Pima County health inspections: 14 food service sites failed in December

247 N. Fourth Ave.

History: Good and excellent ratings for several years but was placed on probation Nov. 27 and failed an initial re-inspection on Dec. 10.

What the inspector saw: Potato salad, cooked chicken, lettuce and sour cream stored at unsafe temperatures; heavy buildup of grease and debris on cooking equipment; heavy black buildup inside bulk ice machine; employee cut up fruit with bare hands; no food thermometer; chemical spray bottles had no labels.

Follow up: Passed re-inspection on Dec. 21.

Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.

6472 N. Oracle Road

History: Mainly good and passing ratings in recent years but was placed on probation Dec. 14.

What the inspector saw: Soup, roast beef and cheese stored at unsafe temperatures; slicer and utensils stored as clean had food residue; cutting boards not sanitized as often as required;  hose used to rinse dishes had no backflow protection to prevent sewer backup; numerous foods stored on floor; the eatery was cooking on hot plates without proper ventilation and was told to cease and desist; manager not certified in food protection management.

Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on Jan. 3.

Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.

12090 N. Thornydale Road

History: Excellent ratings in 2017 and most of 2018 but received a needs improvement rating Dec. 11 and failed an initial follow-up inspection Dec. 21.

What the inspector saw: Rice, noodles and cooked chicken stored at unsafe temperatures due to improper cooling procedures; numerous foods that should have been refrigerated were stored on counter at room temperature; manager not certified in food protection management.

Follow up: Passed a second follow-up inspection on Jan. 2.

Comments: Declined to comment.

135 E. Congress St.

History: Good and excellent ratings for several years but was placed on probation Dec. 5.

What the inspector saw: Coleslaw, cut tomatoes and raw burgers and sliders were stored at unsafe temperatures — a problem identified twice before by inspectors; clean dishes stored on dirty shelving; can of insect spray was stored in cooking area; dirty utensils stored in handwashing sink.

Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on Dec. 17.

Comments: Owner Billy Elliott said food temperature issues were caused by a broken refrigerator. "The repair was made and everything is in excellent condition now. All other issues were remedied on the spot," he said.

9431 E. 22nd St.

History: Good and excellent ratings until late 2017. Since then, four of seven health inspections had negative findings, including a needs improvement rating Dec. 4 and a failed initial re-inspection Dec. 5.

What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including pastrami, brisket, macaroni and cheese, mayonnaise and ranch and blue cheese dressings; the restaurant was given 24 hours to fix the problem but did not do so.

Follow up: Passed second re-inspection Dec. 14.

Comments: Could not be reached for comment. Two calls were made during business hours but no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail system.

5138 E. Speedway

History: A mix of positive and negative ratings since 2016. Most recently, received a needs improvement rating Dec. 19 followed by a failed re-inspection Dec. 31.

What the inspector saw: No handwashing sink in food preparation area; cooked meatballs stored without use-by date; manager not certified in food protection management.

Follow up: Passed a second follow-up inspection Jan. 10.

Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.

2970 W. Valencia Road

History: Good or excellent ratings until mid-2018. Since then, four out of five inspections had negative results. Most recently, the eatery was placed on probation Dec. 20.

What the inspector saw: Kitchen equipment stored as clean had food and grease residue — evidence of a "pattern of noncompliance" since inspectors noted the same problem twice before; greasy, dirty floors "throughout the facility;" sink leaking water onto floor; cardboard boxes of food stored on floor with pooling water; white residue on soda nozzles.

Follow-up: Failed re-inspection on Jan. 3. Date of next re-inspection was not immediately available.

Comments: Could not be reached for comment. Two calls were made during business hours, but no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail system.

1644 E. Summit St.

History: Positive ratings for several years but was placed on probation Dec. 20.

What the inspector saw: Salsa, carne asada, cooked pork and raw beef stored at unsafe temperatures; hand-washing sink blocked and inaccessible; meat slicer encrusted with "decayed protein residue;" no food thermometer; some foods had no use-by dates.

Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection Jan. 2.

Comments: Owner Carlos Stahlkopff said he purchased a new refrigerator and took quick action to correct problems.

4250 W. Ina Road

History: Good ratings for several years but was placed on probation Dec. 17.

What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including chicken, chimichangas, taquitos, and guacamole; cooked beef stored with no use-by date; wiping cloths were not sanitized; refrigerator shelving had "food debris and rust."

Follow up: Passed re-inspection on Dec. 27.

Comments: Could not be reached for comment. Two calls were made during business hours but no one answered the phone and there was no voicemail system.

3114 E. Fort Lowell Road

History: Good and excellent inspection results for several years until early 2018. Since then, three of five inspections have had negative results, including a Dec. 4 needs improvement rating and a failed re-inspection on Dec. 14.

What the inspector saw: Eggs and cooked potatoes were stored at room temperature; cooked foods were improperly cooled;  cook repeatedly handled plates of prepared food after cracking raw eggs without washing hands and changing gloves.

Follow up: Passed a second re-inspection on Dec. 27.

Comments: Co-owner Libby Oniszko said kitchen staff have received additional training. "The health and safety of our customers is our top priority," she said.

1160 N. Wilmot Road

History: The site has failed eight of 16 health inspections since 2016. Most recently, it was placed on probation Dec. 11 after a diner filed a health department complaint about falling ill after eating seaweed salad with an "acidy mold" taste.  

What the inspector saw: Salmon used for sushi was not cold-treated to destroy parasites; cook picked up a utensil from floor then kept cooking without washing hands or changing gloves; seafood thawing in stagnant water; fly traps hanging over food preparation area; floors throughout facility had "food residue and grease build-up;" clean utensils stored in dirty bins; dishes stored as clean had grease residue; hand-washing sink blocked and inaccessible.

Follow-up: Passed re-inspection Dec. 21.

Comments: Declined to comment.

8295 N. Cortaro Road

History: Good and passing ratings since mid-2017, but the site was placed on probation Dec. 15 and failed initial re-inspection on Dec. 27.

What the inspector saw: Beans, cooked chicken and cooked chorizo stored at unsafe temperatures; both handwashing sinks were blocked and inaccessible; cutting board was not properly sanitized; person in charge lacked basic knowledge of food safety practices; manager not certified in food protection management.

Follow up: Passed a second follow-up inspection on Jan. 7.

Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.

1002 W. Congress St.

History: Mainly good and excellent ratings for several years, but was placed on probation Dec. 5.

What the inspector saw: "Excessive encrusted residue" on kitchen utensils and inside microwave despite two previous warnings; employee was eating in food preparation area, creating contamination risk; manager not certified in food protection management.

Follow-up: Passed re-inspection Dec.12.

Comments: Declined to comment.

5979 W. Western Way Circle

History: Good and excellent ratings for several years until a Dec. 14 needs improvement rating followed by a failed re-inspection on Dec. 27.

What the inspector saw: No food thermometer; no test strips for sanitizing solution; manager not certified in food protection management despite three previous warnings to obtain certification.

Follow-up: Passed a second re-inspection Jan. 9.

Comments: Assistant manager Leticia Antonio described the problems as relatively minor and said they have been resolved.