BBMP issues notice to Koshy’s over hygiene

Koshy’s regulars also comprise the who’s who of Bangalore. Photo: Sampath Kumar G. P

One of the city’s iconic restaurants, Koshy’s on St. Mark’s Road, which has been around since 1940, closed for some three hours from 3 p.m. on Tuesday after the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) slapped a show cause notice on it for poor hygiene.

According to a senior official from the BBMP’s health department, S. Venkatesh Babu, chairperson of the Standing Committee for Public Health, lunched at the popular hangout. Thereafter, he inspected the kitchen and storeroom and complained to the department following which the range officer and team inspected the premises.

According to the range officer, neither the kitchen nor the storeroom was maintained hygienically nor was the utensil washing area well maintained. “We have issued a notice to the owner, besides levying a fine of Rs. 25,000. We have also directed the owner to close the kitchen until repairs and remedial measures are taken up,” the official said.

Councillor Babu said the BBMP had asked the management to not conduct any business till measures to maintain hygiene are taken up.

However, the restaurant opened in the evening and it was business as usual with the regulars, who swear by the food here, hanging out here. Patrons seemed to be oblivious to the BBMP notice. One of them, Nitin, said “everything was normal”.

BBMP officials told

The Hindu they would inspect the eatery again on Wednesday. “How can the hotel function when we have asked the management to close the kitchen? We will inspect again and levy a fine.”

When contacted, owner Prem Koshy declined to comment.