Mia's Pizza Cited For Rodent, Roach Infestation
Popular pizzeria was shut down temporarily in mid-October, WUSA9 reports. "We don't have a problem now," owner tells Patch.
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Popular Bethesda pizzeria Mia’s Pizza was temporarily closed in October after county health inspectors discovered a mouse and roach infestation, WUSA9 reports.
Owner Melissa "Mia" Ballinger told Patch that the establishment no longer has an infestation.
When a WUSA9 reporter approached Ballinger, she was shown on camera shoving the television crew’s camera before apologizing and inviting reporters to come inside the restaurant.
Montgomery County health inspectors reported mouse droppings on the floor and on canned goods, and live roaches on the counter and on a cutting board during food prep during an Oct. 16 inspection, according to the WUSA9 report.
Ballinger told Patch the infestation originated from a building next door from which a restaurant had recently vacated.
“It was totally unexpected," Ballinger said.
Mia’s quickly called in pest control and fumigation services to deal with the problem, Ballinger said. The restaurant was closed the afternoon of Tuesday, Oct. 16, and re-opened for lunch service the next day, she said.
“We did everything immediately possible,” Ballinger said. “We don’t have a problem now.”
BERNIE FISKEN
7:50 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
On a more positive note, Mia's Pizza does have GREAT PIZZA. It's Pizza Wagon at the Sunday Bethesda Farmer's Market operating in the parking lot of the Bethesda Elementary School is a WINNER. This past Sunday I tried the Cheese Pizza at the Mia's Pizza Wagon for $8.00 (USD). MAMA MIA! It was incredible.
Brian Doherty
8:41 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Hmmmm...
jag
8:54 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Haven't bothered returning to Mia's since Pacci's opened in Silver Spring.
Brad Longley
11:06 am on Monday, November 5, 2012
Restaurants get violations all the time, wonder why WUSA9 and Bethesda Patch (do they do their own reporting or just repeat other news sources) singled out Mia's? Glad they took care of it and we'll continue to enjoy their great pizza!
Bastante
1:08 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Mia's has great food but not so great that we want to deal with the traffic and parking issues in Bethesda all to wait for a table in that tiny restaurant and deal with all the screaming kids. None of that is the restaurant's fault, and obviously, huge numbers of people are willing to deal with it. I pretty much assume that every restaurant does non-stop battle with rodents and other vermin and it is just bad luck if the inspector happens to show up at a time when the vermin have the upper hand. However - hot water, food safety - there is really no excuse for not having that kind of thing under control. Back to you, Bob.
Randolph Koch
1:30 pm on Monday, November 5, 2012
Maybe these were just some new innovative toppings....after all, Microsoft describes bugs as "features."
russresearcher
1:24 pm on Thursday, November 8, 2012
Not a new problem for them- we had a roach experience there about a year ago. Interesting timing- today there's a LivingSocial 50% off coupon for their pizza....I don't think so:-(