These 13 eateries around Tucson failed health inspections in August
Thirteen food service establishments failed Pima County Health Department inspections in August. Ten passed follow-up inspections and three are awaiting reinspection.
Here’s what you need to know:
Fortune Cookie Restaurant
Updated
Traps full of dead cockroaches were found at Fortune Cookie Restaurant, 9110 N. Silverbell Road. No live bugs were found.
9110 N. Silverbell Road
History: Good and excellent ratings for 10-plus years, but the restaurant was placed on probation Aug. 23.
What the inspector saw: Cooked shrimp, pork, egg rolls, dumplings and sauce were stored at unsafe temperatures; “encrusted grease and food debris buildup” on floors, walls, ceiling, cook top and fryers; buildup of dead roaches in glue traps throughout the facility, although no live bugs or droppings were detected; one handwashing sink had no soap, another had no paper towels; person in charge did not know the basics of safe food preparation; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow-up: Failed an initial follow-up inspection Sept. 4. The next inspection date wasn’t available by deadline.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
El Manantial Hot Dogs
UpdatedMobile food service
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings in recent years, but it received a needs-improvement rating in late July, then failed an Aug. 1 reinspection.
What the inspector saw: Beans, cheese, ham and salsa were stored at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: Passed a second reinspection Aug. 9.
Comments: Owner Jaime de la Paz said the problems were quickly corrected.
El Molinito
Updated
El Molinito, 3675 W. Ina Road - photo from Google earth
3675 W. Ina Road
History: Good and excellent ratings since late 2016, but was put on probation in late July and failed initial reinspection Aug. 6
What the inspector saw: Food stored at unsafe temperatures including chicken and shredded beef, chicken burritos, enchilada sauce, sour cream, shredded cheese, guacamole and pico de gallo; cutting boards in disrepair; employee cut limes with bare hands.
Follow-up: Passed a second reinspection Aug 16.
Comments: Manager Chris Hallquist said “everything has been resolved.”
Brooklyn Pizza Company
Updated
People sit in front of Brooklyn Pizza Company during the Cyclovia Tucson event on April 18, 2010 in Tucson, Ariz.
534 N. Fourth Ave.
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings for the last several years until a string of negative inspections last month. A needs-improvement rating Aug. 17 was followed by a failed reinspection Aug. 21 and a brief Health Department shutdown on Aug. 22 when the eatery was declared an “imminent health hazard.” It was allowed to reopen Aug. 23 after fixing problems.
What the inspector saw: Ham, pepperoni, meatballs, cheeses, pizza sauces and other foods stored at unsafe temperatures, indicating a “pattern of noncompliance” since the temperature problem was identified in two previous inspections; handwashing sink inaccessible.
Follow-up: Passed reinspection Aug. 29.
Comments: A request for comment was not returned by deadline.
El Taco Tote
Updated4811 N. Stone Ave.
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings until 2017. Since then, the site has been placed on probation four times, most recently on Aug. 4.
What the inspector saw: Raw steak, salsa and shredded cheese stored at unsafe temperatures; employee picked up an item from the floor then continued filling salsa bar without washing hands or changing gloves; three handwashing sinks had no paper towels; cutting boards not sanitized at least once every four hours; no test strips to test strength of sanitizer solution; several food items had no discard dates.
Follow-up: Passed an Aug. 15 follow-up inspection.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Jerry Bobs
Updated
Jerry Bob’s at 3601 N. Campbell Ave. was put on probation by the Pima County Health Department in June, in part because of food debris on dishes and containers. The site passed re-inspection two weeks later.
3601 N. Campbell Ave.
History: Good and excellent ratings for several years but has been placed on probation twice since June, most recently on Aug. 9.
What the inspector saw: Food stored at unsafe temperatures including raw steak and chicken, cooked ham and sausage, cooked potatoes, tuna salad, raw spinach and sliced tomatoes. Employee handled raw meat, a bottle of cooking oil, then more raw meat without changing gloves or washing hands — the third inspection in a row in which a handwashing violation occurred.
Follow-up: Passed reinspection Aug. 20.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Cheba Hut
Updated
The newly-opened Cheba Hut on Sixth Street near North Campbell Avenue.
1820 E. Sixth St.
History: Good and excellent ratings for several years until an Aug. 14 needs-improvement rating followed by probation on Aug. 15.
What the inspector saw: Ham, turkey, pickles, cheese and cream cheese stored at unsafe temperatures — evidence of a “pattern of noncompliance” since the temperature problem was identified in two previous health inspections; management was not certified in food protection management.
Follow-up: Passed reinspection on Aug. 27.
Comments: Manager Devin Olson said the problems have been rectified.
Little Caesar’s #3161
Updated7076 E. Golf Links Road
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings for several years but received a needs-improvement rating Aug. 27, then failed an initial reinspection on Aug. 28. The store was put on probation Sept. 6 after a second follow-up inspection found ongoing issues.
