Five restaurants failed Pima County health inspections in November
- Updated
One location failed another inspection less than three months ago. Plus inspections for the last 3 months. Three have passed follow-up inspections and two are awaiting re-inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In November
History: Since 2010, El Herradero has received two other probationary ratings, one needs improvement rating and a number of good and excellent ratings.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, including a hand sink with no soap, food equipment not being washed but not sanitized, hot foods being held below established temperatures, improper date labeling of prepared foods and raw shrimp ceviche without a mandated health advisory.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on Nov. 14.
Response: A message left for the owner was not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In November
History: Since 2014, the restaurant received exclusively good ratings before the Nov. 2 needs improvement rating.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed three priority violations on Nov. 2, earning the restaurant a needs improvement rating. Those violations were inadequate cooling of food, a walk-in refrigerator failing to keep foods at established temperatures and insufficient consumer advisories for undercooked foods.
Follow-up: The walk-in refrigerator issue had not been resolved by the Nov. 4 follow-up, but was by Nov. 8, when the restaurant passed the inspection.
Response: The Star was unable to contact a manager at either of two numbers listed for the restaurant, and a Facebook message also received no response.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In November
History: Since 2012, the restaurant has received exclusively good and excellent ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including the absence of a hand washing sink in the bar area, hot food held below established temperatures, other foods kept above established temperatures, inadequate handwashing and flies on uncovered foods. Rodent droppings were also found.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Nov. 23 follow-up inspection.
Response: An owner declined to comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In November
History: This was the restaurant’s first routine health inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, the minimum for a probationary rating. Those included an employee who put on a new pair of gloves without washing his hands, no paper towels at a hand washing sink, recently purchased pans with sticker residue, and a walk-in refrigerator not keeping foods below established temperatures.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection has not yet been conducted.
Response: Owner Lisa Sopher said that all of the issues were resolved “the first day,” and expects to pass the follow-up inspection scheduled for Dec. 10. “I put my foot down” on kitchen employees about the violations, she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In November
History: This is the location’s second probationary rating since 2014, and has had a mixed history since then. Probationary, needs improvement or failed follow-up inspections outnumber good or excellent ratings. In September it failed two follow-up inspections before finally passing in October.
What the inspector saw: The inspector determined that the “person in charge” does not have “sufficient food safety knowledge due to the number of of out of control risk factors, many of which are repeats of previous violations.” Additionally, the inspector observed raw chicken being handled by someone who did not wash their hands before handling ready-to-eat foods, a handsink without paper towels, inadequate cooling of food, hot foods kept below established temperatures, a walk-in cooler not keeping foods at established temperatures, and food stored without proper date markings.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection has not yet been conducted.
Response: A message left for a manager was not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
4,836: Food service licenses in Pima County
433: Excellent and good inspections
17: Needs improvement inspections
7: Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In October
12005 N. Oracle Road
History: Since 2011, the restaurant has received exclusively good and excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Seven priority violations on Oct. 11, earning the restaurant a probationary rating. Those included poor dish handling practices, inadequate hand-washing facilities, a mechanical sanitizer with insufficiently hot water, and inadequate food cooling.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Oct. 21.
Response: Requests for comment were not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In October
1012 E. Sixth St.
History: Since 2014, received a single good and excellent inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Six priority violations, including a supervisor lacking knowledge about food temperature regulations, unsafe food handling, food kept at unsafe temperatures, and a lack of testing strips for sanitizer.
Follow-up: Passed an Oct. 24 follow-up inspection.
Response: Requests for comment were not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In October
704 E. Prince Road
History: Since 2004, the meat market has almost exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent, but did get a needs improvement rating in 2013. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Ten priority violations, including toxic chemicals stored next to food equipment; no working food thermometer on site; dirty food equipment, including a meat saw with “encrusted debris;” inadequate food cooling procedures; and prepared food such as salsa without date marking or source information.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection has not been conducted.
Response: A message left for an owner or manager was not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In October
4550 S. Palo Verde Road
History: Inspection records indicate that this is the restaurant’s first year of operation, during which it has never received a good or excellent rating and has failed inspections on two occasions.
What the inspector saw: Two priority violations, initially earning the restaurant a "needs improvement" rating. Both involved a water heater not heating up water for hand and dish washing adequately, a problem that was not resolved by the Oct. 28 follow-up, earning La Fresita a failed inspection rating.
Follow-up: The location failed an Oct. 28 follow-up.
