Swatow Shut Down
The recent rat infestation at Happy Seven is claiming victims on both the east and west side of Spadina. While extensive media coverage is likely resulting in less enthusiastic diners to Chinatown as a whole, health inspectors are also on the warpath and this week shut down Swatow for violations.
A sign currently posted to the front door reads "This establishment is closed by order of the Medical Officer of Health under the authority of section 13 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act"
With Swatow now temporarily shuttered, that means only three places in our Best Late Night Chinese Food options are still open for business. Whatever happens - don't let Rol San be next!
Comments (26)
Oh, oh. If they're closing, that means our furry friends will be migrating to other inviting pastures, looking for other available cuisine elsewhere.
It appears it is an insect infestation, among other food handling and sanitation issues. Strange though, Swatow was always one of the more clean looking restos along the strip.
http://is.gd/49KY (link to the food inspection report)
I checked your other top late night Chinese spots on DineSafe. New Ho King was most recently shuttered due to health violations on August 14. Rol San and Gold Stone don't have any violations in the past two years. An my personal fav, Rol Jui on Dundas, can't be found. I'll have to look into that.
There's nothing you can rely on anymore in this world.
It really seems like you guys should just pre-write the "this awesome china town restaurant has been shut down because of rats" articles.
China town, you guys gotta step it up with this whole "Rat" thing.
For what it's worth, even though Gold Stone has a clean record for the last 2 years it doesn't necessarily mean they're clean. About a year ago I ordered dumplings with sweet & sour sauce, when I removed the lid for the sauce, to my horror, I found that the lid was covered in dirt and hair...non human hair to be more specific. Needless to say, I don't care how clean their record is, I won't be eating there ever again. Same goes for most if not all restaurants in that area.
Funny thing.
I went this monday there and it looks clean to me...but, one never knows BTW I?ve heard that rats are a typical food in china.
A.k.a. "dogeyes". This is what one Chinese friend jokingly referred to "us" as because "our" irises are visible just like dogs' iris'!?
Rats may be typical food to street people in china. This is no different than homeless people along the don river cooking up squirrels and raccoons. The Star had a report on this a few years ago. People eat what they need to survive.
"Rats may be typical food to street people in china"
nope, they do eat rats in most area's. However these are rats breed for eating, not wild street rats.
Any area that has that many restaurants will have issues with rodents. I would l like to see the city step in help clean this up instead of punishing individual restaurants. Chinatown is a viable tourist destination and needs city support to clean-up what is a city problem.
Haven't been back to Gold Stone since I found a disgustingly wiry hair in a fried donut stick. I'm shuddering just in memory.
Common Tony B, the owners of these places are not following the rules!
There are plenty of ways the owners can prevent these infestations, they are even listed on the Dine Safe web site!!!
I like the food at the Swatow but about 10 years ago I was eating a dish of chicken and cashews when I noticed there were lots of little straight black hairs all through it, like the chef had just come from getting his hair cut.
Apetimberlake - agreed that the onus to keep a place clean is on the owners but a stroll through Chinatown shows how difficult - if not impossible - that task could be. A lot of the buildings are linked, sharing walls, basements and certainly backyards - if there's an infestation in the neighborhood, it will be nearly impossible to prevent rats or mice from entering your particular establishment.
I'm happy to stop eating on Spadina if I could be assured that rodents don't infest other eateries. As it turns out, I've only ever witnessed vermin while eating in the Annex. In that case, the staff refused to address my concerns about scampering rodents even as I ate my meal. What kind of profiling characterizes the treatment of Spadina restauranteurs while health experts don't consider food merchants elsewhere?
matts - exactly, Chinatown is a old place with some of the oldest buildings in Toronto, there are rats everywhere, people just don't see them all the time since they come out during the night.
Restaurant owners have more responsibility then just cook yummy food and gain profit. If they're located in Chinatown then they should be aware of the rat problem. If they don't have rats, prevention measures should be done because sooner or later rats are going to knock on the door.
Chinatown is a old place and i think it's almost impossible to elimanate all the rats. They call it pest CONTROL for a reason. To control the rats from entering into the restaurants should be priority #1.
I don't think people should be so quick to judge. I've been going to SWATOW for many years and I've never had any problems. It's definitely one of the CLEANEST restaurants in Chinatown. Whatever the issue is, it's being resolved. Restaurant owners in Chinatown are under a lot of pressure and really making an effort to clean up. I will go back to SWATOW for sure when it re-opens and you should too.
Swatow is opened now, with a Green Pass. I just called for take out. I have been eating at Swatow for over 15 years. It is one of the cleanest restaurants in Chinatown, with a delicious, fresh menu and great staff. I don't think it's right people are using the Happy 7 case to make jokes and generalize Chinatown Restaurants in the same category. Just my two cents.
Swatow is and always will be my favourite place to stop by for chinese food no matter day or night. I live for Swatow. I was eating there Tuesday afternoon after casting my vote. They already reopened today. I just had my favaourite dishes general tao chicken and shrimp lobster sauce. Swatow is always fresh and service is excellent!!
Swatow is GREAT !
The staff have always been friendly
The food is incredible.
Their shrimp dumpling soup would the last meal I ever ordered.
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