In the quiet streets of Waltham Forest, a rather unfortunate tale has unfolded. It seems that nine restaurants in the area have found themselves in quite the pickle when it comes to food hygiene ratings. The ruling from the Food Standards Agency was not a kind one as six establishments in Walthamstow and three in Leyton were all stamped with a big, fat zero during inspections in the month of November. Quite the blow, indeed.

Now, if we narrow our focus to Wood Street in Walthamstow, we find that this particular area appears to be a haven for less-than-stellar hygiene practices. Three restaurants in the vicinity found themselves on the receiving end of the dreaded zero. Amongst them, the Artist’s Lounge, a charming cafe and shisha lounge known for its indulgent coffees and teas, fell short in terms of cleanliness and food safety practices. In fact, the situation has gotten so dire that neighbours living above the lounge have reportedly resorted to tossing fruit onto the roof in an effort to drown out the raucous late-night music. Quite the scene, wouldn’t you say?

Moving on to Mini Hiba, another establishment along Wood Street, we find that they too have been called out for their lacklustre food handling and management of food safety. Despite serving up traditional Palestinian and Lebanese delicacies, it seems their kitchen routines are in need of a major revamp.

But the string of zero ratings does not end there. In fact, Smash Street Kitchen & Drink Bar on Golden Parade, Wood Street, experienced a harsh reality check during their inspection. Urgent improvements in managing food safety were deemed necessary. And in Higham Hill Road, Khushboo, Deja Brew, and Little Lotus also fell short during inspections. It appears that hygiene is a bit of a sticking point in these parts – certainly not the ideal destination for a meal.

Shifting our attention to Leyton, we find The Coach & Horses gastropub, despite recent refurbishments, failed to impress the inspectors. Their facilities were deemed in dire need of a good scrub, and their management of food safety standards was found wanting. A wake-up call, for sure.

Street food traders KAMU, who reside at The Coach & Horses, also found themselves at the receiving end of a zero rating, with inspectors calling for major improvements in their food handling and cleanliness. And finally, Atalian Servest Food Company in Leyton Bus Garage was handed the lowest possible rating, indicating a need for significant improvements across the board.

It’s not all glamour and excellence in the world of eateries in Waltham Forest, it seems. Let’s hope that these establishments take heed of the warnings and make the necessary changes to set things right. After all, no one wants a side of food poisoning with their meal, do they?