Response: Josie Bolanos, one of the restaurant’s owners, said a new water heater has since been installed, resolving the remaining violations. “It was fixed,” she said.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In October
Mobile food truck
History: This was a follow-up for the food truck’s first routine inspection on Sept. 23, which it failed with at least 11 priority violations.
What the inspector saw: Nine violations found during the previous inspection were still unresolved during the Oct. 28 follow-up. Those included the person in charge lacking basic food safety knowledge, the fish used by the food truck possibly being provided improperly by someone in Mexico, numerous flies on the premises, no sanitizer test strips, and inadequate hand-washing practices.
Follow-up: An additional follow-up has not occurred.
Response: No phone number was listed in the inspection report and no number could be found online for the food truck.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
October health inspections:
4,836
Food service licenses in Pima County
500
Excellent and good inspections
18
Needs improvement inspections
8
Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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: Restaurant owners were said to be unavailable for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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: There was no indication in county records that a follow-up inspection has yet been conducted.
Response: The phone number listed in the inspection report and online was not in service.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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, no consumer warning in the menu regarding undercooked foods, and prohibited pest-control substances.
Follow-up: Passed its first follow-up inspection on Oct. 3.
Response: A message left seeking comment wasn’t returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
September health inspections:
4,600
Food service licenses in Pima County
652
Excellent and good inspections
14
Needs improvement inspections
15
Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Has never gotten a more serious “probationary” rating, but has gotten several “needs improvement” ratings and failed followup inspections. Since 2000, it has received mostly “excellent” and “good” ratings.
What the inspector saw: A series of failed August inspections stems from a June inspection where health department staff discovered that a three-bin sink was “directly plumbed to the sewer,” which is not allowed for sinks used to hold food equipment or utensils.
Follow-up: The market failed three follow-up inspections in August.
Response: Owner Tun Lee said the sink is not being used, and he is looking for a plumber to carry out necessary repairs.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Since opening in 2014, has received only “excellent” ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The restaurant was ordered closed on Aug. 2 because sewage was backing up in the dishwasher area. The inspector also noted problems with hand washing sinks and employee hand-washing practices. On a follow-up inspection, an inspector also noted that many utensils were not clean “to sight and touch” and some foods were not stored at sufficiently cool temperatures.
Follow-up: Failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 5, but passed on Aug. 10.
Response: Problems with the sewage may have been due to a disgruntled employee, manager David Worth said. A cleanup revealed that a pair of gloves and bar rag had been stuffed into a drain in a way that seemed to be intentional. Worth said he suspected the same employee also did damage to a bathroom sink and hand-washing station. Worth said the former employee's last words before leaving the restaurant were, "Well, you haven’t heard the last of me."
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: This appears to have been the restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eleven priority violations, including a hand sink being used as a dump sink, a hand sink not being stocked with soap, raw meats stored above ready-to-eat foods, and foods kept at inappropriate temperatures. Some of the violations were corrected on-site.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 29.
Response: The restaurant did not respond to requests for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Has never before failed an inspection, and has received “good” and “excellent” ratings exclusively since 2003.
What the inspector saw: The restaurant’s make unit was not cooling foods adequately. There was no certified food protection manager on site. The two violations earned the restaurant a “needs improvement” rating, which is less serious than a “probationary” rating.
Follow-up: Failed its first follow-up on Aug. 12, but passed four days later.
Response: Owner Chung Kim said the make unit in question was new and not working properly at first. Staff were eventually able to get it keep food adequately cool.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Since 2009, has received exclusively “good” and “excellent” ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, including a soapless hand-washing station, an employee washing hands in a prep sink, dishes and utensils stored with dried food, inadequate food cooling practices, and a dirty ice scoop.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 29.
Response: The restaurant did not respond to request for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Since 2014, has received only “good” and “excellent” ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Fourteen priority violations, a high number. They included not sanitizing dishes, employee food stored in refrigerator, improper food handling practices, raw seafood stored above ready-to-eat food, food kept at unsafe temperatures, inadequate food labeling, cleaning products stored near food, “three live roaches each in different life stages” in food prep areas, and “crudely constructed cheese cutter made from a wire and two cardboard handles.”
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 25.
Response: Manager Brenda Rodriguez said her staff was taking a number of measures to make sure the restaurant passes the next inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Has had three previous “probationary” ratings, as well as a “needs improvement rating,” but has otherwise received ratings of “good” and “excellent.”
