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October 09, 2008 at 10:52:53 AM
Teresa from Toronto
I think that it is ridiculous that public health says there is nothing they can do even though it is clear there are rats in a restaurant where people eat captured on tape. It makes no sense why they have to reinspect. My son and I had whooping cough and we were practically quaranteened by public health. My husband had to go on preventative medication and we couldn't even sit in the waiting room at the doctor's office so that we don't spread the virus. Rats spread more than whooping cough in my opinion.

October 09, 2008 at 12:13:09 PM
Steve
It's not only the restaurants on Spadina but establishments right across the street from City TV can be just as unsanitary. I've seen on several occasions a rat the size of a small cat run across the floor of the Black Night. I'll never eat there again. But then again I bet this goes on in more places then we care to know about.

October 09, 2008 at 12:19:47 PM
buck
I will never eat there again

October 09, 2008 at 12:43:44 PM
Stefano
I don't know what the big deal is. At least we're seeing what the daily special looks like before it gets cooked.

October 09, 2008 at 2:16:44 PM
co.
I'd still eat there.

October 09, 2008 at 2:27:50 PM
TW
Nice line Stefano! LOL I work just down the street at Adelaide and Spadina I only ever seen 1 rat in the 5 years i've worked here and it ran into a conveniences store. Now that store is shut down! This doesnt look good on china town at all. I remeber i few years ago this happened in the same area.

October 09, 2008 at 2:42:46 PM
John_in_the_area
The rat was probably sitting under the Dine Safe card with "Passed" checked off on it.

October 09, 2008 at 2:48:04 PM
shane
Look, now we know there are rats there. If you like to eat with rats, go ahead, but I'd never eat it one of those restaurants. I knew they were filled with disease. Just look at the amount of garbage they toss on the streets every night, ya and I'll just stop and eat food here! Never!

October 09, 2008 at 2:48:30 PM
justin smith
they should check all the fast food restaurants, such as macdonald's etc.. seriously,not just target chinese restaurants... i have see some crazy stuffs in mainstream fast food joints too

October 09, 2008 at 3:31:37 PM
John
Looks Like the Rat just wants to have a free buffet. Needless to say that Restaurant needs to be closed down and Food inspections needs to be re-evaulated, as obivious they're not doing their job. What's the point of having a food inspection?

October 09, 2008 at 3:32:00 PM
kali
I worked in an eatery establishment in Yorkdale mall as a teenager and saw a big rat run across some bags of flour in the back. I don't know why the Health Inspector doesn't make more frequent trips to food businesses. With listeria, e.coli, mad cow etc. there definitely needs to be more digilent inspections and tighter regulations.

October 09, 2008 at 3:38:55 PM
Zoe
I hate how everyone always slags off Chinatown for having rats. I've seen rats at the Union Station food court, running around the food preparation tools. Someone should inspect that.

October 09, 2008 at 3:42:56 PM
Dan
As disgusting as this whole situation is, I have to wonder... why are people shocked? This is Chinatown! Everyone knows that part of Spadina is a cesspool of rodents and garbage.
And I agree with 'Steve' - I'm sure it goes on all over the city... just as it does in any other metropolitan city.

October 09, 2008 at 3:57:27 PM
Ryan
Unfortunately, I used to eat at this particular establishment, especially late nights on the weekends.
Despite this establishment has been shut down, there are quite a few that should be investigated - not only in the Metro area, but also in many of the surrounding suburban areas.

October 09, 2008 at 4:36:00 PM
Kevin
i live on that block and i can tell u that its because these restaurants and supermarkets dump garbage in the back alleys that these rodents are around, believe it or not the city has been regulating this more strictly lately but only due to residential complaints about these businesses. Their creating a haven for these rodents so they have a reason to be there and can just creep into any neighbourhood eatery if their already in the area, it has more to do with garbage disposal than anything, that is why they probably found no signs for the rats before they don't live in the restaurant they pass by on ocassion.

October 09, 2008 at 5:53:46 PM
AM
I've never eaten in Chinatown and rarely eat out because people don't wash their hands and most fast food restaurants are just not very clean. They touch meat then vegetables - never washing hands in between. The rats are only part of the problem of fast food eating. Believe me making it yourself is cheaper and safer. How many rat droppings do you think you've eaten in a lifetime. Hmmm.

