A wing restaurant on Frankstown Road in Penn Hills is sitting dark this weekend after county health inspectors found that using a three-bowl sink caused sewage to back up and spill onto the floor. Big Shot Bob's was shut down on Friday, and it won't reopen until the mess is cleaned up and the space is declared safe again.
According to WPXI, the inspection report flagged an active sewage backup in the food preparation and warewashing areas of the restaurant. As WTAE also reported, Allegheny County health officials shut the Penn Hills restaurant down over the sewage issues.
The problem, per the inspection findings cited by WPXI, traces back to the three-bowl sink used for washing dishes and utensils. Running that sink triggers the backup, sending sewage spilling onto the floor and leaving staff without any functional way to wash, rinse, and sanitize food-contact surfaces — a basic requirement for keeping a commercial kitchen operating.
No Reopening Until the Backup Is Fixed
Health officials made clear the closure isn't a quick fix. The restaurant will stay shuttered until the sewage backup itself is addressed and the affected area has been fully disinfected and sanitized, among other requirements the report lays out.
It's a familiar scenario for anyone following food-safety news along that same stretch of road. A Domino's location also on Frankstown Road in Penn Hills was ordered closed after county inspectors deemed a sewage backup there an imminent hazard, the report notes. In that case, inspectors traced the trouble to a basement grease trap that was overflowing, with wastewater and food debris pooling on the ground nearby.
Whether Big Shot Bob's will follow a similarly swift turnaround remains to be seen.
What Comes Next for Big Shot Bob's
For now, the Frankstown Road location stays closed, with its fate tied to how quickly the plumbing issue gets resolved and the kitchen gets the all-clear from inspectors. Hungry regulars will have to wait for word that the backup has been fixed before the wings are back on the menu.
