A TOP restaurant critic said he had a 'cracking' meal at an Oxford restaurant, which was shut down last week due to hygiene failures.

My Sichuan in Gloucester Green has been temporarily closed by Oxford City Council, after mouse droppings and flies were found in service areas.

READ AGAIN: My Sichuan closed after inspection

Sharing the council's tweet about the closure on Monday, The Observer's restaurant critic Jay Rayner wrote: "Another Asian restaurant I gave a cracking review to, forced to close for hygiene reasons.

"Think this is the fifth time this has happened. Mind you the review was years ago. Oh, and I’m still alive..."

thisisoxfordshire:

Flies on beansprouts, found by environmental health officers at My Sichuan in Oxford. Pic: Oxford City Council

The city council responded: "We won't compromise on public health and we are committed to working with businesses to ensure they comply with food safety standards."

Mr Rayner ate at the restaurant in 2014 and called the food 'so compelling and such good value I [couldn't] help myself.'