Nine restaurants failed Pima County Health Department inspections in September; most passed follow-up inspections.
Here’s what you need to know:
Pollo Feliz
4352 E. Speedway
History: Since 2014, this location has had a mixed record, with two good ratings, one excellent rating, a needs improvement and the most recent probationary rating, followed by two failed follow-ups.
What the inspector saw: Eleven priority violations, including a hand sink with no paper towels, employees drying hands with rags, using a food prep sink for dishwashing, improper preparation of sanitizer that resulted in elevated levels of chlorine, inadequate food cooling and unclear date marking.
Follow-up: Failed two follow-up inspections and then passed on Oct. 5.
Response: “Everything is good now,” said manager Esmerelda Gonzalez, who added that she disciplined several employees who had not been following restaurant policies.
Pretzel Maker
5870 E. Broadway
History: Since 2002, the location has almost exclusively received ratings of good and excellent.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, earning the restaurant a “probationary” rating. The violations included inadequate hand-washing practices, insufficient washing of utensils, a container labeled “sanitizer” containing no approved sanitizing liquid, food kept at unsafe temperatures, improper labeling of liquids and inaccurate thermometers.
Follow-up: Failed one follow-up and passed on Sept. 26.
Response: “We corrected all the violations that we had,” said owner Tony Nguyen, who added that he had replaced a refrigerator in response to the failed inspection.
Great American
Steak Burger
8995 E. Tanque Verde Road
History: Since 2014, the restaurant has received only ratings of good and excellent. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Six priority violations on Sept. 15, earning the restaurant a “probationary” rating. Those included inadequate hand-washing practices, a hand-washing sink with no soap or paper towels and foods kept at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: Passed its first follow-up inspection on Sept. 26.
Response: A message left seeking comment wasn’t returned by deadline.
Wings Over Broadway
5004 E. Broadway
History: Since 2000 the restaurant has received ratings of good and excellent almost exclusively, though it did receive one needs improvement rating in 2010. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eleven priority violations, which earned the restaurant a “probationary” rating. These included a hand-washing sink with no paper towels, hamburgers contacting a cutting board that was not being cleaned frequently enough, elevated levels of chlorine in sanitizing solution, wings kept at unsafe temperatures and unlabeled spray bottles.
Follow-up: Passed its first follow-up inspection on Oct. 5.
Response: Owner J.J. Esquibel said all the issues raised were fixed before the follow-up inspection. He described the first failed inspection as a “teachable moment.”
“Moving forward it will definitely help us to improve what we’re doing,” he added.
El Cisne
4717 E. Sunrise Drive
History: Since 2012, the restaurant has received mostly good ratings and a handful of excellent ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Six priority violations, including unsafe food and dish handling, hand-washing sinks blocked and not stocked with paper towels, food kept at unsafe temperatures, prohibited pest-control substances and no consumer warning in the menu regarding undercooked foods.
Follow-up: Passed its first follow-up inspection on Oct. 3.
Response: A message left seeking comment wasn’t returned by deadline.
A Straw in the Raw
240 S. Wilmot Road
History: This was the restaurant’s first routine inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, including inadequate hand-washing practices, a hand-washing sink blocked by a stack of cases, improper food handling, yogurt past its expiration date by as many as 13 days, unmarked spray bottles and unsafe storage of toxic chemicals.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on Oct. 10.
Response: With regard to the yogurt violation specifically, owner Ricky Badessa said his chain of juice bars uses a special type that goes bad much more slowly than other yogurt varieties. The other violations he chalked up to the fact that he's from Rhode Island and was not familiar with the county inspection process. "All the violations were because it was our first inspection," he said.
he said.
Joy Buffet
4780 E. Grant Road
History: The restaurant has failed both of its routine inspections since opening in May.
What the inspector saw: Six priority violations, including a hand-washing sink filled with trash and ingredients, the use of hand sink water to cook rice, failing to use sanitizer to clean cooking equipment, and food kept at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: No indication in county records that a follow-up inspection has yet been conducted.
Response: A message seeking comment wasn’t returned by deadline.
Commenting on the restaurant’s failed June inspection, manager Jenny Lu previously told the Star that those violations were corrected and that the inspector “sat down with me personally, and he taught me how to do everything.”
Sunny Daze Cafe
4980 S. Campbell Ave.
History: Since 2007, the restaurant has received exclusively good and excellent ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, earning it a “probationary” rating. These included inadequate hand-washing, an inaccessible hand-washing sink, uncooked meat stored near ready-to-eat food, knives encrusted with food debris, food stored at unsafe temperatures and improper storage of toxic chemicals.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Oct. 5.
Response: "We've been in business for 10 years and we got complacent and our employees were brought back up to speed with the Pima County Health Department regulations. All areas were corrected, mainly on the spot," Mark Bilbo told the Star, adding that he appreciates inspectors "keeping us on our toes."
Brisas del Mar
Mobile food truck
History: This was the food truck’s first routine inspection.
What the inspector saw: At least 11 priority violations, and possibly a few more, on Sept. 23. These included the person-in-charge’s lack of food safety knowledge, preparation of food without washing hands, an unstocked hand-washing station, use of “slimy” and seemingly rotten fish, raw meat stored near other foods, improper dishwashing techniques, food stored at unsafe temperatures and no source of running water at the food truck.
Follow-up: No indication in county records that a follow-up inspection has yet been conducted.
Response: No phone number was listed in the inspection report and no number could be found online for the food truck.
