A popular restaurant once hailed by one of the world’s most famous food critics has been given a zero-star hygiene rating.
Azouma in Canterbury was previously included in a list of the country’s top “Arabian Delights” by writer AA Gill in The Sunday Times and is praised by customers on Tripadvisor.
But following an inspection on April 8, it was given the lowest possible hygiene score, meaning urgent improvement is required.
The report by city council officials has now been released following a Freedom of Information request by KentOnline.
Inspectors highlighted issues with cleanliness, a lack of hot water and previous pest infestations at the Moroccan/Lebanese venue in Church Street.
“The structure of the premises is poor and must be made good to allow for cleaning,” their report says.
“The premises needs decluttering so you can identify any pest issues.
“You do not have a pest control contract – I strongly recommend you have one as you were previously closed for a pest infestation.”
The handwash basin did not have hot water, nor were there towels for employees to dry their hands.
The level of cleaning was branded “poor”, with no appropriate sanitiser found during the visit.
Broken and damaged equipment needing to be replaced included two microwaves, while repairs were needed on two freezers.
The sealant around the washing-up sinks needed to be repaired, as did ceilings and flooring throughout the property.
Staff were not trained in food safety measures, were not carrying out opening or closing checks and were not wearing overalls while cooking.
Record-keeping was also an issue, with no documentation showing when deliveries were being made, how long food was in the fridges or freezers, or whether or not items had been cooked or reheated.
Foods were not being labelled or covered, leaving them vulnerable to contamination.
In particular, raw meat was being held above ready-to-eat foods, such as olives. They should be stored below such foods, and should not be uncovered.
“Provide clean overalls for personal hygiene,” said council officials.
“You must fully complete the Safer Food, Better Business pack.
“Label and cover foods to protect them from contamination and ensure effective block rotation.”
Azouma, which was still displaying an outdated four-star food hygiene sticker in its window on Friday afternoon, was praised by critic AA Gill in 2015.
He said it was “a decadently decked-out restaurant that serves a good-value line-up of Arabian mezze and North African couscous and tagines”.
With a 4.4 out of five rating on Tripadvisor, customers have praised Azouma for its “absolutely delicious” food and its “cozy and inviting” atmosphere.
The restaurant was approached for comment.
