Disturbing sight inside the restaurant of a popular Adelaide pub leaves Aussies speechless
- Hotel owner said restaurant would not close
- READ MORE: How a plague of 'mutating' super rats are taking over Sydney
Giant rats have been captured crawling on the grill in the kitchen of a popular pub while patrons ate in the restaurant just metres away.
Andrew Antonna, a chef from another restaurant filmed the rats walking on a grill inside the Hotel Metropolitan's kitchen, in Adelaide, on Tuesday.
He brought the issue to the attention of the hotel's owner, publican Damien Peterson, and also shared the video with news outlets.
'They were just running on the grill, the fryers, on the plates … just having a good time,' Mr Antonna told 9News.
Diners quickly feared that rat droppings might have contaminated their meals.
When approached for comment, Mr Peterson said he was doing everything in his power to combat the rat infestation and earn back the public's trust.
The Metropolitan currently holds a five-star health food rating and has no plans of closing the kitchen while the issue is resolved.
Instead staff will conduct a deep clean every morning before the restaurant opens.
Giant rats were seen eating off a grill in an Adelaide pub on Tuesday (pictured)
The owner of the Hotel Metropolitan, Publican Damien Peterson has spoken out on the issue
'Since we have been aware of this problem, specifically every morning, we deep clean the kitchen just to make sure that if we have any visitors, there's no trace of them,' Mr Peterson told 9News.
'I eat food out of this kitchen every single day… and some of our customers were actually eating half an hour ago while I was telling them about the problem.'
The publican said he had spent close to $10,000 on pest control in 2025 alone.
Aussies were quick to share their thoughts on the footage.
'Home cooking is the best. When you eat out you eat out everything, including rat droppings,' one said.
'Big enough to put on leashes and walk out the door,' another wrote.
'Makes me glad I can't afford to eat out. No rodents in my kitchen,' a third said.
'Well done to the owner for facing the matter. Good luck in the process of removing them,' a fourth person said.
Mr Peterson (pictured) has apologised for the episode and assured the public he is doing everything possible to get rid of any rats in his hotel
Mr Peterson said he wasn't the only business owner with pest issues and that Adelaide was currently facing a major rodent problem.
The Adelaide City Council has said it regularly conducts inspections of restaurants in the city to make sure they are suitably hygienic.
Action is taken on occasion but processes vary based on the circumstances.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Hotel Metropolitan and Adelaide City Council.
