Las Palmas Mexican grocery and taco stand on Atwood Street in Oakland was ordered closed by the Allegheny County Health Department for numerous health code violations including an active rat and roach infestation.
In addition to the “extensive presence of rats, roaches, flies and fruit flies,” the facility was cited for malfunctioning refrigeration, holding food at unsafe temperatures, inadequate sanitization and food on the shelves in unsound condition, including chewed open packages of pasta, beans, rice and cookies.
The facility is to remain closed until the problems are fixed. The owner could not immediately be reached for comment.
Las Palmas has a history of run-ins with the health department. It received a consumer alert in September for numerous food safety violations and two consumer alerts in 2015.
Inspection reports for restaurants and other food facilities in the county are available online at www.achd.net.
Patricia Sabatini: PSabatini@post-gazette.com; 412-263-3066.
First Published: November 2, 2016, 7:50 p.m.