The Beverly on Locke has been shut down by the public health department due to a severe mice infestation, but the red sign notifying the public of the closure was not posted in the lunch and brunch restaurant's entranceway as required on Monday afternoon.

Instead, a computer printout sign on the front door read, "The Beverly is closed today for construction and prep for our beautiful patio/backyard. We can't (wait) for you to see what we have in store!"

The city mandates restaurants allow public health inspectors to post a certificate of inspection in a "clearly visible and conspicuous location at all entrances."

The signs are green for a pass, yellow for a conditional pass and red for closed.

"If a sign is removed, they will ask that it be reposted and, depending on the situation, they can lay charges," said public health spokesperson Aisling Higgins.

The red sign stating the restaurant was closed at 1:45 p.m. April 28 because "conditions in the food premises are an immediate health hazard" was visible over the weekend and Monday morning in the bottom of a window at the entrance. But it was absent Monday afternoon.

The patio sign was also up over the weekend. Public health said there are no rules stopping a restaurant from posting its own sign about a closure.

Multiple attempts by The Spectator Monday to reach The Beverly and investment management company Forge & Foster were unsuccessful.

A copy of the inspection available on the city's website shows four critical infractions including a "severe pest infestation" were found during a routine check of the restaurant on Saturday. A further 11 infractions were listed as noncritical.

Product was seized and destroyed by the inspector who also provided food handler education on site.

Ultimately, the inspector shut The Beverly down because of the mice, said Richard MacDonald, food safety manager for the city.

It was the 11th time a Hamilton restaurant has been shut down by public health in 2018. Last year, 23 restaurants were temporarily closed during the course of about 6,500 inspections.

MacDonald described generally the reasons a restaurant would get closed down for a mice infestation: "If we go into an establishment and we find mouse feces on single service utensils or plates itself, countertops and large amounts in storage areas. In some cases we may see mice actually running around our feet. That's obviously we have something really bad going on."

He said a severe mice infestation is a serious health hazard.

"They're just not looking after the establishment if we're finding feces on work surfaces where food is being prepared," said MacDonald. "With mouse feces it contaminates the food products ... which could cause you to become ill."

To reopen, restaurants have to clean the entire restaurant and deal with the infestation.

"It entirely depends on the operator and establishment owner how quickly they can comply with the inspection requirements," said MacDonald. "As soon as they do that, we'll be back to reinspect."

As of Monday, The Beverly had not yet met the requirements to reopen.

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The Beverly has temporarily closed before, but not for public health reasons. In December, Joe Accardi of Forge & Foster told The Spectator it was due to a staff shuffle.

jfrketich@thespec.com

905-526-3349 | @Jfrketich