Rodents Close The Grille in Capo Beach

A Capistrano Beach grill was closed last month by health inspectors.

The Grille, located in the Capistrano Surf Building on Pacific Coast Highway, was shut down Oct. 24 after inspectors found rodent droppings on the shelves and floor.

The restaurant, which serves Sunset Bar with seared six pepper ahi, lump blue crabcakes and panko crusted asparagus, also lacked hot water, officials said. Inspectors found running water no hotter than 80 degrees from the hand sink, food prep sink and three compartment sinks of the kitchen.

When inspectors returned Oct. 25, the hot water was restored. They found rodent droppings in the to-go container sleeve, which were removed.

On the second follow-up on Nov. 1, inspectors reopened The Grille. They found:

• The storage room was clean and organized.
• The floor in the storage room was clean.  
• No rodent droppings were observed. 
• The hot water was measured at over 120 degrees.