6 more restaurants failed June health inspections; many pass follow-ups

Another six Tucson eateries failed health inspections in June; several passed follow-up inspections.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Carniceria La Pima

• , 5224 E. Pima St.

History: Since September 2015, has received only ratings of excellent.

What the inspector saw: Six critical violations on June 3, earning the restaurant a “probationary” rating. These included improper food cooling and handling practices, a meat saw “encrusted with meat debris,” dishes being washed but not sanitized, and inadequate labeling of food. Additionally, several roaches were seen coming out of the floor sink.

Follow-up: While all of the violations were resolved by the June 13 follow-up inspection, the store did not pay its reinspection fee, which resulted in a failed inspection.

Response: Several attempts to contact the store for comment were unsuccessful.

• El Molinito

• , 3675 W. Ina Road

History: Since 2002, the restaurant has exclusively received ratings of good and excellent. These were its first failed inspections.

What the inspector saw: On June 3, there was no hand sink in the server area, resulting in a “needs improvement” rating. That rating is for restaurants where inspectors find fewer than five critical violations that cannot be resolved immediately.

Follow-up: The restaurant failed two follow-up inspections in June because no sink had been installed, but passed a July 6 inspection.

Response: An owner didn’t return a message seeking comment.

• Joy Buffet

• , 4780 E. Grant Road

History: This was the restaurant’s first routine inspection.

What the inspector saw: Eight critical violations, including foods kept at unsafe temps, an employee slicing lemons with bare hands, improper food storage, seashells being used to serve meat products, inconsistent date marking, and raw sushi fish served without a consumer advisory posted.

Follow-up: The restaurant passed a July 1 reinspection.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Response: Jenny Lu, a Joy Buffet manager, said the violations have been corrected and that the inspector “sat down with me personally, and he taught me how to do everything.”

• Carniceria El Herradero

• , 2770 W. Valencia Road

History: Since 2014, the meat market has had three good ratings. This was its first failed inspection.

What the inspector saw: Six critical violations on June 22, including unsafe food temperatures, raw oysters stored above canned drinks, beans stored next to raw meat, an employee’s personal drink being stored in an ice machine, improper labeling of shellfish and unsafe storage of cleaning products. Many of the violations were dealt with on-site.

Follow-up: Passed a July 6 reinspection.

Response: Owner Claudia Gonzalez said none of the violations put customers at risk and that they have all been resolved.

• China Szechwan

• , 1800 E. Ft. Lowell Road

History: Has received mostly good ratings since 2013, but has failed one other time and received one “needs improvement” rating.

What the inspector saw: Six critical violations on June 23, earning the restaurant a probationary rating. Violations included poor hand-washing practices, raw food being stored near ready-to-eat food, fried chicken being stored in a used cardboard box, seasoning and sauce containers covered in encrusted food, food without proper date labeling, and an unlabeled pink liquid.

Follow-up: A reinspection was not done within 10 days of the failed inspection, as is customary, because the restaurant is closed until July 14. A reinspection will be done after it reopens, according to a health department official.

Response: The restaurant was closed the week the Star tried to reach owners or managers for comment.

• Beverages and More

• , 4646 N. Oracle Road

History: Since 2008, this location has received exclusively good and excellent ratings.

What the inspector saw: This failed inspection stems from a March inspection in which an inspector saw there was no hand-washing station for a recently installed growler-filling station, resulting in a “needs improvement” rating. On June 23, a hand-washing station had still not been installed. The store is considering removing the growler-filling station, but if it is to remain, the store will need to submit plans to install a hand-washing sink.

Follow-up: There are no records of another follow-up.

Response: A company representative did not respond to requests for comment.