A SOUTHAMPTON restaurant covered in grease and littered with food debris has been slammed by a public health watchdog and given the worst hygiene rating possible.

Supreme Asia Cuisine has received a zero out of five-star score following an inspection by environmental health chiefs.

Hygiene inspectors who visited the Southampton restaurant on March 10 reviewed the cleanliness of its main kitchen, dry-store room, kitchen store room and behind the premises in the High Street.

The inspectors from the environmental health partnership at the city council found food debris scattered under sides and surfaces.

Meanwhile taps, door handles and ceilings were dripping with grease.

Daily Echo:

Staff could not use a washbasin because a wooden tray had been dumped on top of it and strapped to the taps with string.

An uncovered tub of raw squid was being stored above an uncovered tub of raw chicken and risked cross-contamination.

The inspectors spoke to the restaurant’s managers about overall cleanliness and pests found in the kitchen storeroom.

Supreme Asia Cuisine’s zero-star rating means hygiene standards require urgent improvement.

The inspectors recommended that staff were re-trained on hand hygiene and that sides and surfaces should be properly disinfected before use.

It was agreed to voluntarily close the premises until a deep clean was done and pests were managed.

The council did not provide more information about the type of pests at the restaurant however, a spokesperson said: “I can confirm we will continue to visit the premises to carry out further inspections, in addition to the recommendations made in the report.

Despite its poor hygiene score, the restaurant has a four-and-a-half star rating on review site Tripadvisor.

The Daily Echo has attempted to contact Supreme Asia Cuisine but has had no response.