Florida Japanese Steakhouse Closes Doors as Customers Test Positive for Meth

A Florida Japanese steakhouse is closing its doors permanently after customers tested positive for meth after eating there.

According to USA Today, Nikko Japanese Steakhouse in Pace, Florida has since been shut down following the incident.

On June 9, Several customers who dined at a Florida restaurant’s hibachi table reported that they were feeling sick afterward.

Subsequent testing found that three out of the seven affected individuals were found to have tested positive for methamphetamine.

Police initiated an investigation into the alleged poisoning but had to close the case without making any arrests due to insufficient evidence. The steakhouse announced its closure on Facebook following the incident.

“After more than ten years of serving the Pace community, we have decided to close Nikko Japanese Steakhouse,” the restaurant wrote. “It was determined by the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s office that there was nothing linking the restaurant to the accusations, and after a clear survey by the health department, we re-open our doors. We are so thankful to our regulars who came back to support us, unfortunately, it just wasn’t enough to keep the doors open.”

The restaurant claims they’ve been “brutally harassed” by the media following the incident.

“Since then, we have been brutally harassed, daily, by various media outlets, who have slandered and defamed every aspect of our business. We have been investigated, searched, and questioned while fully cooperating at all times. That’s all we could do.”

According to police,  Employees suspected a co-worker of tampering with the food, but investigators couldn’t find evidence to support the claim. The co-worker was reported to have acted erratically on June 9.

“Due to the lack of eyewitness and surveillance footage, I am unable to determine who if any person associated with the restaurant contaminated the food consumed by the patrons,” the reporting officer said. “It is believed based on the statements from the workers that (the employee) possibly unknowingly contaminated the food, but this cannot be confirmed.”

The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation inspected the restaurant on the same day and conducted a follow-up on June 13. They discovered 31 violations, including improper hand washing by employees and operating with an expired food service license.