11 food service establishments fail health inspections

Eleven local food service establishments — seven restaurants, one bakery, two markets and a convenience store — received “provisional” or “fail” ratings during Pima County health inspections in October.

One restaurant failed twice, and another failed its follow-up. The rest passed reinspections. Here’s what you need to know:

El Taco Tote

4811 N. Stone Ave.

• History:

• The restaurant had received only “good” and “excellent” ratings since it opened in 2012.

• What the inspector saw:

• The inspector reported seven critical violations on an Oct. 29 inspection, including food items in the salsa bar that were above safe holding temperatures; and unlabeled spray bottles with chemicals. With more than six critical violations, the restaurant earned a “provisional” rating.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Nov. 5

• Response:

• Phone number listed was not in service.

Giant Store No. 661

6225 W. Ajo Hwy.

• History:

• Convenience store received an “excellent” on its first and only inspection in April.

• What the inspector saw:

• Six critical violations were noted on an Oct. 12 inspection. The inspector reported seeing tongs in a holder that was “encrusted with food and debris,” and when an employee was asked about tong cleaning, she said that “tongs are cleaned by placing them in a disposable coffee cup with hot water and letting them sit for a few minutes.” The convenience store received a “provisional” rating.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Oct. 21

• Response:

• A request for comment from Giant’s owner, Western Refinery, was not answered.

La Parilla Suiza

5602 E. Speedway

• History:

• Mixed ratings since it opened in 2000. Received a “provisional” rating during an October 2014 inspection.

• What the inspector saw:

• With 10 critical violations, the restaurant received a “provisional” rating on an Oct. 2 inspection. The report included findings of a hand-washing sink in the kitchen filled with food debris and another that had no hot water, as well as “numerous food contact utensils stored as clean encrusted with food debris and in contact with dirty surfaces.” When the inspector returned Oct. 12, he found two violations, earning the restaurant a “fail,” because of its provisional status.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Oct. 22

• Response:

• Owner or manager did not return phone call seeking comment.

Los Dos Amigos
Meat Market

2848 W. Drexel Road

• History:

• “Good” ratings since it opened in 2000. This is the first time it has failed a health inspection.

• What the inspector saw:

• Ten critical violations were noted during an Oct. 14 inspection, and the market received a “provisional” rating. The inspector declared it an “imminent health hazard,” and the market was shut down. It was not allowed to reopen until a deep cleaning was performed, and run-down equipment was repaired.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Oct. 27

• Response:

• No answer at the phone number provided.

Rigo’s Restaurant

5851 N. Oracle Road

• History:

• Mostly “good” ratings since the restaurant opened in 2011.

• What the inspector saw:

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• Ten critical violations on an Oct. 8 inspection, including food stored at improper temperatures, incorrect cooling methods and shelving in a walk-in refrigerator with heavy debris build-up with open containers of food stored underneath. The inspector also observed dishes and utensils stored as clean with food debris on them. Rigo’s received a “provisional” rating.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Oct. 19

• Response:

• Owner or manager could not be reached for comment.

Szechuan Omei

2601 E. Speedway

• History:

• In May, the restaurant received a “provisional” rating, followed by a “fail.” Its record has been spotty since it opened in May 2014.

• What the inspector saw:

• On an Oct. 28 visit, the health inspector found eight critical violations. In the report, it was noted that no food in the kitchen was marked with dates, and an employee was not able to show the inspector where the hand sink was. The restaurant received a “provisional” rating.

• Follow-up:

• Failed reinspection Nov. 9

• Response:

• Owner or manager was not available for comment.

Sonora Market

3050 E. 36th St.

• History:

• Mostly “good” and “excellent” ratings since it opened in 2000.

• What the inspector saw:

• With five critical violations on an Oct. 20 inspection, the market received a “provisional” rating. Among the violations noted was black growth inside the ice machine and food items being sold that weren’t made by approved sources.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Nov. 3

• Response:

• Manager declined to comment.

Sushi on Oracle

6449 N. Oracle Road

• History:

• All “good” and “excellent” ratings since the restaurant opened in 2000.

• What the inspector saw:

• Eight critical violations on an Oct. 16 inspection, including sushi held on ice above safe temperatures and items with food debris being stored with clean equipment and utensils. The restaurant received a “provisional” rating.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Oct. 27

• Response:

• “We have taken the necessary steps to make sure our food is of the highest quality,” said owner

• Yoshinobu Shiratori.

• “We have replaced and serviced all of the appliances as needed and retrained the staff to meet the requirements of the FDA and Pima County.”

Viva Burrito

6320 E. Golf Links Road, No.  100

• History:

• “Good” and “excellent” ratings since it opened in 2007, but the restaurant received a “provisional” rating during a Sept. 28 inspection.

• What the inspector saw:

• On an Oct. 12 follow-up to the provisional rating, the inspector counted six critical violations, causing the restaurant to receive a “fail” on its inspection.

• Follow-up:

• Passed Oct. 13

• Response:

• Owner or manager could not be reached for comment.