Celebrity chef Matt Moran’s swanky Brisbane restaurant has reopened after health inspectors closed it down due to a rat problem earlier this week.
The Riverbar & Kitchen was closed at the orders of Brisbane City Council staff on Tuesday but reopened on Friday.
Free drinks were offered by the riverside venue’s management after at least one rat was found on the premises.
Matt Moran’s swanky restaurant, Riverbar & Kitchen, has been forced to shut down after health inspectors swooped on the popular eatery
The popular restaurant (pictured) was closed by Brisbane City Council staff on Tuesday
The eatery was shut ‘due to some issues with its food business licence’, according a spokesman for Solotel group, the restaurant’s parent company.
‘A recent council inspection found some deficiencies in our food handling processes which are being addressed as a matter of urgency,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.
A build up of grit and grime had been blamed for the vermin problem, the Courier Mail reported.
Cleaning crews were spotted working on getting the business cleaned and up and running again ahead of the weekend.
Workers were able to head to the popular drinking spot at the end of the working week as it reopened at 5pm.
A spokesman for Moran’s Solotel group, which owns the eatery and bar, described the closure to Daily Mail Australia as ‘some issues with its food business licence’.
‘Solotel takes these issues very seriously and we acknowledge we took our eye off the ball on this occasion, and our normally very high standards were not adhered to this time.’
The spokesman apologised to the restaurant’s customers and said it was doing everything possible to rectify the problem.
‘It is important to appreciate that there have been no identified adverse consequences for any patrons. This is simply a situation where we should have done better,’ he said.
A team of pest controllers and other tradesmen were seen removing kitchen equipment from the venue on Thursday afternoon, the Courier Mail reported.
‘A recent council inspection found some deficiencies in our food handling processes which are being addressed as a matter of urgency,’ a spokesman said of the restaurant (pictured)
A sign outside the venue is said to read: ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to close with short notice. We expect to reopen in the coming days. Please check our Facebook page.’
As of Friday morning, the restaurant’s social media pages had not been updated with any details regarding the closure.
The establishment runs independently from Eagle Street Pier, but is located on Eagle Street.
A sign outside the venue (pictured) on Thursday read: ‘Due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to close with short notice’
A Brisbane City Council spokesman said it requires food businesses to meet strict food safety standards, but would not comment on individual cases.
‘Each and every complaint made to Council about food safety is investigated with an inspection, and food businesses are not allowed to continue operating if they present a health risk to the public,’ the spokesman told Daily Mail Australia.
‘Council also conducts regular proactive inspections of food businesses, to ensure all food safety standards are being met.
‘Council cannot identify individual food outlets that may currently be under investigation.’
Riverbar & Kitchen opened five years ago and boasts a five-star rating. It had never previously had compliance issues.
A team of pest controllers and other tradesmen were seen removing kitchen equipment from Moran’s venue on Thursday afternoon. The celebrity chef is pictured in 2015