A York restaurant that has been given a hygiene food rating of just one out of five says it is an aberration caused by the ‘chaos’ of a refurbishment.
And it plans to bounce back with a new look and new menu.
The Olive Tree on Tower Street was inspected by the City of York Council food standards team in February.
The report gave it these ratings:
- Food Hygiene and Safety – Improvement necessary
- Structural Compliance – Improvement necessary
- Confidence in Management – Major improvement necessary.
A spokesperson for The Olive Tree said: “Regrettably, our annual food and hygiene inspection, expected to occur in December 2023, took place amidst significant refurbishment and renovation work across the entire premises.
“At the time of inspection, which occurred during ongoing plastering work in the kitchen and bathrooms, the environment was understandably chaotic.
“Compounding the situation, the inspector arrived at 2pm when none of the permanent staff were present to provide context or explanation for the ongoing works.
“Had they been available, we could have arranged a more suitable time for the inspection post-completion of the renovations.”
The Olive Tree, which specialises in Mediterranean food and has a 4 out of 5 rating on TripAdvisor, is now setting things right.
“Despite these challenges, we appreciate the constructive feedback provided by the inspector,” the restaurant spokesperson said.
“The identified areas for improvement were already part of our refurbishment plans for the year, and we intend to extend an invitation for a follow-up inspection once the current works are finished.
“This visit has helped our management team ensure that our refurbishment efforts address all relevant concerns.
“At the Olive Tree York, we are dedicated to offering fresh food in a clean environment to both our loyal patrons and new visitors.
“We eagerly invite the people of York to experience our newly refurbished establishment later this year.
“In anticipation of our relaunch, we are planning an exciting event and preparing to introduce a new Mediterranean menu to the public shortly.”