I don't know and carry on eating from there.

I just don’t think I could OP.

I just could not eat there. A 1 is really really bad.

I would the hygiene rating is as much about form filling as actual cleanliness and if it was dangerously dirty they would have closed it down immediately.

I would the hygiene rating is as much about form filling as actual cleanliness and if it was dangerously dirty they would have closed it down immediately.

Exactly. We got 3 once because we had kept record of fridge and freezer temps wrongly🙄 They do give you a chance to change it though. There were number of, especially independent, restaurants around here who fell victim to the form filling and got 1-3. They all went onto get 5* afterwards.

There is a Michelin star restaurant near me that got a 1 star, the day the inspector visited their hot water had broken & there were problems with fridges (they had just reopened after having a new kitchen & boiler system installed) low scores are not always due to dirt

Depends on what sort of food.

Freshly cooked at a high temperature (like a Chinese, straight from the wok) and I'd probably carry on.

Stuff that is cooked in batches in advance and kept warm, then probably not.

But agree with finding out reasons - unluckily timed mouse infestation (easy to fix) is less of an issue than institutionalised poor practice (absence of training, crap hygiene generally etc)

I'm an EHO

No scores are not just down to dirt but they are a fair representation of the overall premises. The score takes into account hygiene issues, structural issues and management. All these things have been in place for years before the scoring system came in.

Yes of course having no hot water would give you a one. How can they wash their hands properly or clean the premises effectively??

All businesses are able to request a reinspection- some councils charge for this. Why wouldn't you if you had a one though. Trust me some places just don't give a shit.

Chinese food is very rarely freshly cooked!!! Apart from a couple of bits of veg. They have a gazillion things on their menus. All prepped cooked and frozen usually

Also OP- you can email the council and ask for a copy of the report under freedom
Of information if you really want the details!

I'm torn between thinking I can never eat there again and then thinking well I've never had a problem in all these years.

It's literally going to ruin our Friday nights, dramatic I know but we've been having the same thing from this place since we met!

It wouldn’t bother me in the short term.
The low rating might be harmless things like not leaving enough seconds between spraying disinfectant and wiping it, or a fridge thermometer not accurate enough.

I’d be more worried if they didn’t get reinspected in a few weeks, or if their score stayed didn’t dramatically improve.

Yup no time to branch out I’m afraid.

Keep checking it and go back to it if their rating improves though. If your lucky it’s a blip.

Oh my god I can't read this thread any more! Leaving a 'few seconds' between disinfecting is the difference between it actually working or not.

Nope I wouldn’t touch a 1 star place

Get a takeaway and see if you still enjoy it knowing what you know

If you've eaten from the same place for 15 years you may have no idea that the other takeaway round the corner is actually waaaay more delish. And clean.

My favourite most used takeaway got a 1 rating, I stopped using them and I haven't looked for an alternative, its put me right off, I wash I hadn't looked now I was quite happy in blissful ignorance

It's a pizza place (yes I know!), it's our real guilty pleasure and the ultimate lazy food after a week at work.

They were last inspected March this year so I'm guessing they haven't rushed for a re-inspection.

I could ask the council for a report I'm a bit afraid to I've seen these programmes about filthy kitchens.

My local Indian has/had (haven't bothered checking again) 1 star and it's delicious.

OP you weren't handwringing 10 seconds before you saw the rating, and indeed have enjoyed the food from there hundreds of times with no ill effects.

If you've eaten from the same place for 15 years you may have no idea that the other takeaway round the corner is actually waaaay more delish. And clean.

That's true! It's an independent place though and wayyyy nicer than the chain places.

No. I couldn't. Just no.

Urgh grim. I couldnt bring myself to

My favourite most used takeaway got a 1 rating, I stopped using them and I haven't looked for an alternative, its put me right off, I wash I hadn't looked now I was quite happy in blissful ignorance

I know, to think I've walked away from 3 rated places. I just never thought to check because it's a popular place and well known round here for being nice.

It’s mainly down to paperwork ( possibly they had made a mistake or lost the file )
If it was dangerously bad , it should be closed down
So , yes I’d eat there as it’s your favourite
( I work in a cafe which has a 4 , and have been present at an inspection )
My council charge £150 for a repeat inspection,

"Chinese food is very rarely freshly cooked!!!"

Disagree - though perhaps the more 'anglicised' the place, the less that is cooked in the full Chinese way. Perhaps I should have specified that I was thinking of the more authentic (Chinatown type) places.

(it's the same reason why Chinese street food is almost invariably safe, even when surroundings are dire).