Health Department Closes Pittsburgh Restaurant

PITTSBURGH, PA — A city restaurant has been ordered to close after recent health code violations that resulted in a consumer alert following a recent inspection remained uncorrected during a re-inspection on Monday.

The Allegheny County Health Department on Monday shut down Masala House Asian Bistro on Baum Boulevard in Shadyside.

Here's what the re-inspection uncovered:

• Live roaches on a glue board in the kitchen.

• Dead roaches and droppings on top of the dish machine and in the condenser housings of the prep coolers in the kitchen.

• One dead mouse on a glue board on the second floor under the table in an alcove next to the restroom.

• Rodent droppings in the following areas: On the floor under the prep table, on the shelf above the coat rack at the bottom of stairs, inside an old oven in the dining room, on the floor in the alcove next to the second-floor restroom, in the fireplace in a room adjacent to the second-floor preparation area, on the shelf behind the bar near the kitchen, on top of a keg cooler behind the bar, inside the oven in the kitchen, in the condenser housings in the bottom of the prep coolers in the kitchen and on the floor in the dry storage area on the second floor.

• Nesting material in the oven in the kitchen and in the alcove next to the restroom on the second floor.

• A bag of split peas that was adulterated by rodents in the kitchen

• Dead roaches, an egg case, and roach droppings were discovered on a sheet tray in the kitchen.

A "closed" placard is posted at an establishment when an imminent health hazard is identified at a restaurant or kitchen or if it has been operating without proper permits. It is unlawful to operate a food facility with a "closed" placard.

See the entire inspection report here.