Health Department Shuts Down Pittsburgh-Area Cafe, Banquet Hall

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Allegheny County Health Department has ordered the closure of Cafe Delhi and Karma Banquet-Event Center on Mary Street in Carnegie due to an imminent health hazard and numerous health code violations.

An inspection on Wednesday revealed the hazard: Above ground and possibly additional sewage lines of the facility have failed, causing active, chronic backups through the facility’s grease interceptor evidenced by sludge around the interceptor and decaying plywood panels. The ventilation system was surrounded by sewage, with sewage odor present throughout the building.

The health department is mandating the disinfection of the entire center due to the extent of sewage odor inside.

Additionally, one old rodent dropping was found inside a loosely covered container of red lentils. Rodent droppings also were found in various areas of the center, including inside a cabinet, on the floors of the dining room's dry storage area, on top of a loosely covered container of yellow lentils in a storage room, under shelves and inside a bowl.

Dead roaches were discovered inside a sliding door track, on a storage shelf, beneath the banquet hall's water fountains and inside light fixtures above the cook line.

A "closed" placard is posted at an establishment when an imminent health hazard is identified at a restaurant or kitchen 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.