Fifteen food-service establishments failed Pima County Health Department inspections in September. Twelve passed follow-up inspections. Two are awaiting re-inspection and one has closed.
History: Was rated “good” by the health department throughout 2016 and 2017, but has failed five health inspections since April and most recently was placed on probation Sept. 19.
What the inspector saw: Cooked rice, parsley and feta cheese stored at unsafe temperatures; raw meat stored above cooked rice; dirty dishes stored as clean; takeout containers stored in dirty bin; utensils hung on dirty wall; dishwasher had no sanitizing solution; no sanitizing test strips available; dirty shelving in refrigerator; no date markings on refrigerated foods; manager not certified in food protection management.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection on Oct. 2.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
Bob Dobbs
The doors of Bob Dobbs pub, 2501 E. Sixth St., are posted with notices alerting the public that the eatery is operating without health department approval.
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings for several years, but the site has been operating without health department approval since June, when inspectors first posted signs on doors alerting the public the kitchen did not meet county health standards. Since then, the site has failed four follow-up inspections on July 11, Aug. 13 and Sept. 13 and 17.
What the inspector saw: More than two dozen health-code violations including multiple holes in walls and ceilings; refrigerator shelving “peeling and encrusted with food”; back door had no door sweep to keep bugs and rodents out; wooden countertop “encrusted with grease”; unapproved household freezers used for food storage instead of commercial units; not enough hand-washing sinks; site lacks required three-compartment sink for washing, rinsing and sanitizing dirty kitchen equipment. Health department had to repost consumer alert signs on doors in August after someone took down the original signs posted in June.
Follow-up: The restaurant has corrected all but one of its deficiencies, but still doesn’t qualify for an operating permit until the remaining issue, the lack of a three-compartment sanitizing sink, is resolved, a health department official said.
Comments: Owner Scott Cummings said his operating license lapsed because the county failed to send him a renewal notice, something the county denies. He noted his restaurant’s track record of mainly positive inspection results over the years and said the health department’s current staff is being overly aggressive in policing his establishment.
History: Mainly good and passing scores in recent years, but was placed on probation twice last year and was temporarily shut down Sept. 5 as an “imminent health hazard” due to “grossly unsanitary conditions.” The restaurant also failed an initial re-inspection on Sept 18.
What the inspector saw: “Rodent droppings in excess” in food-preparation area and other areas; floors so encrusted with grease and food debris “it was hard to walk through the facility without slipping”; no hot water supply; cockroach found in bin storing clean dishes; dishes stored as clean had visible food debris; shelving had visible food debris; manager not certified in food-protection management.
Follow-up: Passed a second re-inspection on Sept. 28
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings in recent years, but the site was briefly shut down as an imminent health hazard on Sept 7. The inspection was precipitated by a complaint from a customer who said she found a rotting dead rodent on the floor under her dining table.
What the inspector saw: Raw steak, burgers, chicken and fish stored at unsafe temperatures; rodent droppings found in back serving station and storage area; hot water turned off in hand-washing sinks; shutdown was ordered when kitchen flooded after hot water supply was turned back on; cook handled food with bare hands; server handled dirty dishes, then served food without washing hands; no sanitizer in dishwasher.
Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on Sept. 17
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
History: Mainly good and excellent scores for several years, but was placed on probation in 2017. More recently, the store received a needs-improvement rating Sept 14., then failed an initial re-inspection Sept. 28.
What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including milk, yogurt, hard-boiled eggs, bean burritos, burgers and chicken salad and BBQ pork sandwiches; moths found on packaged food; holes in floor tile; facility was dirty and in need of deep cleaning.
Follow-up: The site is awaiting a second re-inspection.
History: Mainly good ratings in recent years, but received a needs-improvement rating Sept. 7 and failed an initial re-inspection Sept. 18.
What the inspector saw: “Flying insects in the donut case”; ants crawling on storage shelves and on a cherry-flavor dispenser connected to soda machine.
Follow-up: Passed a second re-inspection on Sept. 28.
Comments: Donna Humphrey, a spokeswoman for Circle K’s corporate office, said the store took immediate corrective action and all problems have been addressed.
History: Good and excellent ratings for several years, but was placed on probation Sept. 14.
What the inspector saw: “Black residue” inside ice machine; grease and food debris on floors and walls; “visibly soiled and stained” cloth was on top of a cutting board that was in use; dishes and equipment stored as clean had visible food debris; no date markings on stored food; raw beef stored above cooked rice; the kitchen’s only hand-washing sink had no soap; no person in charge; manager not certified in food-protection management.
Follow-up: Passed re-inspection on Sept. 26.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
History: Excellent ratings for past 10 years, but received a needs-improvement rating Aug. 29 followed by a failed re-inspection on Sept. 11.
