Como’s Restaurant Is Once Again Facing Closure Due to Health Code Violations

Como’s Restaurant in Ferndale is once again facing possible closure due to multiple health code violations, Oakland County 115 first-reports. The 56-year-old establishment located at the corner of Woodward Avenue and East Nine Mile Road was temporarily shuttered last fall when Oakland County Health and Human Services revoked Como’s business license until it addressed health code violations.

The license was eventually reissued on October 21, 2016, but as a recent letter from the health department states “inspections have continued to reveal a lack of active managerial control which has been demonstrated by the facility’ inability to maintain compliance with food safety standards and practices.”

Como’s was informed that its license had been revoked again last week on August 22 but the restaurant is continuing to operate pending an appeal.

Oakland County 115 was able to acquire details of the health code violations from both the 2016 and 2017 inspections through a Freedom of Information Act request. The violations reported during inspections between March 31 and August 31 are extensive.

Inspectors observed numerous food safety issues such as raw ground beef stored over cooked ground beef; expired dairy products; dairy, meat, and produced stored at temperatures significantly above the required 41 degrees Fahrenheit; dirty floors and equipment; and dead fruit flies under the dining area wait station ice bin. Inspectors noted that many of the observed issues were repeats of those that had led to the restaurant’s closure last fall.

In addition to its past issues with the health department, the restaurant was forced to close temporarily in 2015 due to a liquor license suspension. During last year’s closure, former Oakland County Health and Human Services director George Miller told the Detroit Free Press that revoking a license for health code violations is rare.

• Como’s Facing Closure Again After Months of Health Violations [Oakland County 115]
• Ferndale Stalwart Como’s Shut Down for Health Code Violations [ED]