A NEWLY-OPENED Japanese restaurant in North Oxford has promised to up its game after being hit with a two-star food hygiene rating.

Koto, in North Parade,off Banbury Road, received the low score last month – its first rating since it opened last autumn.

According to Oxford City Council’s environmental health officers, staff did not know what temperature to cook or reheat food to, and more steps were needed to make sure sushi was free from parasites.

The kitchen’s freezer was also up to 8C warmer than required to keep foods frozen.

Officers gave the restaurant two weeks to rectify a number of problems.

Owner Amy Mei Man Tse said steps had already been taken to improve standards.

She said: “We are going to improve after this rating and we have already done improvements in all the areas flagged up.

“We are quite new and we have a very small kitchen and therefore we are quite restricted with what we can do.”

Mrs Tse said since the inspection she had sent new pictures to the council to show that instructions had been followed.

The restaurant received a ‘Poor’ rating when it came to food hygiene and safety.

Council officers highlighted temperature control, cleaning methods and damaged equipment among the main issues.

The report stated: “The main risk with sushi fish is the survival of parasites, but this is prevented by deep freezing.

“I was advised that the supplier supplies ‘sushi grade’ fish but there was no documentation to indicate the fish had been through this freezing process.

“Ask your supplier for the evidence of this or evidence that there is no parasite risk.”

Debris in the kitchen drain grille and damage to equipment were also flagged up, as well as the lack of sanitiser in the kitchen.

Officers also recommended staff and the business operator take training to improve food safety knowledge.

Mrs Tse said all the issues had been addressed and the council had been informed.

The restaurant used to beChez Gaston, a French restaurant and creperie, which closed last summer.