What the inspector saw: Facility was processing and repackaging food without a required hand-washing sink; a three-compartment sink used to clean and sanitize kitchen equipment was directly connected to the septic system.
Follow-up: Passed a second follow-up inspection on Sept. 21.
Comment: Manager Manny Benitez said problems were quickly corrected.
Los Betos Mexican Food
1501 W. St. Mary’s Road
History: Mainly good ratings since 2016, but was placed on probation Sept 10.
What the inspector saw: More than 20 violations including: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures such as ground and shredded beef, french fries, beans, tacos, chile rellenos and pico de gallo; fruit flies in kitchen; all three hand-washing sinks had no paper towels and two had no soap; no date markings on stored foods; employee did not use sanitizer when washing utensils and equipment; gaps around back door would allow bugs or rodents to enter; person in charge lacked basic knowledge of safe food-handling procedures; manager was not certified in food-protection management.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection Sept 20.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
History: Good and excellent ratings for 10-plus years until recently. Received a needs-improvement rating Sept. 19 followed by a probation rating Sept. 20 and a failed re-inspection Oct.1.
What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including squid, octopus, marlin, ceviche, fish soup, coleslaw, cut tomatoes, olives and shredded cheese; dirty food slicer and slicer blades stored as clean; clean equipment and utensils stored on rusty shelving; bagged french fries stored under leaky freezer pipe; manager not certified in food-protection management.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection Oct. 4.
Comments: Owner Cirilo Preciado said the temperature issue was caused by a broken refrigerator fan that has since been fixed. Now, “Everything is good to go,” he said.
History: Mainly good and excellent ratings for the last several years, but was placed on probation Sept. 26.
What the inspector saw: Meatballs, roast beef and chicken were stored at unsafe temperatures. The restaurant was automatically put on probation because the same problem was identified during two previous inspections.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection Oct. 8.
Comments: A message seeking comment was not returned by deadline.
History: Six positive ratings and four negative ratings since 2016. Most recently, was placed on probation Sept. 28 and failed a follow-up inspection Oct. 8.
What the inspector saw: Salsa, beans, rice and chicken soup stored at unsafe temperatures; cook handled raw eggs, then clean plates and tortillas with same gloves on; desserts stored on top of raw meat; toxic substances — analgesic spray and hydrogen peroxide — were stored above clean utensils; bug spray stored with dry foods; both back doors had gaps that would allow bugs or rodents to enter; no sanitizing solution in dishwasher.
Follow-up: Passed a second re-inspection on Oct 9.
Comments: Employee Anna Torrez, speaking on behalf of manager Jose Manuel, said the problems have been corrected.
History: Good and excellent ratings for more than 10 years, but was placed on probation Sept. 27.
What the inspector saw: Numerous foods stored at unsafe temperatures including: ground beef, meatloaf, rib-eye, tomato sauce, cheese slices, salsa and sauerkraut. The restaurant automatically received a probationary rating because it was the third time in five inspections that the problem was detected.
Follow-up: Passed a follow-up inspection Sept 28.
Comments: Owner Shane Eplett said the problem was caused by faulty equipment that has been fixed. He noted the restaurant’s long history of positive inspection results.
History: Passing and good ratings in 2016 and 2017, but was placed on probation twice this year, most recently on Sept 13.
What the inspector saw: Watermelon stored at unsafe temperature; rodent droppings found in bins holding clean dishes; some dishes stored as clean had “visible food debris”; excessive food debris in food-preparation area; hand-washing sink near cook line had no soap or paper towels; person in charge did not know proper procedures for storing and handling food; manager not certified in food-protection management; failure to keep time logs for cooling and reheating food; menu had no health warning about risks of eating undercooked foods.
Follow-up: Passed a Sept. 24 follow up inspection.
Comments: Manager Shanna Rosing said the health department’s concerns were legitimate and said problems occurred during a timeframe when management was changing and “there was a gap of not addressing items quickly.” The new management acted promptly to correct deficiencies, she said.
History: Three of five health inspections had negative findings since the site opened less than a year ago. Most recent was a Sept. 21 probation rating.
What the inspector saw: Chicken, cooked rice and salad mix stored at unsafe temperatures; bug spray stored next to clean dishes and ketchup containers, creating risk of contamination; employee put gloves on over unwashed hands to prepare food; no soap in hand-washing sink; no person in charge on the premises; manager not certified in food-protection management.
Follow-up: Failed an Oct. 3 follow-up inspection because the site was locked and emptied of equipment when inspectors arrived.
Comments: Owner Omar Elfarmaoui said he closed the site Sept. 22 due to “issues with the landlord” and said he is seeking a new location.