What the inspector saw: Pizza sauce, cheeses and chicken wings stored at unsafe temperatures, a problem inspectors had previously identified twice before; lone handwashing sink could not be used because of a sewage backup.
Follow-up: A third follow-up inspection is scheduled for Sept. 17
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Pho #1
Updated
Pho #1 Vietnamese Restaurant, 2226 N. Stone, was cited by the Arizona Department of Liquor on Jan. 27 for purchasing liquor from an unapproved source, knowledge of liquor laws and rules and for not having a manager's agreement form on file. The establishment was ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.
2226 N. Stone Ave.
History: Good and excellent ratings for several years but was placed on probation in late July and failed three follow-up inspections on Aug. 6, 17 and 27.
What the inspector saw: Food stored at unsafe temperatures including egg rolls, spring rolls, bean sprouts, cooked chicken and raw pork, beef and shrimp; dirty plates, bowls and kitchen utensils stored as clean; food processor had “food debris inside and out;”no kitchen thermometer; wiping cloths were not properly sanitized; no person in charge was on duty; manager not certified in food protection management
Follow-up: Passed a fourth reinspection Sept. 10.
Comments: Would not comment.
Nico’s Mexican Food
Updated11855 W. Marana Road
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings for several years until late July. Placed on probation Aug. 7, then failed an initial reinspection on Aug. 17.
What the inspector saw: Food stored at unsafe temperatures including rice, beans, pork, shredded beef, shredded cheese, sour cream and potatoes; employee handled cash and credit cards then handled food without washing hands; employee handled garbage then used ice scoop to scoop ice without washing hands; employee chopped onions with bare hands; no working thermometer; hand sink in disrepair; moist cloth used to clean kitchen counters was left on top of an uncovered pan of chicken tacos.
Follow-up: Passed a second reinspection Aug. 27.
Comments: Would not comment.
Vero Amore
Updated
Vero Amore, 12130 N. Dove Mountain Blvd., made pizzas on cutting boards that weren’t sanitized as required during a failed Pima County health …
12130 N. Dove Mountain Blvd.
History: Good and excellent ratings for several years but was placed on probation Aug. 15, then failed an initial follow-up inspection Aug. 27. Also failed a second follow-up inspection on Sept. 6.
What the inspector saw: Lasagna, raw shrimp and chicken, salad mix and cut tomatoes were stored at unsafe temperatures; dirty equipment and utensils were stored as clean; food debris on plates stored as clean; cutting boards not sanitized every four hours as required; food debris buildup on refrigerator shelves; floors and walls had “encrusted grease, food debris and buildup” and still hadn’t been cleaned three weeks after inspectors identified the problem.
Follow-up: A third follow-up inspection is scheduled for Sept. 17 and the restaurant’s operating permit could be revoked if it doesn’t pass, the most recent inspection report said.
Comments: Co-owner Suzanne Kaiser said the temperature issue has been resolved and said she has worked quickly to address the Health Department’s concerns.
Zona 78
Updated7301 E. Tanque Verde Road
History: Good and excellent ratings for 10-plus years but was placed on probation Aug. 15 and failed initial reinspection Aug. 27.
What the inspector saw: Pasta, pastrami, meatballs, cooked chicken and raw chicken and fish were stored at unsafe temperatures; two handwashing sinks had no soap and one had no paper towels; clean utensils stored in dirty containers; two foods were beyond their discard dates.
Follow-up: Passed a second follow-up inspection Sept. 6.
Comments: Manager Paul Leathers said “everything has been taken care of” and noted the restaurant’s long history of positive inspection results.
T/6 Filling Station
Updated
The gas station is long gone, but PJ Subs T6 Filling Station at 2500 E. 6th Street is still aglow with neon signs. Owner Jay Tolkoff opened the shop on Speedway in 2004, then migrated into the former Long Wong's in the Sam Hughes neighborhood. The original business was Jimmy's Service Station, opened by James McDowell on April Fool's Day 1956. He sold the business to his son-in-law in 1983, who added an expanded service station at Tucson Blvd. and Broadway Road, eventually closing the 6th Street location. Jimmy's Broadway Automative has been a beloved midtown mechanic since then.
2500 E. Sixth St.
History: Good and excellent ratings for several years but received a needs-improvement rating in late July, followed by a failed reinspection Aug. 8.
What the inspector saw: Refrigerator shelves in “severe disrepair” from rust and peeling paint; nonfunctional handwashing sink in bar area; dust and debris buildup on floors and walls; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow-up: Passed second reinspection Aug. 22.
Comments: Owner Jay Tolkoff said problems were corrected as soon as possible and noted the restaurant has a long history of positive reports from the Health Department.
