KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
One of the La Cocina locations in the Santa Clarita Valley has been closed after Los Angeles County Public Health officials found vermin in the Mexican food restaurant.
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“We’re doing remodeling, cleaning up over a violation we got from our Health Department here. They’re doing strict work — good, good for the community, good for the business owners,” said Carlos Lopez, manager of the La Cocina Bar and Grill Seco location. “We got caught with a couple cockroaches in the storage area, one in the ceiling. Nothing we couldn’t do. We have merchandise on a daily basis coming in, fresh food, fresh everything. We got the issue addressed, we got it (taken) care of, doing our best. Now, taken a negative deal into a positive. Decided to do some upgrades in the kitchen, knockdown some walls, remodel a little bit. Do a full thorough clean of the the establishment.”
Lopez said the restaurant should be reopened by Friday.
“There’s no vermin. There’s not rats, There’s no anything,” he said. “I would be more than glad to show you around our facility.”
The notice of closure, taped to the window of the 28022 Seco Canyon Rd. La Cocina location, was effective Sept. 1.
Calls to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health have not been returned.
The Notice of Closure sign was no longer posted as of Sept. 3.
The second La Cocina location, at 28076 Bouquet Canyon Rd., is not affected.
A third La Cocina is being constructed on Golden Valley Road and Sierra Highway.
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“Vermin infestation” means the presence of vermin within the food facility as evidenced by actual live bodies, fresh droppings or vomitus, urine stains, or gnaw marks, that could result in contamination to the food, equipment, packaging, or utensils
Dale I can assure you that you are not business owner. You are making a minor common incident to deter people from going to eat comfortably where they like to eat. I hope clients are able to see beyond this negative comments and continue to go I know I will and all my friends and family will too. We have been going for years it has been the outmost cleanest and best customer service . Please stop throwing your hate and do something useful for yourself and time this people are hard workers dedicated to please their clients.. LA COCINA IS GREAT ,CLEAN, AND BEST FOOD AND SERVICE GLAD TO HAVE THEM. Dale who made negative comments be mad at yourself for being evil and lazy.
I’m sure all restaurants encounter the same thing. I’ve witnessed bugs in most restaurants at one time or another. La Cocina is a local restaurant and I trust that the family will take care of this and it will open with a line out the front door of patrons waiting for their favorite dish. There is no room for negative comments about this restaurant, everyone loves “La Cocina.”
Never much cared for the food or service at La Cucaracha…oops..I mean..La Cocina..
Only reason there is a line there is that folks live close by.
There are Much Better Mexican restaurants around. Namely….AZUL TEQUILA
Francisco…the cousins of La Cocina own Azul…
Good guys, good food. Way to go awesome town, make a big deal out of something most food locations have to deal with on a daily basis like your local food markets not just restaurants.
Most restaurant code violations are at Mexican restaurants or Asian. Just a fact, draw your own conclusions
And you thought that was chicken in your tacos….
I have had the pleasure of dining with my family at both locations from their first days of service. I have never met a family more dedicated to the quality & integrity of their restaurant and the food they serve. This unfortunate setback is nearly impossible to avoid, as nearly all restaurant owners find this out eventually. “2” of Los Angeles’s Legendary dining establishments, The Original Pantry & Jerry’s Deli, both in business at the highest dining level in Los Angeles, had this happen a decade or so ago. They had been in business for almost 145 years combined, when they had this similar occurrence happen. The Lopez family will correct the situation, and Santa Clarita will once again be able to enjoy our city’s Best Mexican Food! We’re behind you LaCocina!!!!
My family & I have been eating at both LaCocina’s for over a decade. They are run by the most caring, thoughtful, and dedicated restaurant owners in this city. It is sad that what was told to the public by the media, and falsely reported by the health inspector, made front page news. There were no vermin. The health inspectors came back to the restaurant the next to apologize for their error. But the damage had been done. To the hundreds of friends that have joined us at LaCocina, we firmly stand by the restaurant, now & forever!!!
The inspection report for La Cocina is public record. There was no error. Cockroaches are vermin. The nearby Thai restaurant was closed too, because the whole shopping center had problems. That’s public record too. But for some reason, only La Cocina was newsworthy. I’m sure they have scrubbed the restaurant from top to bottom and fumigated. Of course the inspectors went back to ensure all that was done, not to apologize, LOL. But I wouldn’t hesitate to eat at La Cocina. After what they went through, they’re probably the cleanest restaurant in town.