SEATTLE— A preferred sushi restaurant that quickly closed the doorways of its Seattle and Bellevue areas as a result of well being and security considerations will reopen Tuesday.
FOB Sushi Bar, in a press launch despatched to KOMO Information on Monday, mentioned its areas in Seattle's Belltown and Bellevue neighborhoods would reopen Tuesday at 11 a.m. The restaurant introduced on Nov. 18 that it will shut its Seattle and Bellevue areas “till additional discover” after a viral TikTok video by famed meals critic Keith Lee raised security considerations.
“I used to be actually pissed off with the entire social media factor. FOB doesn't deserve this,” Jojo Rent mentioned. “I've been consuming right here since earlier than they blew up on the web they usually've at all times had nice service and high quality fish.”
Lee, who has practically 20 million followers on TikTok and Instagram, lately visited FOB Sushi Bar as a part of his Seattle meals evaluation journey, giving the restaurant constructive marks. Nevertheless, commentators famous in a video that one thing that gave the impression to be a “worm” was transferring within the piece of sushi he was placing in his mouth.
“Following a short, voluntary closure, we’ve got completely reviewed our restaurant provide chain, meals suppliers, meals storage and security protocols, and have confirmed that each one elements are protected for consumption, meet and meet the code, and we sit up for serving you scrumptious sushi as soon as once more,” wrote FOB Sushi Bar.
The assertion goes on to notice that Public Well being visited the Seattle and King County location on Nov. 27 and located no meals code violations. The restaurant went on to notice that they offered “all crucial paperwork associated to the destruction of parasites within the fish we serve” and absolutely cooperated with the Public Well being investigation.
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“Well being investigators will return at an unannounced date and time after reopening for extra inspection and we welcome them anytime,” FOB Sushi Bar wrote. “FOB Sushi in Seattle continues to have an 'wonderful' meals security ranking.” by Public Well being, the best within the four-tier meals security ranking system.
Lastly, the restaurant mentioned it would proceed to totally cooperate with Public Well being – Seattle and King County well being inspectors, and that its determination to quickly shut was its personal and never a Public Well being requirement.
“We sit up for seeing you this week and past. Thanks to your assist and patronage,” the restaurant wrote to finish its assertion. “We’re so grateful to the Seattle group for serving to us navigate this time and are grateful for his or her continued assist.”
KOMO Information reached out to Public Well being Seattle & King County on Monday concerning the restaurant's scheduled reopening, they usually responded with the next assertion:
“Public Well being investigators performed a go to to the FOB Sushi location in Seattle on Wednesday, November 27, in response to complaints Public Well being obtained from the general public in response to the video circulating concerning the restaurant. Our well being investigators discovered no no meals code violations. The restaurant offered all crucial documentation associated to the destruction of parasites of their fish. The property cooperated absolutely with our investigation.
“Well being inspectors had been unable to finish a full routine inspection as a result of the restaurant is closed and never serving meals, however investigators will return at an unannounced date and time after reopening for extra inspection. FOB Sushi's Seattle location continues having an “wonderful” Public Well being meals security ranking, the best within the four-tier meals security ranking system.
Lee, who has greater than 16.7 million followers on TikTok and a couple of.three million extra on Instagram, is a well-liked meals critic recognized for enhancing the recognition of the eating places he critiques.
In a TikTok video Lee posted on Nov. 9, which had practically 20 million views as of Nov. 19, one thing seems to maneuver within the piece of sushi he eats. Commentators famous that on the minute and 51 second mark, what appears like a “worm” strikes earlier than Lee places the sushi in his mouth.
“I watched the video. It's just a little grainy, it's onerous to inform what's occurring, but it surely's just a little suspicious,” one buyer instructed KOMO Information. “I'm positive there are a whole lot of meals dangers that we overlook on a regular basis. I believe it's unlucky that this has had such an affect on the enterprise.”
“Somebody slowed down the video and it appeared like one thing was transferring,” Lee mentioned in a follow-up video posted Nov. 17. “1000% transparency, I didn't see something till somebody pointed it out. I can't affirm or deny what it was, however I can affirm that I'm effective.”
The well being division gave FOB Sushi Bar a rating of zero (an ideal rating) on January 30. A rating of zero represents no violations; Scores above 35 might result in one other inspection, and scores above 90 might trigger the board to shut a restaurant till the issues are resolved.
In FOB Sushi Bar's unique response to Lee's video and group feedback, the restaurant defended itself, stating that allegations of maggots discovered within the restaurant's sashimi had been “fully false.”
Reporting on the restaurant's preliminary closure, KOMO Information contacted FOB Sushi and visited the enterprise, however didn’t obtain a response.