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, including dirty cutting boards, undated food in the refrigerator, and insect spray and skin cream stored near food prep areas. There were no devices to prevent backflow of contaminants through water lines in the dish-cleaning area and an industrial drill was being used to mix salsa.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 22.
Response: General manager Wayne Hallquist said everything had been corrected.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Received mostly “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2002. Had one previous “needs improvement” rating in 2014 and this was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Priority violations including raw meat stored over vegetables, washing of utensils with no soap or sanitizer, inadequate cooling of food, inaccurate food dating, no food thermometers on site, and rodent droppings near the water heater.
Follow-up: Hasn't yet occurred.
Response: Owner Wayne Wei said he didn’t feel his restaurant should have failed the inspection. “We did the right thing,” he said, adding later: “Sometimes we have these inspectors come over and just tell what we need to correct on site. This time they did not.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Since 2014, has received only “good” and “excellent” ratings. This was its first fail. (Another Molinito location also failed an inspection in August; see above.)
What the inspector saw: Five priority violations on Aug. 16, including improper dishwashing and food handling practices, a hand sink with no soap, and food stored at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: Passed an Aug. 26 reinspection.
Response: General manager Wayne Hallquist said all the issues have been resolved.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Since 2000, has received largely “good” and “excellent” ratings, but has had a string of provisionals over the last year.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, earning the restaurant a “probationary” rating. Among those violations were raw meat stored above produce, inadequately covered food, food prep tools covered in food debris, and food kept at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Sept. 1.
Response: The restaurant did not respond to requests for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
In August
History: Since 2000, ratings of “excellent” and “good” almost exclusively.
What the inspector saw: The market got a “needs improvement” rating in late July, and failed a follow-inspection in early August. The violations found in July included no hand-washing sink available for employees bagging jerky and a dishwashing sink connected directly to the sewer line.
Follow-up: Failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 1, but passed a week later.
Response: The phone number listed does not work.
- Updated
4,600: Food service licenses in Pima County
496: Excellent, good or passed inspections in August
21: Needs improvement inspections in August
11: Failed or probationary inspections in August
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In November
History: Since 2010, El Herradero has received two other probationary ratings, one needs improvement rating and a number of good and excellent ratings.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, including a hand sink with no soap, food equipment not being washed but not sanitized, hot foods being held below established temperatures, improper date labeling of prepared foods and raw shrimp ceviche without a mandated health advisory.
Follow-up: The location passed a follow-up inspection on Nov. 14.
Response: A message left for the owner was not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In November
History: Since 2014, the restaurant received exclusively good ratings before the Nov. 2 needs improvement rating.
What the inspector saw: The inspector observed three priority violations on Nov. 2, earning the restaurant a needs improvement rating. Those violations were inadequate cooling of food, a walk-in refrigerator failing to keep foods at established temperatures and insufficient consumer advisories for undercooked foods.
Follow-up: The walk-in refrigerator issue had not been resolved by the Nov. 4 follow-up, but was by Nov. 8, when the restaurant passed the inspection.
Response: The Star was unable to contact a manager at either of two numbers listed for the restaurant, and a Facebook message also received no response.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In November
History: Since 2012, the restaurant has received exclusively good and excellent ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found six priority violations, including the absence of a hand washing sink in the bar area, hot food held below established temperatures, other foods kept above established temperatures, inadequate handwashing and flies on uncovered foods. Rodent droppings were also found.
Follow-up: The restaurant passed a Nov. 23 follow-up inspection.
Response: An owner declined to comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In November
History: This was the restaurant’s first routine health inspection.
What the inspector saw: The inspector found five priority violations, the minimum for a probationary rating. Those included an employee who put on a new pair of gloves without washing his hands, no paper towels at a hand washing sink, recently purchased pans with sticker residue, and a walk-in refrigerator not keeping foods below established temperatures.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection has not yet been conducted.
Response: Owner Lisa Sopher said that all of the issues were resolved “the first day,” and expects to pass the follow-up inspection scheduled for Dec. 10. “I put my foot down” on kitchen employees about the violations, she added.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In November
History: This is the location’s second probationary rating since 2014, and has had a mixed history since then. Probationary, needs improvement or failed follow-up inspections outnumber good or excellent ratings. In September it failed two follow-up inspections before finally passing in October.
What the inspector saw: The inspector determined that the “person in charge” does not have “sufficient food safety knowledge due to the number of of out of control risk factors, many of which are repeats of previous violations.” Additionally, the inspector observed raw chicken being handled by someone who did not wash their hands before handling ready-to-eat foods, a handsink without paper towels, inadequate cooling of food, hot foods kept below established temperatures, a walk-in cooler not keeping foods at established temperatures, and food stored without proper date markings.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection has not yet been conducted.
