Eat & Drink
Rats Feast at Dumpling House
I hate to post a photo like this because I actually really like the Dumpling House, but a reader sent us a photo that looks genuine. Seems the other day some rats were clearly visible through the window. Looks like there are three or four of them. A closer look and update after the jump.
Sort of reminds me of the infamous rat episode in Taco Bell.
Update: The reader just sent us an update with a message they received after they complained to Toronto Public Health: Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The Premise has been inspected and evidence of a rat infestation has been confirmed. The restaurant has now been closed by Toronto Public Health.
Thanks to Matt A. for the tip
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Also, have seen the Susur sous chefs prepping huge cuts of fish on cardboard resting on top of their grease bins in the alley behind the restaurant.
And what have you done about it?
my god and they are so huge, like the size of small dogs
Great capture.
http://app.toronto.ca/food2/index.jsp
I may never visit Chinatown again.
<i>??We have a very good reputation. That?s why we are taking this very seriously. I think [this shutdown] may affect business for a very short time, but not very much because our cleaning conditions are good.??
The manager said he had never seen rats himself in the restaurant, and said any rat problem is not confined to Dumpling House. He said downtown has a rat problem generally, and the city needs to do something about it.
??In this city, rats are a huge problem. It?s a city problem, not a restaurant problem. I don?t think the city has a plan to fight the rat problem.??</i>
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/toronto/archive/2008/02/15/health-authorities-shut-down-chinatown-restaurant-after-rat-photos-surface.aspx
"But wait. It gets worse. You see, today I dined at this fine establishment. Today. Today I had lunch at Dumpling House. The same day that it failed a City of Toronto Public Heath Inspection. The same day that a Health Hazard Order and court summons was issued. The same day that rats were witnessed, scurrying about with their little rat feet over top of the table where delicious dumplings are formed. Delicious rat-contaminated dumplings."
problem...Rats are big and it doesn't take much to figure out
how & why they are getting into the restaurant.
No excuse for this other than a disregard for cleanliness.
years back...A friend was dining on Spadina when a Rat suddnely appeared, jumping from one table to the next....
Seriously, go visit the Dine Safe site I recommended earlier - http://app.toronto.ca/food2/index.jsp - and check out any restaurant - some of my favourite places - including Swatow and Rol San - have spotless records.
I work directly above one of the best reviewed French restaurants in the city, and I'm fairly certain they have a roach problem, as I've seen a few in our studio. Any restaurant can have infestations.
Follow the Link, the really work.
http://www.thecompactorguy.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=article&;amp;section_id=6&articleid=4
www.thecompactorguy.com click on rodent resistant trash bags
It's tragic how in Chinatown, one infraction by one restaurant can tar the whole district. This would never happen in other cultural districts under the same circumstance - each restaurant would be judged individually.
The buildings in that neighbourhood are old and falling apart. It doesn't matter how many you kill today, they'll just crawl in through the drains, run in through your restaurant backdoor, gnaw through the cracks of your basement wall etc?
It?s unfortunate humans and rats can?t peacefully co-exist in chinatown. I know how tough it is for people to make a living in Chinatown, working 9 am till midnight 7 days a week, no holidays and earning scraps. For something like this to happen, I feel bad for the store owners.
That said, I still won't be re-visiting Dumpling House anytime soon.
Inspectors should pay more attention.
For the time being, we must boycott establishments such as this one.
I wont outright stop eating in Chinatown, the food is too good, but I'll be much more wary.
it's actually cat, rat, racoon and dog. just take a walk through those alleys late at night and you'll see.
or peek in their dumpsters.
That is why it's so cheap!
Next bust should be New Ho King...I've found bugs in my food there many times.
Even if your store is clean, they can easily get in, even swimming up the toilets from the sewer in older sections of the city.
This is unfortunate. I've always enjoyed eating there.
I got massive food poisoning there new year's eve!!
Health inspectors realize that there's no end to the infestation problem in Chinatown. Most of them have a heart, and when they see 70 year old ladies lift 30 pound pots on to stoves to make a living (because their ungrateful kids decide upwards mobility does not apply to immigrants), they turn the other cheek to the grains of black rice steaming in the cooker.
I grew up living on the 2nd floor of my family's restaurant. Everyday, my parents worried about a health inspection. it didnt matter how clean my parents kept the store, rats and roaches would always find their way in from next door. At nights when we slept, the rats would squeel and fight over the garbage in our backyard (which the city would only pick up 2-3 times a week).
