A fine dining restaurant in the Foothills failed an October health inspection but passed a follow-up days later, records show.
This isnβt the first health inspection Five Palms Steak and Seafood, 3500 E. Sunrise Drive, has failed since it opened in March 2013 with prices ranging from modest in a casual dining area, to very high-end in the fine dining area β entrees ranging from $29 for chicken to $185 for a 40-ounce tenderloin for four.
On an Oct. 22 inspection, Five Palms received four critical violations, earning it a βneeds improvementβ rating.
The inspector noted raw shrimp, lobster and octopus, among other items, stored above safe holding temperatures. In addition, food in the grill drawers and walk-in were also above temperature. The health department requested that the units be repaired.
When the inspector returned on Oct. 27, food in the grill drawer and walk-in were still above safe temperatures, causing the restaurant to fail. The health department again requested that the units be serviced.
The restaurantβs owner, Nino Aidi, did not return calls seeking comment.
Five Palms passed its second reinspection on Oct. 29.
The restaurant has a history with the health department. In June 2014, the restaurantβs license was demoted to provisional, and Five Palms failed a follow-up inspection a week later.
During the June 18, 2014 inspection, the inspector noted multiple violations, including potentially hazardous food stored at incorrect temperatures, dishes and utensils improperly cleaned, and food and grease build-up throughout the facility.
In a June 27, 2014 follow-up inspection β as part of Five Palmsβ provisional license status β two of the critical violations hadnβt been corrected, causing the restaurant to fail.
Two slicers were encrusted with βheavy dried food debris on food contact surfaces while stored as clean,β the inspector wrote. In addition, raw beef and rendered fat were stored above safe holding temperature.
In addition to correcting the violations, Five Palms was required to pay a license and provisional fee of nearly $500.
The restaurant passed its follow-up inspection on June 30, 2014, and received a good rating during a November inspection that year. It received another good rating in March of this year.
The health departmentβs program director, David Ludwig, said Tucsonans might see an increase in failed health inspections for restaurants in upcoming months, as part of his commitment to the safety of diners in Pima County.
