Popular Pittsburgh Restaurant Ordered To Close

PITTSBURGH, PA — The Allegheny County Health Department has ordered the closure of a popular Pittsburgh Mexican restaurant for numerous health code violations.

La Cantino by Madero on Atwood Street in Oakland has been shut down.

According to the health department website, a Jan. 8 inspection revealed too-many-to-count mouse droppings on the floor under a sink and also under a sugar storage shelf.

Additionally, two of four floor drains in the kitchen were clogged. One floor drain demonstrated backup activity during a stress test conducted during the inspection. There were calcium stains and hard water stains on the floor surrounding the floor drains, indicating previous backflow affecting the kitchen.

"This constitutes an imminent health hazard in a critical area of food preparation," the inspection report stated.

Additionally, the restaurant's posted health permit expired in September.

A "closed" placard is posted at an establishment when an imminent health hazard is identified at a restaurant or kitchen or if it has been operating without proper permits. It is unlawful to operate a food facility with a "closed" placard.

See the entire inspection report here.