So for $2.99, you can get BBQ pork on rice, a bowl of soup, a can of soda, and a lot of hard work from people who deserve a break.
As some posters said, ever wondered what living things and their discharge have come into contact with food ingredients in restaurants, coffee house, bakeries, etc, even in your kitchen...?
If you honestly think that Toronto has the dirtiest restaurants in the Western world, you evidently need to travel a bit more. I've seen things in places like Paris, London, New York, and Washington DC that would make you hurl clear across the room...and some of them at pricier establishments, too.
Not that Toronto is any exception to this, of course (we've kinda been "ratted out" here...ha ha? any takers? no?).
But is this a uniquely Toronto problem, or even (as the idiot owner of Dumpling House suggests) a particularly downtown Toronto problem? C'maaaaaan.
Sorry to disappoint you, because I know how people jump at the chance to beat up on big, bad ol' Toronto. But this happens in every type of restaurant in every city in the world. Too bad you can't use this to justify your prejudices.
The Chinese astrological cycle begins with the year of the Rat; consequently those born within this category like to be first, pioneers, at the forefront of the action. Because of this, they tend to see themselves as a cut above the others. Restless and inquisitive, those born under the influence of the Rat are active, both physically and mentally, and tend to lead busy lives. Challenge is essential to them for they love the thrill of living dangerously, adapting easily to different environments and surviving against all odds. With clairvoyance, intuition, perspicacity and an eye for detail, Rats are formidable problem solvers, finding workable solutions to the knottiest problems. Travelling is one of their favorite pastimes. They have a natural talent for the arts, specifically writing.
The Rat possesses attributes ranging from charming and humorous to honest and meticulous. The Chinese say those born in these years make good and wise advisors, yet they can never decide for themselves and change direction constantly. Another problem is that they can worry and fret endlessly, especially about their health, which creates internal stress. To combat this, Rats need space and understanding, love and companionship.
Rats are best known for their charm and intelligence, which often wins admiration wherever they go. Blessed with a sharp wit, they possess a marvelous sense of humor, which makes them stimulating and amusing company to have around. Generally extroverted, they may well be described as opportunists for they prefer to live off their wits rather than labor long and hard to earn their daily bread.
The Rat has a great appetite and appreciates fine cuisine, loving all types of good food, fine wines, baked goods and gourmet meals. Although he may not be patient enough to prepare these great meals himself, he does enjoy dining at all the latest restaurants.
Friends in very popular "white" restaurants report mice and cockroaches a plenty, so don't think you are safe because it says some brand name chain on it.
Well, I never got sick there, and the dumplings were great! Special sauce?
Because of that, I'm undecided how much it is the owners fault that rats infested his restaurant, but once he realised there was a problem, he should have done everything he could to keep them out/away.
Apparently Alberta, according to this news article dated 2000, did manage it's rat problem very well.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2000/05/23/alta_rats000523.html
But can we completely eliminate them? It doesn't look like it- even in well kept areas.
2004- http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2004/09/21/ratsalta_040921.html
I hope it's still that way in Calgary and I wonder if Toronto can do the same. I think the article makes it clear though, without a concerted province/municipality wide effort it is impossible to get properly control/ get rid of vermin. They will go wherever there is a safe source of food and shelter. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound a rat poison.
I think Toronto could take a page from Calgary on pest control- It's gotta be more than just killing vermin.
Rats have been living in cities as long as we have. It's their natural environment. Good luck, chumps.
<a href="http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/305173";>http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/305173<;/a>
Not that that excuses anything--Dumpling House (I just typo'd and called it "Dumping House"--LOL!!!) deserved to be shut down. Period. No argument there.
But Morris, Hilda, and other assholes who have posted on this board: I ask that you stop infering that Chinese restaurants are somehow dirtier (and, by strong implication, that the Chinese themselves are somehow dirtier). Its getting old, and you know, it just ain't true.
You're probably smart enough to know better, and you deserve a good smack upside the head for spewing that kind of poisonous nonsense.
Yeah, its kind of gross, but no reason to freak out or stop eating in Chinatown.
Besides, that place makes really good dumplings.
of course, that was back in the day, when kensington was overrun by stray cats. there were at least a dozen living on the back roof of the building across the alley. the cats have all since been "rescued" and adopted out, so there is no longer anything to stop the rats from taking over...
in other news, i have seen mice at mazz sushi on bloor near dovercourt.
