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'We are better than before,' Taka Sushi House owner says

'We failed, but we can and we are doing better. We want to provide a clean business for people,' Newmarket restaurateur says in wake of health inspection
20190115 taka sushi kevin yang KC
Taka Sushi House co-owner Kevin Yang stands beside the York Safe proof of public health inspection poster that was re-issued to his all-you-can-eat restaurant at 340 Eagle St. W. after a brief closure. Kim Champion/Newmarkettoday

Taka Sushi House co-owners Kevin Yang and Vincent Lin have already beat dire statistics that show about 90 per cent of independent restaurants close their doors within the first year.

And, as the friends from high school days who honed their culinary skills together here at home and in New York City get set to celebrate five years of all-you-can-eat sushi at the corner of Davis Drive and Eagle Street W., they have one message for customers: “Please come back.”

The 100-seat restaurant on Jan. 4, 2019, was issued a closure notice by a York Region public health inspector for failure “to provide adequate protection against the entrance of insects, vermin or rodents”.

Almost immediately after the closure notice was published online, Yang said his telephone began ringing with customers asking if the popular noshing spot was closed permanently and what caused the closure.

“We used to be much busier before Jan. 4,” Yang said. “This (the closure notice) has hurt my business.”

Yang explained that the inspector issued the closure notice because he found evidence of cockroach activity in various parts of the kitchen. That same day, the owners called a pest control service that treated all cracks and crevices behind all shelving, flooring and baseboards, as well as under and behind the pop machine and freezer, according to an invoice dated Jan. 4, 2019.

A public health inspector came back the next day, Jan. 5, and satisfied with the measures that had been taken, issued a new green York Safe proof of public health inspection notice.

“We were only closed for half the day to take care of the issue,” Yang said, adding the pest control service occurs monthly at the restaurant. “We failed, but we can and we are doing better. We want to provide a clean business for people. We are getting a new pest control service and we are better than we were before.”

The Regional Municipality of York is responsible for inspecting establishments that provide food to the public and also trains those who handle food through its York Safe food handler certification program.

York Region’s public health inspectors carried out 11,643 food premises inspections, according to its 2017 annual report. The unit can issue charges and orders during inspections, with the former being a provincial offence that carries set fines and, the latter, a written or verbal direction to correct whatever is deemed to be a health hazard.

Health inspection results are available online for food establishments, recreational water facilities, salons and spas.

Yang, a five-year Newmarket resident, said that since the temporary closure, he and his partner have rolled out an enhanced cleaning schedule. A tour of the kitchen shows gleaming stainless steel counters, spotless floors and cooking grills that appear freshly scrubbed.

Repairs to the dining room ceiling tiles were in progress on this particular day and additional lighting was being installed. About four tables of diners, many of them who appeared to be college-aged, were chatting over plates of sushi, tempura, hand rolls and special rolls.

“We have a lot of young people who are customers, they like sushi a lot,” Yang said. “We provide a big selection at a competitive price and our quality is high.”

“Some restaurant workers in the area come here regularly for our dim sum because it’s very good quality,” Yang said.

The restaurant partners each have 20 years of experience in restaurant kitchens. Lin’s primary role is sushi chef and Yang handles the front of the house. Both seem to be in their element as Yang’s favourite part of the job is greeting and getting to know customers, while Lin loves to cook.

“We’re known for our special rolls, such as the Ice and Fire Roll, which is the most popular with customers,” Yang said, of the deep-fried roll with crab meat, avocado and cream cheese. “We have high expectations for our restaurant and now about 50 per cent of our customers are gone. We want them to come back.”

Taka Sushi House is at 340 Eagle St. W. It is licensed under the L.L.B.O. It offers a lunch and dinner all-you-can-eat menu, including sushi and other Japanese dishes.

From Jan. 16 to Jan. 31, customers can enjoy between 15 per cent and 30 per cent off on dine-in and take-out orders in celebration of the restaurant’s fifth anniversary.

For hours and more information, call 905-836-5000 or visit here.