Six restaurants failed December inspections by the Pima County Health Department. Four have passed follow-up inspections, one failed re-inspection and the status of one is unclear.
Hereβs what you need to know:
Chiliβs Grill & Bar
History: Since 2000, the chainβs location has received almost only good and excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: While the restaurant did not exceed the five priority violation threshold typically used to give probationary ratings, the restaurant has had repeated issues with regulations regarding the cleaning and sanitizing of so-called food contact surfaces. This time around, the inspector found that a majority of kitchenwares stored as clean were βencrusted with food debrisβ and that the sanitizing dishwasher was not functioning properly. In the locationβs past five inspections, there have been three comparable violations, establishing what the health department considers a pattern of non-conformance, according to an inspection report provided to the Star. Additionally, the inspector observed an employee βeating a piece of food off of a customerβs order before putting the order up to be collected by wait staff,β another βhandling raw hamburgerβ before touching ready-to-eat foods, and raw chicken thawing at room temperature on a countertop.
Follow-up: There was no indication that a follow-up had been conducted by the Starβs deadline.
Response: In written comments provided to the Star, a company spokesperson said that βThe health of our guests and team members is always our top priority. We have put together a corrective and preventative action plan and are working closely with the health department to ensure all concerns are addressed.β
Dulceria Funland
702 W. Irvington Road, No. C
History: Since 2014, this location has received one excellent and three good inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including an ice shaver being stored and used on the βdirty sideβ of a three compartment sink, food preparation equipment with encrusted food debris, condensed milk stored at room temperature, no food thermometer on site and medicine stored near food preparation areas. Several were corrected on site.
Follow-up: The location passed a Dec. 20 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
Casa Molina
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has received inspection ratings of good or excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed nine priority violations, including picking up utensils from the floor and returning to food preparation without washing hands, among other hand-washing violations; using hand-washing sink for cooking water and washing floor mats; refried beans kept above safe temperatures and an inadequate dishwashing sink.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Dec. 22 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
Rigoβs Restaurant
History: Since 2011 the restaurant has largely received inspection ratings of good, though it has also failed an additional inspection and received two needs improvement ratings.
What the inspector saw: Only one priority violation was observed, but because the same problem with keeping foods adequately cooled was found during two other 2016 inspections, the restaurant received a probationary rating for its history of noncompliance, according to the inspection report.
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a Dec. 27 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
Guilin Restaurant
History: Since 2015, the restaurant has had a mixed record, earning an excellent, good and needs improvement inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed eight priority violations, including an employee washing his hands in the food-preparation sink, an employee sweeping the floor and then proceeding to chop cabbage without washing his hands, equipment with encrusted food debris stored as clean, inadequate cooling and date-marking of food and chopped cabbage being stored in dirty cardboard boxes.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Dec. 30 follow-up inspection.
Response: No one responded to a message seeking comment by deadline.
Exxon Service Station No. 5415
History: Since the early 2000s, the location has received ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, including a hand-washing station with no paper towels, a walk-in cooler not keeping contents adequately cooled, no food thermometer on site, and inadequate coffee pot cleaning practices.
Follow-up: The station passed a Jan. 3 follow-up inspection.
Response: In an email, a spokesperson for Circle K, the permit holder, told the Star: βThis is not something that we feel we want to respond to at this time.β
