By james art 
Restaurant 17 on Elvet Bridge was visited by food safety officers on September 18 and told it needed improvement.
Inspectors rated the cleanliness and condition of the facilities and the building – which covers layout, ventilation, hand washing facilities and pest control – as ‘requires improvement’.
Meanwhile, hygienic food handling (food preparation, cooking, reheating, cooling and storage) and food safety management were ranked as “generally satisfactory”.
The globally inspired restaurant offers modern cuisine with locally sourced and fresh produce, with each dish created and made to order.
The venue – described as a “unique eatery hidden in plain sight” – is regularly praised online for its “delicious” food and “friendly and civilized” atmosphere.
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One happy customer said: “Fantastic restaurant. Equally cozy and romantic, with great decor. The service was excellent – personal and attentive.
“The food was delicious with generous portions. A compact wine list was available by the glass or bottle. Bonus points for a great soundtrack curated by the owners. We loved this place.”
The owner of Restaurant 17 said: “We have already made the improvements recommended by Trracy from Durham EHO and are reapplying for our re-inspection, new equipment has been installed and everything is now ready for this inspection.” –
The Northern Echo has requested the full hygiene inspection report from Durham County Council.