It's the yearly culinary shortlist no Brisbane restaurant wants to be on.

While mice, cockroaches and other pests weren't on the menu they were found in 17 restaurant kitchens last year.

A live rodent in an oven at Indian Odyssey. Credit:EatSafe

During the 2014 calendar year 21 businesses were prosecuted by Brisbane City Council for alleged breaches of the Food Safety Act, resulting in $435,800 in fines and 15 cancelled food licences.

The Myer Centre's Indian Odyssey received $34,000 in fines - the most in Brisbane - for 16 breaches.