Dirty Dining update: Panini Kosher still closed; roach infestation persists over a month later

DANIA BEACH, Fla. – A kosher restaurant that claimed it was closed due to a flood is still shut down, but not because of water damage.

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Panini Kosher, which posted a sign reading “Temporarily closed due to a flood” on its door, was actually ordered to shut its kitchen on April 2 due to a roach infestation. And more than a month later, the problem remains unresolved.

On May 12, a state food safety inspector returned to the restaurant, located at 5978 SW 40th Ave., just north of Stirling Road, and documented continued pest activity.

The inspection revealed one live roach crawling under the three-compartment sink and multiple dead roaches throughout the facility, including:

• 1 dead roach on the prep table where the tabletop grill is located
• 2 dead roaches inside a reach-in cooler stocked with prepackaged Snapple and bottled drinks in the customer lobby
• 1 dead roach on a prep table by the cook line
• 1 dead roach on a food storage shelf inside another reach-in cooler
• 3 dead roaches in a gray plastic container by the three-compartment sink
• 1 dead roach inside a vertical reach-in cooler in the kitchen

The inspector noted that all dead roaches were removed during the visit, but the original Stop-Use Order remains in effect, and a re-inspection is still required due to the ongoing pest issue.

This directly contradicts the message on the front door and the explanation given by staff.

Despite being branded as the “Hollywood” location, the restaurant is in Dania Beach. And while customers are being directed to order from their Surfside location, the misrepresentation of the closure reason has raised concerns.

When Local 10 News visited the Surfside location earlier this month, the manager insisted the restaurant was simply undergoing renovation due to minor flooding.

When asked if that explanation was misleading, he appeared bewildered and eventually placed a call to owner Hershel Brach, who declined to speak with us.

A business card was left. As of the time of publication, no response has been received from the owner.