2 Lake Worth eateries shut down over rodent droppings

LAKE WORTH — State inspectors temporarily closed Brogues DownUnder and Rhum Shak, both on Lake Avenue in Lake Worth, on Jan. 3 after citing both for sanitation violations including rodent activity.

Brogues DownUnder, a tavern offering Irish-Australian fare and live entertainment at 621 Lake Ave., was shut down after a Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspector cited it for 13 violations.

The only high-priority violation was due to more than 35 fresh rodent droppings found in the top of the dish machine, on the floor under the dish machine, in the dry food storage area, next to the back door and other locations, the report states.

Brogues DownUnder, registered with the state as Aussie Boomerang Bar, was also cited for nine basic violations and three intermediate violations.

The restaurant corrected all the violations and was cleared to reopen Jan. 4.

A Brogues DownUnder employee said Monday no manager was availble for comment.

Basic violations noted at Brogues DownUnder included a build-up of food debris on the bottom of a freezer, a build-up of grease on hood filters, employees’ keys and glasses stored on a shelf above food, improper floor cleaning, food stored on the floor, holes in the walls, reach-in cooler gaskets in disrepair, improper storage of a wet mop and a gap under the back exterior door.

Intermediate violations cited were:

■ Frozen chicken not marked with a date thawing in a freezer.

■ Spray bottles of cleaners without a manufacturer’s label.

■ Unlabeled containers of sugar and flour.

Rhum Shak, 802 Lake Ave., which serves a variety of appetiz-

ers and entrees, was closed Jan. 3 after an inspector noted 15 violations including more than 80 fresh rodent droppings.

A Rhum Shak employee said Monday no manager or owner was available to discuss the inspections.

In a Jan. 4 follow-up inspection, the inspector reported noted five violations remaining, and the inspector ordered the restaurant to remain closed.

A third report noted three violations remaining, but the restaurant was given more time to fix the problems and cleared to open Jan. 4.

Rhum Shak’s four high-priority violations included:

■ More than 80 fresh rodent droppings found on the dish machine, under the sink, on the floor at the end of the cook line, on the door behind a cooler and on the floor under a mop sink. Ten dry rodent droppings were noted on the side of the ice machine.

■ Raw eggs stored over cooked rice.

■ A spray bottle of floor cleaner stored in the food preparation area.

■ A vacuum breaker missing at the mop sink faucet

Rhum Shak’s basic violations were unsecured helium tanks, a bathroom waste receptacle without a cover, employees’ medications stored on a shelf with peanut butter, gaps under two back exterior doors, five holes in walls or ceiling, improper storage of an ice scoop, kitchen prep area lights with no shield and water from an ice bin and beer overflow leaking into plastic containers.

Rhum Shak’s intermediate violations were listed as follows:

■ Stained/soiled cutting boards in the bar and kitchen.

■ Manager lacking proof of food manager certification.

■ No proof of required state-approved employee training.