I see you're in Boston... do you feel okay telling us what restaurant you're talking about?

Same here. The last time I crossed back into the U.S.A, the Customs Agent asked: "Are you bringing anything back with you?", to which I replied, "A bottle of Tequila and a case of the $hits."

He laughed, and waved us through.

Actually, this restaurant is in Columbus, Ohio of all places.

I wouldn't always link any illness to the restaurant, think of the e coli spinach issue awhile back

to answer the OP's question, I now never worry about the cleanliness of a restaurant's kitchen.

Are you still in the Back Bay? My wife and used to live right next to Herb Chambers - the Boston Auto dealer extraordinarie - on Comm ave in the Back Bay. (We lived in a 650 sq ft apartment and I believe Herb had his place on the market for $20 million at the time.) Every night on our way home from work (and I mean EVERY night) we saw large city rats going in and out of holes in front of Herb's place; as well as the other palatial places along the route. I have also seen a mouse at a "very upscale french restaurant in a brownstone" in the Back Bay. In some locales, upscale or joint just doesn't matter - disposal of refuse by every and anyone in neighborhoods with high density; especially in neighborhoods built on fill matters much more and there just so much you can do. (Of course that's no excuse for uncleanliness.)

I was at a dim sum place in SF Chinatown a few years back. While dining, a cockroach fell from the ceiling and landed on the back of my hand, which was holding a pair of chopsticks with dumpling in the middle. I jumped up, screamed, and shook the insect off. The waiters came running over to catch the cockroach, but they made no apologies to us, and none of the patrons seemed at all disturbed. As for me, I ate the rest of my dumpling, and we finished our meal.

I've been to that restaurant! A cockroach landed on the arm of one of my dining companions.

Are we talking about North American kitchens only?

In China, Taiwan, it is so common to see critters everywhere. It is not a big deal.

Personally I don't worry about it. If it taste good and it is a popular spot, I assume that they haven't killed anybody recently. More than likely they the pot/pan they use has been used enough times before me that it will be clean enough for my meal..

Why ruin a great meal wondering about things we can't control?

On a Nile cruise I saw crew washing dishes in the spew from the bilge pump.

If you see a cockroach in a resturant, it usually means he is dying. They run from the light unless they are too poisoned to see straight. I've seen roaches in three-star joints.

Here in DC the same government that runs the dysfunctional schools and the cratered roads also runs the health department. I stick to top-rated joints and hope for the best. We also keep our shots current.

I ve spent my share of time in Restaurant Kitchens (HS jobs) and the only thing I worry about is something that you can't see. That is Refrigerator temp.

During dinner in a Globe, AZ restaurant, we were entertained by restaurant employees trying to get a scorpion off the ceiling to prevent it from landing on the family directly below.

I just try to not look and not think about it. My stomach can turn pretty easily. I don't even like the kind of fast food places where you can see them making your food.

I try not to think too much about it because in many instances, I can't really see the kitchen clearly anyways and I don't bother heading towards the restroom halls just to take a sneak peak before ordering any dishes. May not necessarily be the case, but if we see the dining atmosphere to be acceptable on the issue of hygiene, then It'll be good enough for us.