A RESTAURANT owner has spoken out after receiving a one-star food hygiene rating whilst out of the country.

Raj Tandoori, Yorktown Road in Sandhurst, was inspected on August 22, 2023 by an inspector from Bracknell Forest Council and the Food Standards Agency.

The Bangladeshi Indian Restaurant and Takeaway is a favourite with locals with many saying that it is the ‘best in the area’ with ‘good customer service, superb food, and a great menu, according to Google Reviews.

During the inspection which occurred in August, inspectors noted that the management of food safety ‘required major improvement’.

The Hygienic Food handling was graded generally satisfactory and the cleanliness and condition of facilities were found to be of a ‘good’ standard. Within the management of food safety category, it is vital for inspectors to see paperwork about the food safety procedures and receive assurances from the food safety officer that these standards will be maintained.

After the new food hygiene rating, customers raised questions regarding the safety and quality of the food at the popular restaurant.

In response, owner of Raj Tandoori Mohammad Safar explained why the restaurant received a low hygiene rating following his return to the UK.

The owner said: “During the visit from the health officer I wasn’t in the country and therefore my staff weren’t aware of where all the correct paperwork was that needed to be provided for the inspection.

“The rating had nothing to do with the cleaning and nothing to do with the food. It was simply because I wasn’t there to give the inspector the right paperwork.

“Also, because a lot of my kitchen staff don’t speak English they were lacking in confidence when the inspectors were asking them questions so we were at a disadvantage.”

He added: “The health inspector has just been down to speak to me again and I was able to provide the documents and he is happy with everything.”

Mohammed has applied to Bracknell Forest Council for a revisit from the Food Standards Agency to complete a new inspection where they will inspect the food safety procedures and cleanliness of the facilities again.

Two weeks prior to the surprise inspection by Food Standards, the restaurant was closed to allow staff time off. The owner explained that as the inspector arrived, staff were setting up and cleaning the restaurant to begin trading