October 09, 2008 at 6:07:11 PM
JW
I would suggest those health inspectors to inspect this area more often as to ensure public health and safety. there is rumour that those health inspectors also accept bribery from restaurant owners to issue the PASS inspection permit.

October 09, 2008 at 6:26:50 PM
Mel
maybe it was just a small kid dressed up for Halloween

October 09, 2008 at 6:27:39 PM
Racquel
Okay, so this is obviously very disgusting, but if people are going to make comments, they should stay on the issue at hand--sanitary/health regulation concerns and not venture off into makings statements which include seemingly racist leads such as "I have to wonder... why are people shocked? This is Chinatown!" As others have stated, this sort of thing happens almost anywhere food is prepared. It's unfortunate, but this sort of thing is not that rare in any part of this city. This very multicultural city at that!!

October 09, 2008 at 7:50:59 PM
amy
Theresa-I absolutely agree with you!!!!
Public hea;th over looks alot, and then when we have a massive outbreak they scratch their heads!
pathetic!

October 09, 2008 at 8:28:10 PM
rat
Seems the whole strip has a problem, and just like wall st. profits overide values. Who cares about the customers.
NOT the Toronto we once knew. Health inspectors arestill on the cash payrol.

October 09, 2008 at 8:42:00 PM
Sunday
Public health also needs to look at the ready food source for the rats, not just in the restaurants, but the vegetables chucked to the roadside every night after shops close. A perfect feast for a rat. Until this is taken care of the rats will keep coming back for more.

October 09, 2008 at 9:24:01 PM
Anthony O.
I though those were raisins in my rice!!!

October 09, 2008 at 9:35:47 PM
bitsphere
Maybe the rat was just keeping watch over the restaurant, like a watch dog. A guard-rat!

October 10, 2008 at 10:27:11 PM
Patricia from Toronto
Rats aren't the only problem in the Chinatown restaurants.These restaurants are also heavily infested with cockroaches and other disgusting vermin that can also make the public sick.When is the health department of Toronto going to really crackdown on the restaurants in the area?Chinatown's reputation as being dirty is deserved.Your sense of sight and smell won't lie to you as you walk through the area!

October 10, 2008 at 11:17:27 PM
Patricia
That's the reason I don't eat chinese food- EVER!

October 10, 2008 at 12:01:06 AM
Poepoies
Get real, we live in a city, millions of people packed like a can of sardines. Do you really expect our city to be void of rats? --> they HAVE to live somewhere. As long as its not an infestation of that particular building/establishment (ie. they would be housing/feeding a large number of them)

Its nature? Next time a fly flies in the window of the restaurant: shut it down-its a health hazard!

Simple because this was posted and was publicized. You must be crazy if you think downtown Toronto can be rat-free: especially China town.

Take it or leave it.

October 10, 2008 at 12:02:39 AM
Carrie
It's not just Chinatown! But to be quite honest, I would still go eat there. I mean, come on, there are lots of restaurants with rats. How does a customer know if the restaurant is REALLY rat-free or clean? A green PASS sign at the front is just a sign. Plus, this is what people should expect when they go out to eat. There's always that risk and chance.

October 10, 2008 at 12:25:46 AM
Liz
Why does everyone jump and automatically say "OMG shut them down they must be loaded and dirty to get them"? That is NOT always that case, we've ventured out from Sick Kids late at night and watched rat after rat running around. Face it they go to where food is and if they smelled food they will get in, it doesn't mean there is a huge problem in the store or they are unclean...it means they got in, why do you think restaurants and businesses use pest controls? BECAUSE CRAP HAPPENS! Until you know the whole story, when the investigation is done, don't judge. Downtown TO is LOADED with rats, it's time to take care of them on the streets and get them under control so they do not enter anyones place be it a business or someones home!

October 10, 2008 at 1:38:29 AM
Andrew
Chinatown is a cesspool of rats and cockroaches and unsanitary food preparation is a known fact. Mayor Miller's inspections are ineffective and worthless and it is certainty that there is corruption and bribery since it is inconceivable how these "eateries" could pass otherwise.