A consecutive award-winning Indian restaurant is “awaiting inspection” after it was previously rated a 1/5 in a food standards report.
The Rajdoot, in Fleet Road, is well known in Hampstead after being crowned the best Indian restaurant in west London for 2021 in the Euro Asia Curry Award.
In 2022, owner Mohammad Rahman then won best chef for north London in the Asian Restaurant and Takeaway Awards.
But the restaurant shockingly scored 1/5 in a food hygiene inspection on October 24 this year, with Camden Council’s environmental health team flagging multiple areas of concern.
Inspectors noted there were flies “again” in the kitchen that can carry “food poisoning bacteria”.
A report seen by the Ham & High stated: “The skylight in the kitchen was left open and provided easy access for these pests.
“These windows must either be kept closed and an alternative means of ventilation provided, or must be fitted with insect-proof screens which can easily be removed for cleaning.”
The alarm was also raised about a leak in the flat roof which dripped into the food storage area, and about the main kitchen’s “dirty” open drainage channel.
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A rotten aubergine “unfit for human consumption” was found on the premises – prompting the inspector to remind the restaurant that there must be a regular stock rotation.
The report also stated that one staff member went outside to smoke and then began to move items inside the kitchen without washing his hands.
Other issues mentioned included korma sauce being stored at a higher temperature than recommended and damaged re-used food containers being used that could “break off and contaminate food”.
The Rajdoot’s scathing 1/5 rating – meaning “major improvement” is necessary – was published on the Food Standards Agency website after Camden Council issued the report.
However this has since been removed from the website, with the agency now saying it is “awaiting inspection”.
The Rajdoot has not responded after being approached for comment.
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