Ugh, Philippe's, What Happened?

(Flickr pic by mseratt99.)

One of our favorite L.A. landmarks, downtown's Philippe the Original restaurant -- home of the French Dip -- has been temporarily shut down due to a, um, cockroach problem.

Yuck.

As the Los Angeles Times reports that "health inspectors discovered the problem about 11 a.m. Wednesday after conducting an inspection prompted by citizens’ complaints, said Angelo Bellomo, director of environmental health for the Los Angeles County Public Health Department."

More:

He said the restaurant typically receives high scores during routine inspections. County inspectors conducted such an inspection Wednesday, in addition to the probe based on the complaint, and the business scored in the low 90s, Bellomo said.

But inspectors had to close the restaurant for 48 hours to allow the vermin to be removed.

"When you have a violation like a live cockroach infestation, it doesn't matter how good the score is," Bellomo said.

Philippe's could reopen by noon on Friday, inspectors said.

Other recent, notable restaurant shut downs:

Cafe Stella (Silver Lake), Dec. 17-19
California Science Center IMAX (Downtown), Jan. 7-11 (really!)
Cindy's Restaurant (Eagle Rock), Nov. 13-15
Little New York Gourmet (West Hollywood), Dec. 12-14
Main Kitchen - Wilshire Grand (Downtown), Dec. 4-6
Taqueria Jalisco (Mid-City), Nov. 12-17
Three Drunken Goats (Montrose), Feb. 2-4
Ye Coach and Horses (Hollywood), Jan. 22-25

More here.