Health Board Shutters Waltham Restaurant for Mice Droppings Issue

The Waltham Board of Health has ordered Sabatino's Italian Kitchen closed for five days.

The board ordered the closure during its Jan. 14 meeting in the wake of inspectors finding mice droppings at the restaurant.

The closure will start on Jan. 20 and run until at least Jan. 24, according to Board of Health letter to the restaurant. On Jan. 24, health officials plan to reinspect the eatery, according to Chief Public Health Inspector Michelle Feeley. If the restaurant is deemed to have met health regulations, they will be allowed to reopen, Feeley said.

If officials determine the restaurant has not met minimum health standards inspectors can order Sabatino's to remain closed until they do, Feeley said.

The board of also suspended Sabatino's annual license to operate. If allowed to reopen after Jan. 24, Sabatino's will have to seek renewal of its license to operate every 30 days for the next six months, Feeley said.

Inspectors have been working with Sabatino's since November to rectify the cleanliness issues. During a Jan. 8 reinspeciton, inspectors found stained ceilings tiles in the eating area, a broken toilet seat in the women's bathroom, mice droppings in the bar area and evidence of cockroaches, according to the inspection report. Inspectors found many other issues.

If the restaurant does not improve its conditions, the health board can order them closed permanently, Feeley said.

"That's the last resort," she said. "We don't want you to fail. We want to work with you."

The restaurant's attorney, Howard Rock, could not be reached for comment.