The owners of an Italian restaurant have redeemed themselves after food hygiene inspectors found mouse droppings “on and near food”.

Rossodisera, in Heath Street, Hampstead, was told on October 12, 2022, that ‘urgent improvement’ was necessary after scoring 0/5 in a scathing food hygiene report.

Inspectors from the Camden environmental health team revisited the restaurant on February 2 this year and has restored the food hygiene rating to 5/5.

All areas inspected  - the hygienic food handling, cleanliness and condition of facilities and management of food safety – are now rated ‘good’.

Ham & High: Inside the Covent Garden branch Inside the Covent Garden branch (Image: Frankie Lister-Fell)

Owner Igor Iacopini previously told the Ham&High that it was a “combination of unfortunate circumstances” that led to the former poor rating, which mainly stemmed from a major drain problem at the time.

He said:  “[There was] a massive leak in the basement, followed by electric main board repairs in the weeks before the inspection.”

A report at the time noted mouse droppings on work surfaces “on and near food”.

It also stated there was an “imminent risk” of food not being “adequately protected” against contamination from rodents at the time of the inspection.

Ham & High: Our reporter was pleased during her visit earlier in 2022. This is the most famous dish from Le Marche, Olive e Cremini fritti all’ascolana. Our reporter was pleased during her visit earlier in 2022. This is the most famous dish from Le Marche, Olive e Cremini fritti all’ascolana. (Image: Frankie Lister-Fell)

The owner said that the idea of filthy kitchens and “reckless management” often associated with zero-rated restaurants could not be “furthest from the reality of Rossodisera”.

Mr Iacopini said that he and staff at the family restaurant were “left in shock” after the inspection and were adamant they would achieve a higher score once reinspected.

This proved to be true, with inspectors not reporting any faults during their latest visit.

Mr Iacopini said: “All of us at Rossodisera rolled our sleeves and have been doing our level best during the days and weeks following the inspection, carrying out all the structural improvements and implementing the due diligence and record keeping indicated by the health officers.”