Indian Restaurant Closed by Pasadena Health Department

One of Pasadena’s oldest Indian restaurants remains closed after it was inspected last week and found to have “heavy cockroach infestation throughout the facility.”

Sitar Indian Cuisine at 618 E Colorado Blvd. in the Playhouse District was inspected on June 23 and ordered closed immediately after it earned an inspection score of 55 points on the city’s food inspection scoring system.

Food establishments in Pasadena must obtain a grade of at least 84 points to remain serving the public.

Rachel Janbek, acting division manager of the City of Pasadena Environmental Health Department, said that as of Monday night the restaurant remained closed.

Health department records show Sitar Indian Cuisine found to have received three major violations and one minor violation during last week’s inspection.

Inspectors also noted defects in the door seals of the restaurant that need to be fixed to prevent entry of vermin, and insect infestation inside on some soda boxes in the storage area.

The inspection report also mentioned “miscellaneous items in storage rooms in disarray that could possibly present a vermin harborage,” and instructed the restaurant management to take all necessary steps to eliminate the cockroach infestation and clean up and sanitize all affected areas.

Prior to the inspection last week, Sitar Indian Cuisine was also temporarily closed on January 20th this year after routine inspection and reopened two days later.

Sitar opened in 2000 and also offers Italian, Chinese, Thai, Mexican, Mediterranean/European and South Asian dishes, according to its website.

The city’s Department of Public Health posts all closure notices for restaurants and food facilities online, including details of environmental health inspection reports. It also requires food service establishments to post their most recent health inspection summary reports, so patrons are informed about any sanitation and safety issues.