Captain Cook restaurant allowed to reopen – after health department found roaches, more

L&L Drive Inn, a restaurant in Captain Cook on the Big Island, has received permission to reopen from the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Food Safety Branch.

The Food Safety Branch issued a red placard to L&L Drive Inn, operated by owner Tai Zhun Chen, on Aug. 2. The food establishment was immediately closed for several violations:

• Observation of live roaches throughout the kitchen, on food and food contact surfaces;
• Handwashing sink non-operable; no running water;
• Liquid rising from floor tiles in the dry storage area that had a color and odor consistent with wastewater;
• Walls, ceiling and fixtures in back cook area saturated with grease;
• Premises not maintained free of insects;
• Outer openings of establishment not protected against entry of insects;
• Walls and roofs of the food establishment not effectively protecting against the entry of insects;
• Physical facilities not maintained and cleaned.

The Department of Health conducted a follow-up inspection on Aug. 15 and found all of the violations have been resolved.

For more information on the department’s placarding program, click here.