The Bayou WeHo, which bills itself as a gay dive bar with a New Orleans-themed menu, is the latest spot to be closed by the L.A. County Public Health Department for the presence of vermin.
The closure occurred after an inspection yesterday. Kenneth Marks, who heads the Health Department’s inspection unit for the West Hollywood area, confirmed the closure because of vermin but would not offer details on the particular health issues. Vermin are generally understood to include flies, lice, bedbugs, cockroaches, mice and rats.
Matt Chase, an owner of Bayou, which is located at 8939 Santa Monica Blvd. near Hilldale, said he expects it to reopen tomorrow evening
The Bayou’s closing follows the closing on Wednesday of last week of the Rainbow Bar & Grill, a famous rock institution on Sunset Boulevard, after inspectors found cockroaches in its kitchen. There have been several other such closing in recent months. Saddle Ranch Chop House on Sunset Boulevard was closed on Sept. 24 for two days after inspectors found vermin. Hamburger Haven on Santa Monica Boulevard was closed for three days on Sept. 1 for the same reason. And Rock & Reilly’s on Sunset was closed for three days on July 29.
Firstly, I like the Bayou. I think they’re a respectable establishment that does as good a job as any with regard to health problems. But, let’s be realistic. Food doesn’t really represent much of their sales. I’m not saying they shouldn’t be adhering to health standards, I’m just saying that their kitchen isn’t exactly getting the same kind of use as it did when it was ‘Skewers’ or primarily a restaurant by another name. They should have done a better job with the kitchen, but unlike most of the other primarily licquor driven ‘restaurants’ in the area, their kitchens aren’t… Read more »
Actually this isn’t the first article recently published about vermin infestation at restaurants. An article published on Oct. 26 noted that the Rainbow Room was closed for the same reason. https://staging.wehoville.com/2015/10/23/health-inspectors-close-rainbow-bar-grill-because-of-vermin/
I would love for them to inspect Connie and Ted’s–our apartment building never used to have roaches, but since they’ve opened . . .
Why don’t they also fine these stores and coffee places that allow dogs in where they serve and keep food? If it’s not an actual service dog, keep it out.
Kab1200…it means they are not on top of it. That’s the problem.
Yes JJ, I get it, my point was, everyone jumps on the EW!!! wagon, which is just silly. They would die if they knew half of what goes on where they eat.
Agreed. We’re presumably talking a few cockroaches and or an occasional mouse or rat–not brown recluse spiders and the like. Not that I want them (or their droppings) in my food. But unless the problem is neglected, it’s kinda part of life–like flies at a patio restaurant, or ants at a picnic. Just don’t ignore the problem–especially if you’re serving food, and not just alcohol. That said, a rigorous health inspection system is a good and proper governmental function in order to keep less-responsible eateries on their best behavior, or else problems WILL occur: Just last week some 85-ish people… Read more »
Such BS, to a certain degree, you serve food, you are going to attract bugs and animals. This is very common. Yes, they need to do something about it, but this is not new and does not mean the place is bad or dirty.
I think the lesson is that vermin control is a NEVER-ending task. Critters will do what nature has programmed them to do; namely seek out food and multiply where ever–and WHEN ever they can find the opportunity. Droughts drive them–especially mice and rats from the wild to where ever they get a whiff of sustenance, water, and shelter. And–for insects especially–heat waves such as we’ve been experiencing accelerate their metabolism a ad ability to reproduce and seek new homes…or to re-invade old haunts if given the chance. As any home owner or apartment dweller knows, it’s a never-ending task. And… Read more »
Mitchel Mitch, who said anyone was targeting gay businesses? Quit trying to start issues out of nothing.
Restaurants ard held to a standard which should be nothing less then an A rating. That only requires proper handling and prep of food, staff clean and facility clean. To suggest the health dept is targeting any establishment based on sexual orientation or service to a particular community is ridiculous. Be thankful you arent eating in places infested with any infestation unless you like roaches, vermin and riskibg your very life. These depts are in place to protect the general publc from illness and death.
Keep it up, shut them down and hold the restaurants responsible for risking anyones health.
Thank you for this info. Perhaps if more of this was reported for the public to see the less likely these eating establishments would let the problem get out of hand. I worked in the restaurant business for many years and the owner routinely sprayed for bugs and we never had an issue. (My hometown paper use to have a section of the paper that just reported health inspections. Hopefully Wehoville will keep us posted each time this occurs).