Five local eateries failed health inspections in August, including one — Kings — that also failed a July inspection.
Of the five, one restaurant — El Potosino — failed its follow-up, but the rest passed on their first reinspection. Here’s what you need to know:
El Potosino
1400 W. Prince Road
- History:
- Good ratings since 2000, until it received a “needs improvement” on Aug. 20 for having three broken refrigeration units. The restaurant was given 24 hours to make repairs and instructed to put all perishable food on ice.
- What the inspector saw:
- The inspector came back later the same day, after the restaurant called to say the cooling service company was on site. However, when the inspector arrived, the service company said the restaurant was too busy for it to fully clean and repair the equipment. The restaurant was given a “fail” at that time, as the units weren’t fixed, but was again given 24 hours to make the repairs. The inspector returned Aug. 21 and noted that none of the units was keeping food at safe temperatures. The restaurant was issued another “fail” and the inspector ordered it to cease all operations until the repairs were made, saying, “the lack of functioning refrigeration has created an imminent health hazard.”
- Follow-up:
- Passed Aug. 28.
- Response:
- The restaurant’s owner,
- Cheryl Vasquez
- , was waiting on an estimate to have the walk-in cooler rebuilt when the health inspector came the first time. Since the inspections, the restaurant has had all three faulty units replaced or rebuilt. “They keep everything nice and cool, and the food is always fresh,” she said.
Kings
10 W. Grant Road
- History:
- Good ratings for the last seven years, but failed a July 29 inspection.
- What the inspector saw:
- Two critical violations noted during Aug. 11 follow-up to July’s failed inspection, including a condiment cart encrusted with food debris.
- Follow-up:
- Passed Aug. 21.
- Response:
- Owner or manager could not be reached.
Ghini’s Cafe
1803 E. Prince Road
- History:
- Mostly good and excellent inspections since 2000, but received a “needs improvement” on July 23.
- What the inspector saw:
- Three critical violations on an Aug. 5 reinspection, including food stored above safe temperatures and hand washing violations by the cook.
- Follow-up:
- Passed Aug. 11.
- Response:
- “In the summer when the temperature and humidity changes, the coils freeze up and we didn’t catch it,” owner
- Coralie Satta
- said, referring to the coils that keep the refrigeration unit cool. “By the time the inspector came in, the food was way above temperature. We threw everything away.”
Brat’s Bar & Grill
5975 W. Western Way Circle No. 106.
- History:
- Mostly good ratings since its December 2013 failed inspection; received a “needs improvement” on Aug. 10.
- What the inspector saw:
- The one critical violation noted on the Aug. 21 failed inspection was that a refrigerated food-storage unit that wasn’t functioning during the previous inspection still hadn’t been repaired; owner was given 10 days to correct the violation.
- Follow-up:
- Passed Aug. 24.
- Response:
- Owner could not be reached for comment.
Jerry Bob’s Family Restaurant
7939 N. Oracle Road
- History:
- Mostly excellent and good ratings for more than a decade; received “needs improvement” on Aug. 27 due to a refrigeration unit that wasn’t keeping food at safe temperatures. Restaurant was given 24 hours to repair.
- What the inspector saw:
- During the Aug. 28 reinspection, the inspector noted that the unit still wasn’t fixed and food was still being held at hazardous temperatures. The restaurant received a “fail” and was forced to cease all operations until the unit was repaired and food could be kept cold enough.
- Follow-up:
- Passed Aug. 31.
- Response: “
- Everything is fixed and we’re up and running again,” said owner
- Nancy Grubaugh.
