These five Watford area businesses have been hit with 1/5 food hygiene ratings in recent weeks.
The Watford Observer regularly publishes the latest food hygiene news and we have rounded up all of the recent 1/5 scores from the last month or so.
Inspections are carried out by Environmental Health Officers from the council, with the result subsequently published on the Food Standards Agency website.
Where received, we have included the venue's response to the rating.
Mexica Chinese Buffet
This Rickmansworth restaurant is one of the highest rated in Hertfordshire but had its damning score published last week.
The business has been told that "major improvement" is needed in the management of food safety category.
In the other two categories - management of food safety and the cleanliness and condition of the building - the Station Road buffet was found to be 'generally satisfactory'.
As well as being popular with punters on TripAdvisor, the restaurant also received a glowing review from the Observer's former Watford FC correspondent Andrew French when he paid a visit in May 2025.
Sabores
This Bushey Brazilian restaurant was also told that 'major improvement' is needed when its rating was published a week ago.
It received a failing grade in the management of food safety category, being told that 'major improvement' is necessary, the second lowest score that can be given.
The Bushey Hall Road restaurant was also rated 'improvement necessary' in the other two categories - cleanliness and condition of the facilities and building, and the hygienic food handling category
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Budgens
This Watford store received a 1/5 score for a second straight inspection, having failed to improve the areas identified as concerns.
An inspection carried out in April had its result published at the end of May, with the same standards as its June 2025 inspection found.
It was generally satisfactory for each except for management of food safety, where it was told “major improvement” is necessary.
The Watford store and Budgens owner Booker Group were approached for comment at the time of each inspection and it was previously suggested steps were being taken to address the issues and ensure compliance.
Budgens stores are owned and operated independently of the wider brand.
Gusto Italia
This Bushey eatery was caught off guard by inspectors shortly after opening.
Gusto Italia Restaurant took over the former Par 3 Lounge unit at the Bushey Golf and Country Club building in High Street, Bushey, at the end of February.
The 'hygienic food handling' category and the 'cleanliness and condition of facilities and building' category were both rated good, but the overall rating was dragged down by a low score for 'management of food safety'.
Management at the restaurant highlighted how soon after opening the inspection had come and stressed that all issues raised during the inspection have since been addressed.
Following evidence of this improvement being provided, a reinspection is expected soon.
The Secret Garden Café
Also based in Bushey, on the grounds of Reveley Lodge, the café blamed paperwork on its rating, which was received shortly after opening.
It was told "major improvement" is needed in the management of food safety, with "improvement" also needed in terms of hygienic food handling. The cleanliness and condition of the building was rated "very good".
A spokesperson said: "The rating was primarily due to us not having our Safer Food, Better Business (SFBB) pack on site during the inspection, as it had been taken home, which meant we weren’t able to demonstrate our documented checks (such as temperature records) on the day.
"We want to reassure customers that food safety has always been taken seriously and the required systems were in place — we simply couldn’t evidence them at the time of the visit.
"Since then, we have ensured all documentation is kept on site, fully up to date, and easily accessible. We have also reviewed our processes to make sure this doesn’t happen again and have requested a revisit."
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