Lavoro Italian Restaurant hit with massive fine over filthy kitchen with cigarette butts and cockroaches

A Rockingham restaurant crawling with cockroaches and labelled a danger to guests’ health has been hit with a massive fine. Lavoro Italiano Restaurant boasts online of being “one of the best restaurants serving pizzas and pasta to its customers since 2015”. Pictures on its website show crisp pizzas with generous toppings, shiny pasta, and fresh seafood. But prosecutors described the kitchen as one of the worst they’d seen in WA during an appearance at Rockingham Magistrates Court on May 17. Prosecuting lawyer Peter Gillet, who represented the City of Rockingham, labelled the kitchen a “systemic failure” with a history of “non-compliance” to food standards since 2022. He said inspectors found a kitchen covered in dirt and grease, with rotting food odours coming from a grate. “Inspectors saw live and dead cockroaches,” he said. “Cockroaches seen during the day indicates a serious infestation. “When they were pointed out, the owner was not surprised.” According to Mr Gillet, oil dripped down walls, there was a cigarette butt on the floor in the dry storage area and dirty utensils were stored in buckets. Windows had no screens which meant flies were flying about the kitchen. Prawns, mussels, and fish were stored at temperatures of 12C and 8C much higher than the recommended 5C. “Open buckets of sauces and uncovered food was sitting on benches and exposed to dirt from shelves above and aerosols from coughing or sneezing,” he said. “It could only be described as filthy.” Mr Gillet said the kitchen hardware including a microwave and shelving was rusted and dirty. He said the city only commenced court proceedings after years of non-compliance and infringements. “There was an inspection as recent as yesterday,” he said. “I find this extraordinary but there has been no change.” Trent Andrews appeared on behalf of Adventure Group WA – the owners of Lavoro, which also own Lemas Rooftop Bar in Byford. Mr Andrews said a professional clean had been booked recently but it “didn’t move the grease and grime at all.” “They’ve spent $40,000 on new kitchen equipment as this is deeply baked in grime over a long period of time,” he said. He argued that as it was a first offence and due to the cost of new equipment the fine should be minimal. Mr Andrews said it was a new operation that struggled during COVID. Mr Gillet challenged this view, arguing that an owner-operated fish and chip shop with a similar level of grime received an $80,000 fine. “There is a strong need for personal deterrence,” he argued. “My submission is the offence here is worse. It is a larger operation; they employ staff and have another restaurant.” Magistrate Anne Longden slammed the restaurant for the potential impact it could have on guests’ health. “Seeing the photos … this is a serious example of this type of offending,” she said. “But this is not a case of complete defiance. “This exercise will have some impact on the reputation of the company and so it should.” She fined the restaurant $40,000 with costs of $3609.

Lavoro Italian Restaurant hit with massive fine over filthy kitchen with cigarette butts and cockroaches

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