Nine restaurants and two markets failed Pima County health inspections in August; most passed follow-up inspections. Here’s what you need know:
Chinese Combo
1980 W. Orange Grove
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: So-called 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.”
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit
7850 N. Oracle Road
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.”
El Beto Mexican Food
2100 W. Grant Road
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.
El Molinito
5380 E. 22nd St.
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.
El Molinito
10180 N. Oracle Road
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.
Hot Wok
7755 E. Golf Links Road
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.
Jerry Bob’s
7699 E. Speedway
History: Has never before failed an inspection, and has received “good” and “excellent” ratings exclusively since 2003.
What the inspector saw: Foods were not being adequately cooled. 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 refrigeration unit in question was new and not working properly at first. Staff were eventually able to get it keep food adequately cool.
Mr. Baja Fish
2545 S. Craycroft
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.
Old Peking
2522 E. Speedway
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.
Chihuahua Market
4870 S. 12th Ave.
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.
New Empire Market
526 E. Ninth St.
History: Has never gotten a more serious “probationary” rating, but has gotten several “needs improvement” ratings and failed follow-up 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 workers 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.