Response: A message left for a manager was not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
4,836: Food service licenses in Pima County
433: Excellent and good inspections
17: Needs improvement inspections
7: Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In October
12005 N. Oracle Road
History: Since 2011, the restaurant has received exclusively good and excellent inspection ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Seven priority violations on Oct. 11, earning the restaurant a probationary rating. Those included poor dish handling practices, inadequate hand-washing facilities, a mechanical sanitizer with insufficiently hot water, and inadequate food cooling.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Oct. 21.
Response: Requests for comment were not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In October
1012 E. Sixth St.
History: Since 2014, received a single good and excellent inspection rating. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Six priority violations, including a supervisor lacking knowledge about food temperature regulations, unsafe food handling, food kept at unsafe temperatures, and a lack of testing strips for sanitizer.
Follow-up: Passed an Oct. 24 follow-up inspection.
Response: Requests for comment were not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In October
704 E. Prince Road
History: Since 2004, the meat market has almost exclusively received inspection ratings of good and excellent, but did get a needs improvement rating in 2013. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Ten priority violations, including toxic chemicals stored next to food equipment; no working food thermometer on site; dirty food equipment, including a meat saw with “encrusted debris;” inadequate food cooling procedures; and prepared food such as salsa without date marking or source information.
Follow-up: A follow-up inspection has not been conducted.
Response: A message left for an owner or manager was not returned.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In October
4550 S. Palo Verde Road
History: Inspection records indicate that this is the restaurant’s first year of operation, during which it has never received a good or excellent rating and has failed inspections on two occasions.
What the inspector saw: Two priority violations, initially earning the restaurant a "needs improvement" rating. Both involved a water heater not heating up water for hand and dish washing adequately, a problem that was not resolved by the Oct. 28 follow-up, earning La Fresita a failed inspection rating.
Follow-up: The location failed an Oct. 28 follow-up.
Response: Josie Bolanos, one of the restaurant’s owners, said a new water heater has since been installed, resolving the remaining violations. “It was fixed,” she said.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In October
Mobile food truck
History: This was a follow-up for the food truck’s first routine inspection on Sept. 23, which it failed with at least 11 priority violations.
What the inspector saw: Nine violations found during the previous inspection were still unresolved during the Oct. 28 follow-up. Those included the person in charge lacking basic food safety knowledge, the fish used by the food truck possibly being provided improperly by someone in Mexico, numerous flies on the premises, no sanitizer test strips, and inadequate hand-washing practices.
Follow-up: An additional follow-up has not occurred.
Response: No phone number was listed in the inspection report and no number could be found online for the food truck.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
October health inspections:
4,836
Food service licenses in Pima County
500
Excellent and good inspections
18
Needs improvement inspections
8
Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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: Restaurant owners were said to be unavailable for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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: There was no indication in county records that a follow-up inspection has yet been conducted.
Response: The phone number listed in the inspection report and online was not in service.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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, no consumer warning in the menu regarding undercooked foods, and prohibited pest-control substances.
Follow-up: Passed its first follow-up inspection on Oct. 3.
Response: A message left seeking comment wasn’t returned by deadline.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In September
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.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
September health inspections:
4,600
Food service licenses in Pima County
652
Excellent and good inspections
14
Needs improvement inspections
15
Probationary and failed inspections
Source: Pima County Health Department
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Has never gotten a more serious “probationary” rating, but has gotten several “needs improvement” ratings and failed followup inspections. Since 2000, it has received mostly “excellent” and “good” ratings.
What the inspector saw: A series of failed August inspections stems from a June inspection where health department staff discovered that a three-bin sink was “directly plumbed to the sewer,” which is not allowed for sinks used to hold food equipment or utensils.
Follow-up: The market failed three follow-up inspections in August.
Response: Owner Tun Lee said the sink is not being used, and he is looking for a plumber to carry out necessary repairs.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Since opening in 2014, has received only “excellent” ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: The restaurant was ordered closed on Aug. 2 because sewage was backing up in the dishwasher area. The inspector also noted problems with hand washing sinks and employee hand-washing practices. On a follow-up inspection, an inspector also noted that many utensils were not clean “to sight and touch” and some foods were not stored at sufficiently cool temperatures.
Follow-up: Failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 5, but passed on Aug. 10.
