Philippe the Original is open for business again after being temporarily closed when health inspectors found cockroaches on the premises.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cWe passed the health department inspection with flying colors,\u201d said Richard Binder, general manager at the venerable downtown Los Angeles eatery, famous for its French dip sandwiches. \u201cWe passed 100%. We\u2019ve never had anything but an A grade.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nThe restaurant was shut down after inspectors discovered evidence of cockroaches during a Wednesday visit that officials said was prompted by at least one citizen complaint.
\nBinder maintained that just one roach had been found, and \u201cit was a baby.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cBut anything more than one, with them having a zero tolerance, they will shut you down,\u201d Binder said.<\/p>\n
\nAngelo Bellomo, director of environmental health for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department, declined to haggle over the exact number of vermin detected. He stressed that \u201ceven a couple of roaches could indicate a greater problem.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe cockroaches you can see are supplemented by other evidence that others are there,\u201d Bellomo said. \u201cThe word infestation is not too strong.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Binder said workers at the restaurant had spent \u201cthe last 40 hours scrubbing, painting and repairing walls \u2026 and we\u2019re back stronger than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nBellomo acknowledged the restaurant typically receives high health inspection scores and generally has \u201ca good compliance history.\u201d But problems can occur even in the most fastidious establishments, he said.<\/p>\n
Inspectors had to close Philippe’s for 48 hours to allow the pests to be removed, he said.<\/p>\n
\nThe restaurant reopened at 11 a.m. Friday, and by 11:30 a.m., customers had started to return, according to Binder.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe operators have done a good job of aggressively solving this problem over the last couple of days,\u201d Bellomo said.<\/p>\n
\nStill, Binder said, it would \u201ctake a while\u201d for patrons to return as word spread that the century-old restaurant had reopened.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cSome people said they heard media reports that we had closed for good,\u201d Binder said. \u201cCustomers are happy that we\u2019re back.\u201d<\/p>\n
— Ann M. Simmons <\/p>\n
More breaking news in L.A. Now:<\/strong><\/p>\n L.A. authorities trying to clarify Swiss position on Polanski extradition<\/a><\/p>\n Long Beach lawmaker wants to keep L.A. and other cities from tapping traffic fines<\/a><\/p>\n Alleged carjacker arrested in Compton after police dog captures him<\/a><\/p>\n Police identify woman whose body was found on freeway in Sun Valley<\/a><\/p>\n Gov. Schwarzenegger carries Olympic torch through Vancouver’s Stanley Park<\/a> <\/p>\n Venice Beach sweep nets nearly 50 violators; social services offered<\/a><\/p>\n