In May
History: Since the early 2000s, the restaurant has received inspection ratings of good and excellent almost exclusively. It had one needs improvement inspection last year and this was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector saw three priority violations, below the threshold of five normally required to receive a probationary rating. However, because the restaurant has had issues with the dishwasher water temperatures for at least three of the last five inspections, it failed the inspection. The other violations observed were an instance of improper dish handling, a failure to clean a set of tongs dropped on the ground and a food debris-encrusted microwave.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a follow-up inspection on May 12.
Response: Manager Darryl Wong disputed the probationary rating, saying that during the follow-up inspection two separate county thermometers gave disparate readings, one showing a passing temperature and the other a failing temperature. He added that if not for the dishwasher issue, the restaurant “would have passed” the original inspection. But David Ludwig, consumer health and food safety program manager, stood by the county’s original results. He said the readings were accurate and reflected the fact that, while the water temperature may have been in compliance when it exited the nozzles, it was not at the mandated 160 degrees in some areas of the machine. He also pointed to findings of below-temperature readings during previous inspections as evidence that there was a legitimate issue.
