Oak Bluffs Food Inspector Quits Over Fat Ronnie's Violations

Food held at unsafe temperatures, tempting bacteria growth. Grease, water and food on the kitchen floor. No screen to keep insects from entering the open window. A dangling, disconnected smoke detector.

These are some of the eight "Violated Provisions Relating to Food-Borne Illnesses Interventions and Risk Factors" noted by Oak Bluffs food inspector Ron Tolin on his latest inspection of the kitchen at Fat Ronnie's Burger Bar on Circuit Avenue.


On his surprise visit to the eatery Aug. 29, Tolin also discovered something not covered in his routine inspection checklist: "OBSERVED 10 YR OLD CHILD BEHIND LINE," he wrote in an addendum to the inspection report.

Tolin's inspection visit ended when owner Reynaldo Faust threw him out of Fat Ronnie's, Tolin wrote in his addendum:

"Owner would not talk to health agent or food inspector and told us to leave. We explained that he could not deny access and could be closed by the Board of Health (BOH section 9.4 'Regulation'). Initially we explained to owner that we were responding to a complaint."

After Tolin brought the restaurant's violations to the board of health last week, but the board did not act to close the restaurant, Tolin resigned his position, the Martha's Vineyard Times reports.

Read "Oak Bluffs health officials delay on restaurant violations."

A follow-up visit found there were still violations at Fat Ronnie's, which was scheduled for another inspection Wednesday, the Times reports.

Have you eaten at Fat Ronnie's? Do you think these violations are serious? Tell us in the comments.