A top-rated York restaurant has acted swiftly after it received a lowly 1 out of 5 food hygiene rating.
Tomahawk Steakhouse received the rating after City of York Council inspectors visited the Lendal venue on 7 January.
And its owners say they took immediate action to remedy the situation – including replacing the head chef.
Food hygiene ratings are based on three broad areas. For one of these, structural compliance, the Tomahawk Steakhouse was found to be ‘generally satisfactory’.
That means it is in the top half of restaurants in terms of following legal obligations and industry codes of practice on things like cleanliness, lighting and ventilation.
But it was found wanting in two other areas.
Under Food hygiene and safety, it was rated ‘Improvement necessary’. That means the inspectors noted some ‘major non-compliance with statutory obligations’ and it required ‘more effort required to prevent fall in standards’.
And under Confidence in management it was rated ‘major improvement necessary‘. This means a restaurant has a ‘Poor appreciation of hazards and control measures’ and ‘No food safety management system’.
Incorrect information
The Tomahawk Steakhouse opened in August 2020 in the venue vacated when Jamie’s Italian closed.
As well as specialising in steaks, ‘for the true meat connoisseur’, the restaurant has seafood and burgers on the menu. The restaurant is very popular, with an average score of 4.5 out of 5 from 860 reviews on TripAdvisor.
In a statement following the publication of the 1 out of 5 rating, the company said the council’s food inspector “was met by the duty manager and was then introduced to the temporary head chef who was still working his probationary period for the permanent position of head chef.
“During the inspection, the inspector noted some contraventions and these were discussed with the temporary head chef.
“Unfortunately he provided the inspector with some incorrect information regarding the restaurant’s food safety procedures regarding our new digital food safety management system.
“The inspector used this incorrect information provided by the chef and the inspector concluded that the restaurant was not following its own policy regarding food hygiene and safety.
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“Consequently, this had a profound effect in the restaurant’s Confidence in Management score which has resulted in the poor hygiene rating awarded.
“At no time did the inspector have any concerns over the hygiene and cleanliness of the restaurant structure or equipment.”
The statement said that they have “taken immediate remedial action at a number of points highlighted by the inspector”.
“We have also carried out a number of additional improvements to our food safety management procedures. Additional food hygiene training over and above the standards required has been undertaken and further training will be provided at all levels.
“The head chef was immediately replaced on the same day by an accomplished senior member of staff, with whom we have complete confidence in his food safety abilities.
“The officer revisited the restaurant on 9 February and was extremely pleased with the actions carried out since the initial inspection.
“A further unannounced full food hygiene inspection is to be undertaken very soon to ensure that our normal excellent food hygiene standards and procedures are maintained and we would anticipate a much improved food hygiene rating score being awarded.”