Response: Problems with the sewage may have been due to a disgruntled employee, manager David Worth said. A cleanup revealed that a pair of gloves and bar rag had been stuffed into a drain in a way that seemed to be intentional. Worth said he suspected the same employee also did damage to a bathroom sink and hand-washing station. Worth said the former employee's last words before leaving the restaurant were, "Well, you haven’t heard the last of me."
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: This appears to have been the restaurant’s first regular inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eleven priority violations, including a hand sink being used as a dump sink, a hand sink not being stocked with soap, raw meats stored above ready-to-eat foods, and foods kept at inappropriate temperatures. Some of the violations were corrected on-site.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 29.
Response: The restaurant did not respond to requests for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Has never before failed an inspection, and has received “good” and “excellent” ratings exclusively since 2003.
What the inspector saw: The restaurant’s make unit was not cooling foods adequately. There was no certified food protection manager on site. The two violations earned the restaurant a “needs improvement” rating, which is less serious than a “probationary” rating.
Follow-up: Failed its first follow-up on Aug. 12, but passed four days later.
Response: Owner Chung Kim said the make unit in question was new and not working properly at first. Staff were eventually able to get it keep food adequately cool.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Since 2009, has received exclusively “good” and “excellent” ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, including a soapless hand-washing station, an employee washing hands in a prep sink, dishes and utensils stored with dried food, inadequate food cooling practices, and a dirty ice scoop.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 29.
Response: The restaurant did not respond to request for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Since 2014, has received only “good” and “excellent” ratings. This was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Fourteen priority violations, a high number. They included not sanitizing dishes, employee food stored in refrigerator, improper food handling practices, raw seafood stored above ready-to-eat food, food kept at unsafe temperatures, inadequate food labeling, cleaning products stored near food, “three live roaches each in different life stages” in food prep areas, and “crudely constructed cheese cutter made from a wire and two cardboard handles.”
Follow-up: The restaurant failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 25.
Response: Manager Brenda Rodriguez said her staff was taking a number of measures to make sure the restaurant passes the next inspection.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Has had three previous “probationary” ratings, as well as a “needs improvement rating,” but has otherwise received ratings of “good” and “excellent.”
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, including dirty cutting boards, undated food in the refrigerator, and insect spray and skin cream stored near food prep areas. There were no devices to prevent backflow of contaminants through water lines in the dish-cleaning area and an industrial drill was being used to mix salsa.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 22.
Response: General manager Wayne Hallquist said everything had been corrected.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Received mostly “good” and “excellent” ratings since 2002. Had one previous “needs improvement” rating in 2014 and this was its first failed inspection.
What the inspector saw: Priority violations including raw meat stored over vegetables, washing of utensils with no soap or sanitizer, inadequate cooling of food, inaccurate food dating, no food thermometers on site, and rodent droppings near the water heater.
Follow-up: Hasn't yet occurred.
Response: Owner Wayne Wei said he didn’t feel his restaurant should have failed the inspection. “We did the right thing,” he said, adding later: “Sometimes we have these inspectors come over and just tell what we need to correct on site. This time they did not.”
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Since 2014, has received only “good” and “excellent” ratings. This was its first fail. (Another Molinito location also failed an inspection in August; see above.)
What the inspector saw: Five priority violations on Aug. 16, including improper dishwashing and food handling practices, a hand sink with no soap, and food stored at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: Passed an Aug. 26 reinspection.
Response: General manager Wayne Hallquist said all the issues have been resolved.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Since 2000, has received largely “good” and “excellent” ratings, but has had a string of provisionals over the last year.
What the inspector saw: Eight priority violations, earning the restaurant a “probationary” rating. Among those violations were raw meat stored above produce, inadequately covered food, food prep tools covered in food debris, and food kept at unsafe temperatures.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Sept. 1.
Response: The restaurant did not respond to requests for comment.
- Murphy Woodhouse Arizona Daily Star
In August
History: Since 2000, ratings of “excellent” and “good” almost exclusively.
What the inspector saw: The market got a “needs improvement” rating in late July, and failed a follow-inspection in early August. The violations found in July included no hand-washing sink available for employees bagging jerky and a dishwashing sink connected directly to the sewer line.
Follow-up: Failed a follow-up inspection on Aug. 1, but passed a week later.
Response: The phone number listed does not work.
4,600: Food service licenses in Pima County
496: Excellent, good or passed inspections in August
21: Needs improvement inspections in August
11: Failed or probationary inspections in August
Source: Pima County Health Department
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