A popular Montgomery seafood restaurant has been cleared to reopen by the Montgomery County Health Department after several serious health hazards including a rodent infestation were discovered.
Wintzell’s Oyster House originally received a closure order after an inspection on June 15 found “a rodent infestation and a lack of refrigeration.”
Video surfaced on Instagram showing the severity of the problem.
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According to a story from WSFA, the restaurant’s health score was determined to be just a 65 and the rodents weren’t the only troubling things included in the health report.
Allegedly, employee drinks were not properly stored in designated areas away from food preparation, several pieces of produce were moldy in the walk-in cooler. Bread crumbs were “adulterated,” fish, crab and chicken were between 45°F to 50°F in the walk-in cooler, the establishment did not have adequate refrigeration for operation, soda guns contained mold and of course, rodents infested the establishment.
“The establishment will contact the health department once it has worked with a pest control company to develop and implement a formal plan addressing the treatment and prevention of rodent activity,” a statement from the MCHD relayed by WSFA read. “The establishment will also have to make repairs to their refrigeration equipment prior to reopening.”
Last Friday, the MCHD visited Wintzell’s and confirmed there were no rodents present, clearing the restaurant to reopen, but whether or not there will be business remains to be seen.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
