The owner of an Indian restaurant which has been given a zero-star rating by council inspectors said the venue "deserves at least a four."
Spice City in Liverpool city centre has been popular with generations of diners, with the Stanley Street restaurant promising on its website to "tantalise your taste buds in both our classic dishes and our exclusive Spice City Specials."
Council inspectors, though, were less than impressed when they visited last month. They slapped the venue with the lowest possible rating, with the results published on the Food Standards Authority website reflecting the need for "major" and "urgent" improvements in a number of areas.
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In the most recent inspection, on March 6, inspectors raised concerns over hygienic food handling, the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building and management of food safety.
When contacted by the ECHO for a response, boss Niz Islam said he did not accept the rating was fair.
He said: "I've been here for 18 years. I feel like I'm being unfairly marked. Last time they made me pay 900 quid just to replace a broken fridge.
"If you've been here, you'll see our levels of cleanliness. I deserve at least a four, maybe not a five."
The restaurant has generally positive reviews on Tripadvisor, with an overall score of 4.5/5.
It hit the headlines in 2009 when an arson attack caused major damage, but has since bounced back. Speaking to the ECHO in 2019, Mr Islam said: "We find the older generation still love a good, proper curry. We have a lot of loyal regulars who say no matter what, they will always favour a traditional Indian curry."
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