Bay Cities, the Santa Monica deli and bakery known for its famous Godmother sandwich, is publicly addressing its recent, temporary closure by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health over a failed inspection.
“We take full responsibility and understand the seriousness of this matter,” the restaurant said in a social media post on Tuesday. “This situation does not reflect the standards we uphold at Bay Cities, nor the level of care we’ve built our reputation on.”
The 100-year-old deli, located at 1517 Lincoln Boulevard, was shuttered on May 21 after a health inspection noted “vermin infestation,” a common health and safety code violation that includes disease-carrying insects and rodents.
The restaurant insists no rodents were found.
Inspectors also noted issues with Bay Cities’ handling of food temperature controls, sanitization of cooking surfaces, and handwashing practices. A reopening date has not been determined.
In its post, management said it was actively working with the health department and “third-party professionals” to address the violations.
“This is a difficult time for all of us at Bay Cities, but it is also a moment of reflection and recommitment. We are doing the work to come back better, and we are deeply grateful for your patience, trust, and continued support as we move forward,” the restaurant said.
Bay Cities was among dozens of L.A. County eateries and markets included in the health department’s latest closures list, most of which were due to vermin infestation. Others were cited for sewage discharge, disease transmission, no working toilets, no public health permits, and repeated violations.
