Aug 22, 2008 6:29 pm US/Central
Inspectors Fine Trendy Restaurant For Insects
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
The women say they woke the next day to find they had dozens of bug bites all over their legs, from the knees to the ankles. They do not believe they are mosquito bites.
CBS
The city has fined an upscale Chicago restaurant for health code violations following a CBS 2 exclusive about complaints of insect bites from customers there.
River North's Japonais restaurant has been fined for an insect problem and other issues.
CBS 2's Suzanne Le Mignot reports when Chicago Department of Public Health inspectors visited Japonais Friday they found three dozen flying insects in the first floor dining area. A spokesperson says it's possible the bugs were mosquitoes, but they're not sure. The restaurant was fined $250 for that violation.
And in what the department is calling a critical violation, 40 pounds of beef and 11 pounds of lobster were stored at unsafe temperatures. The food, valued at more than $1,500, was thrown out. The restaurant has to pay a fine of $500 for that violation.
Customer Sharon O'Brien, one of several diners who told CBS 2 of bug bites, said, "It's nice to know if you see something wrong and take the time to do something about it, that it actually gets followed up on."
O'Brien filed a complaint about Japonais with the health department. She says after eating here last Friday, she awoke the next morning with between 75 and 100 bites on her legs. The same thing happened to her co-worker, Holly Oliveri, who had eaten there one night later. Both women had dined outside at street level.
CBS 2 received a number of e-mails following Thursday night's exclusive story. One was sent by Talia Light, who said she ate at Japonais this past Tuesday.
"I've had a lot of mosquito bites. I'm from the Midwest, every summer it happens," Light said. "But these feel different to me."
O'Brien's doctor said she was bitten by fleas or bed bugs. Oliveri said her doctor told her she suffered spider or mosquito bites.
Director of Arthropods at the Peggy Notebart Nature Museum Vincent Olivares said it's possible mites may be playing a role in the incidents.
"Mites that bite mammals are coming from other animals usually," Olivares said. "Dogs and cats can get mites, horses can get mites and other animals can get mites too."
The management of Japonais said they believe patrons are being bitten by mosquitoes. They declined to comment for our follow-up story Friday, but on Thursday said they are aware they have a mosquito problem, and use a pest control company and offer patrons repellant.
Japonais is open for business. The Chicago Department of Public Health will be reinspecting the restaurant within a week.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
The Tattooed Ladies of Hollywood
Click to enlarge
Click to enlarge
Up To 14 Inches Of Snow To Clobber Chicago Area 14 mins ago 
Foursquare Turns Average Joes Into 'Mayors' 27 mins ago
Stumble It!
Reporting
Comments