Chinese immigrants and their descendents that adopt white standards of cleanliness ARE JUST AS CLEAN!! But the chinese culture is NOT, unless it is forced to change with draconian measures (like Singapore).
Almost.
So you're going to tell me with a straight face that you've NEVER had food poisoning in a "white" country? You're going to tell me that you've NEVER encountered any kind of hygenic issue in a "white" country?
Better yet, maybe you could start by telling me your definition of a "white" country?
"White" standards. Wow. If that's what your argument boils down to, William, back to school with you.
The old Moxie's at the Fairview Mall had a huge rat problem before they moved. Rats can go to pretty much anywhere they want along the subway line.
It's better than rampant infestation or rat poison (which can poison curious dogs as well).
How did the rats climb onto the counter? They should have some renovation that would make it hard for the rats to climb onto the tables, where the food is.
Cleanliness should be an intrinsic value, not something you do because the government (threaten to) shut you down ...
OK, I'm sure you think you're hilarious with that "gift from immigrants" comment, but sorry. You're not. Stop it.
OK, I'm sure you think you're hilarious with that "gift from immigrants" comment, but sorry. You're not. Stop it.
Also meant to add for Georgia: the rats probably got onto the counter because, with their claws, they can climb just about anything. They're also pretty strong for creatures their size, so climbing is generally no problem for them.
If there's a food source, they'll find it.
Head a few blocks away to the very white Sneaky Dees and tell me if you dont see the rats running around constantly.
you live in a big city and this is whats going to happen.
Viva Toronto and viva immigrants
What we need is a Health Department that has more inspectors and that do a very close inspection. The Health Department has not enough inspectors to so a proper job.
I was once in a Coffee Time on Spadina & couldn't use the washrooms because the amonia smell from urine was so high. I would have rather wet my pants.
A lot of restaurant owner/management need to clean up the estabishments. Spend some money or your customers will not come back.
You're right, of course, but its even more than a whole city problem. I have seen disgusting food establishments in cities all over the world (many of them far, far worse than anything I have seen in Toronto). Its an urban problem, not a Toronto problem.
As I said earlier, that's no excuse for inaction, but it does provide a bit of context.
But you're right--every establishment from the 5-star hotels right down to the ma-and-pa fruit stands has some kind of pest problem.
On top of that, rats (and mice and roaches...) are EXPERTS at survival, and are just about impossible to eradicate completely.
That doesn't mean we give up and cede the field to the rats, of course. But we do have to be realistic--the best we can ever do is minimize and control. The rats aren't going to go away.
You can see rats playing around probably because the Chinese biz put the ingredients all over the place.
The non-Chinese biz usually put their stuff orderly, in places you're not allowed to go in, let alone see. Except the rats have a free pass.
YES! I don't care what kind of restaurant it is: if there are rodent feces, rodent urine or anything of the sort I would stay away! Tim Horton's, Chinese restaurant, Yorkville restaurant, anywhere. It's simply a matter of protecting my health.
I'm one of those people who'll like rats as pets. I couldn't afford to, because those little rodents are EXPENSIVE to keep healthy, it's considered an exotic by vets. Rats need really big cages, multi-level, and some owners compromise, and or in addition to big cages, by giving them a 'free ranging' time, for which they must 'rat proof' their homes. Nothing that the rats can hurt themselves on, and /nothing that the rats can damage within reach/.
Rats, insects, etc, fact of life. Infestation is a problem when they've acquired enough number to become /visible/ and bold, so yes, we do have to treat the problem. I wouldn't be bothered by the sight of the odd scurrying rat though, IF, I can be assured that they couldn't climb onto the counter where the food is.
Rats can chew through solid wood corners, plaster, everything they can bite into and wrap their teeth around, they've wore down wire cages. ...but if the cupboards were metal, or at least sheeted as such on the outside, with nothing for the rats to grab onto, well, they won't be able to get up to where the food is eh?
Not necessarily. If the counter is anywhere near a wall or a sink or furniture...they'll find a way to climb up to where the food is.
And I swear to God I have seen rats stand on each other's shoulders. :-)
I cant help but feel a lot of this has to do with cultural practices. Newcomers from china dont know much about prorper food handling and cleanliness. More educatation is needed.
Chinatown on jarvis, and chinatown east are both pretty dirty.
Chances are, we gradually become complacent, being influenced by media and marketing as well as your peers, and then forget about it...
Imbeciles.