Casbah fined for second time
By Brandy Nance
Originally published 09:23 a.m., December 15, 2007
Updated 09:23 a.m., December 15, 2007
A local restaurant has been fined a second time for failing to comply with food safety regulations, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment announced this week.
Mike Heideman of the Kansas Department of Health of Environment sent a press release out on Thursday that included Casbah Mediterranean Pizza, 1127 Commercial St., as one of the restaurants that was fined. Casbah was sent a letter on Nov. 21.
The restaurant was fined following inspections on June 20 and July 2, according to a Gazette article Sept. 8. According to the administrative order sent to the restaurant, the penalty was appealed on Sept. 4. On Oct. 3, a notice was issued to the restaurant for failing to participate in the prehearing scheduled for Oct. 3.
The restaurant was fined $500 on Nov. 21 because the restaurant “failed to control the presence of pests,” according to the administrative order sent to the restaurant. The latest inspection took place on Sept. 12.
Other violations listed on the Nov. 21 order include “failure to label ready to eat, potentially hazardous foods with a consume by date;” failure to provide hot water in the establishment; and “licensee had on the premises a pesticide unapproved for use in a food establishment.”
Violations earlier this year at the restaurant included failure to control pests, failure to comply with safe food handling guidelines, failure to hold food at 41 degrees or below, failure to label food properly and failure to use poisonous or toxic materials according to manufacturer’s instructions.
In a telephone conversation Friday morning, Heideman said administrative orders are subject to appeal.
“They have the choice of either paying the penalty or filing an appeal,” Heideman said.
Heideman said any establishment that has repeat violations could face increased enforcement action. He declined to say what steps that could include.
“It’s too early to say,” he said. “Our goal in this process is to return the facility to compliance. That’s really our goal. We want to be able to resolve these matters in a productive way.”
A message from The Gazette left for Casbah owner Bilal Syed was not returned.
rami (anonymous) says...
Honestly, I'm not really surprised by any of this....disgusted, thankfully I've never eaten there, but not surprised.
December 15, 2007 at 10:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
the place looks nasty from the outside, it looked closed last time i went by,maybe they got fined a second time even though they were closed for business
December 15, 2007 at 7:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Why does the name Bilal Syed ring a bell? Anybody?
December 15, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NewInbox (anonymous) says...
Bilal Syed:
He also has problems with abiding by peoples privacy, when he tries going around town to various hotels/motels to pass out restaurant coupons without the permission of the owner. There have been a few times when he waits for customers to come into my Motel's office and while they check-inn he waits there and hands out the coupons personally. While that is by itself a rude gesture, the coupons are printed out in an unprofessional manner on Microsoft Word Document. He has also tried to promote his "Open-Late" restaurant hours as well as "Open-Weekends" numerous times by going to various locations and telling people personally (in his choppy white truck with trailer) that no one else is open till 2 a.m. in town and that his restaurant is always open late and on weekends.
December 15, 2007 at 10:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NewInbox (anonymous) says...
He also leaves coupons in random offices without asking the clerks and leaves the office. He also comes back within an hour to the office to check if the coupons have been removed or still on the desk where its visible to customers.
December 15, 2007 at 10:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
hes a landlord and i think he was the last person to own godfathers
December 16, 2007 at 10:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
Thank you, everyone. I knew I had heard that name before so it must have been here on the forum. Seems to me someone had also mentioned him back during the slum lord discussions. I just wasn't sure. At any rate, that Casbah is a scary looking place, always dark, but cars are parked in front. Something out of "The Year of the Cat." :)
December 16, 2007 at 12:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Pollyanna (anonymous) says...
A couple of years ago I was on 12th street, driving right by what is now the Casbah and saw a little kid running around the parking lot frantically laughing and chasing something that was right by the door of the building. This kid chased it right out into the middle of traffic and the car in front of me squashed it right on its front tires..big mouse. That image is ingrained in my mind and I would have a hard time eating at any establishment in that location!!! YUCK! That little kid sure got a kick out of it, though!!
December 16, 2007 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rami (anonymous) says...
Yes, his name came up as a slumlord. My husband used to do work for him to try and fix up places...he cuts corners ALOT! He's the definition of slumlord.
December 16, 2007 at 6:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
yes it is a little creepy looking, looks closed but looks like someone is still there it s hard to tell. i know if he owns the building he has the right to use it, but it has the abandoned on impulse look.
December 16, 2007 at 8:33 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ks_farmboy (anonymous) says...
i be curious as to what the state will do. if an alcohol establishment serves illegally, eventually the state will pull their alcohol license. is that not the case for food vendors? anyone know?
December 17, 2007 at 4:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
think they can take their license but i cant remember how they go about taking it
December 17, 2007 at 5:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I was curious so I called Dept of Health and Environment.
It's just not a matter of pulling a license. There is a great deal involved. It takes multiple violations and failure to correct those violations. Over a period of time, if the same kind of violations continue, the restaurant is placed on a list that requires inspectors to increase the number of inspections. There are fines involved as well. The state has a set of guidelines that is followed.
The gentleman was very courteous as he explained this to me.
December 18, 2007 at 2:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )