Tucson restaurants that failed April health inspections
- Updated
12 Tucson restaurants received ratings of βprovisionalβ or βfailβ during Pima County health inspections in April. Find inspection failures for the entire year.
1
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
La Quinta Inn and Suites-Reid Park (April)
102 N. Alvernon Way
- History: Received mostly βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2008.
- What the inspector saw: With five critical violations noted during an April 12 inspection, the breakfast cafe received a βprobationaryβ rating. An employee told the inspector βthat she had diarrhea on the job and has vomited in the food preparation area on separate occasions and was not instructed to go homeβ by her manager. Additional problems included issues with dishwashing, no date markings on some food items, cleaning supplies on a food prep area and no training was provided to the kitchenβs only employee when she was hired in February.
- Follow-up: Passed April 25.
- Response: Manager was not available for comment.
2
- By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Five Palms Steak and Seafood (April)
3500 E. Sunrise Drive
- History: The restaurant , which has been open since 2013, failed two consecutive inspections in June 2014 and previously failed an inspection in October.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating during an April 20 inspection, when the inspector observed five critical violations. Temperatures in the restaurantβs refrigerators were higher than code allows, an employeeβs take-out box of food was on the prep table, and kitchen equipment and utensils had βexcessive build-up of food debris.β When the inspector saw that Five Palms was vacuum packaging seafood on the premises, the restaurant was ordered to βcease and desist (packaging) operations immediatelyβ and throw away all of the product.
- Follow-up: Scheduled May 2.
- Response:Β βWeβve been changing the kitchen around, since weβre getting ready to start a new menu. We have a brand new staff as of last week,βΒ saidΒ Alex Hartleb, who took over as general manager a few weeks ago.Β βThe inspector wants us to focus on the temperature of our product and the walk-in refrigerator. Employees were going in and out that day, which probably brought down the temperature, but the inspection took place well before dinner service.β
3
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Hi-way Chef Restaurant (April)
5451 E. Benson Hwy.
- History: Received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2003.
- What the inspector saw: With six critical violations observed during an April 8 inspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. Issues included food stored above or below safe holding temperatures, employee cups on the food service area and missing date markings on prepared food items.
- Follow-up: Passed April 19.
- Response: βWe worked with the health department and brought everything up to code,β said ownerΒ Omar Ramirez. βSeveral of the managers are going to start attending (food safety) classes next week.β
4
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Great Wall of China (April)
2445 S. Craycroft Road
- History: Has received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2007.
- What the inspector saw: Six violations were observed during an April 7 inspection, earning the restaurant a βprobationaryβ rating. Violations included employee food and drinks on a prep table in the kitchen, raw chicken and seafood stored above produce, handwashing violations and dishes stored as clean that were βcoated in food debris and oil.β The report also mentioned kitchen utensils that had been left out overnight, rinsed and used again, without being washed or sanitized.
- Follow-up: Passed April 19.
- Response: Owner or manager was not available for comment.
5
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Culverβs (April)
3070 S. Campbell Ave.
- History: Since opening in August 2014, the restaurant has received all βexcellentβ ratings on its three health inspections.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating during an April 20 inspection, when the inspector observed five critical violations. Soup and gravy were not being held at hot enough temperatures, and a container of pastrami sitting on the counter was above a safe holding temperature. βSeveral employees observed moving from cleaning tasks to handling food, touching contaminated surfaces, without washing hands and changing gloves,β the report said. In addition, a spray bottle of stainless steel cleaner was being stored above open containers of fish.
- Follow-up: Passed April 29.
- Response: βOur guests should be assured that the infractions in question were corrected at the time of the inspection,β said ownerΒ Kyle KolsrudΒ via email. βAt Culverβs, we take issues regarding food safety, quality, cleanliness, service and hospitality very seriously and have taken steps to ensure these incidents do not occur again.β
6
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Hogie House (April)
5138 E. Speedway
- History: Restaurant has received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2002, until it received a βneeds improvementβ on April 12.
- What the inspector saw: With one violation still not corrected during an April 13 reinspection for the βneeds improvementβ rating, the restaurant received a βfail.β A refrigeration unit still wasnβt keeping food below 41 degrees, and the inspector told the owner the lack of refrigeration could be grounds for closure if not repaired.
- Follow-up: Passed April 14.
- Response: βWeβve appealed the April 13 inspection,β said co-ownerΒ George Raizk. βThe inspector was checking the temperature of the meats on the table, and had the doors (to the refrigerator below) open, warming the case up.β One of the items the inspector checked was one degree above the approved temperature, he said. βWe donβt feel that was fair, and we expect to have the rating reversed.β
7
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Jasmine (April)
3906 N. Oracle Road
- History: Has received mostly βgoodβ ratings since it opened in 2013, until receiving a βprovisionalβ rating during a March 29 inspection.
- What the inspector saw: With four critical violations during an April 8 reinspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. The inspector saw live and dead cockroaches in the kitchen, and the report mentioned a βmeat saw not cleaned since yesterdayβs useβ with βmeat and roaches inside.β
- Follow-up: Failed April 18; passed April 20.
- Response: βThe failure is because the department changed the health code and the temperatures were different,β ownerΒ Saba AlsafarΒ told the Star, when contacted earlier in the month. βThey said they were posted online, but we didnβt know.β
8
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
La Indita Cafe (April)
622 N. 4th Ave.
- History: Failed seven inspections between 2000 and 2010, but has received mostly βgoodβ or βexcellentβ ratings since.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating during an April 18 inspection, with five critical violations. βShelves in walk-in refrigerator are severely rusted and have food debris hanging off of them above uncovered foods,β the report said. Additional violations include missing date markings, raw beef stored above produce and a refrigerator that wasnβt keeping food cool enough. La Indita was closed by the health department until the refrigerator was repaired and able to keep food at a safe temperature.
- Follow-up: Reinspection hasnβt taken place yet.
- Response: No answer at number provided.
9
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Taqueria Juanitoβs (April)
708 W. Grant Road
- History: Received βprovisionalβ and βfailβ ratings during four consecutive inspections in February and March.
- What the inspector saw: During an April 8 inspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. One of the continuous violations during the February and March inspections was a lack of functioning hand sink in the restaurantβs kitchen. Although a hand sink had been installed by the April 8 inspection, the hot water wasnβt working.
- Follow-up: Passed April 11.
- Response: No answer at number provided.
10
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Lodge on the Desert (April)
306 N. Alvernon Way
- History: Has received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2004.
- What the inspector saw: With eight violations noted during an April 20 inspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. The inspector found food that was stored above safe temperature, handwashing violations, no soap in the dispensers on the cooking line, dirty utensils and food stored past expiration date. βCook was observed dipping hands in wash basin of three-compartment sink containing ... dirty dishes, and then rinsing hands in hand sinkβ because of the lack of soap.
- Follow-up: Reinspection hasnβt taken place yet.
- Response: Lodge provided the following statement via email: βThe Lodge On The Desert has taken the food safety and evaluation findings and recommendations seriously. We have addressed the critical violations and we will continue to work with the Pima County Health Department to make sure we receive the good and excellent evaluations we have received in the past.β
11
- By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Szechuan Omei (April)
2601 E. Speedway
Szechuan Omei was temporarily closed by the health department in March. After five consecutive failed inspections between February and April, the restaurant received a passing rating on an April 25 inspection.
Szechuan Omei failed an April 4 reinspection.
12
- By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Las Margaritas (April)
3602 E. Grant Road
- History: Consistently βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2003, but received a βneeds improvementβ during a March 21 inspection.
- What the inspector saw: Two violations were noted during an April 1 reinspection to the βneeds improvementβ rating, earning the restaurant a βfail.β A container of shredded beef in the walk-in refrigerator was above safe holding temperature. βThe rodent issue is being brought under control,β the inspector wrote. βNeed to continue cleaning up feces behind ice machine and various rooms adjacent to the kitchen.β
- Follow-up: Passed April 12.
- Response: No answer at number provided.
13
- Updated
Click the photo below to see which restaurants failed their April health inspections.
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
La Quinta Inn and Suites-Reid Park (April)
102 N. Alvernon Way
- History: Received mostly βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2008.
- What the inspector saw: With five critical violations noted during an April 12 inspection, the breakfast cafe received a βprobationaryβ rating. An employee told the inspector βthat she had diarrhea on the job and has vomited in the food preparation area on separate occasions and was not instructed to go homeβ by her manager. Additional problems included issues with dishwashing, no date markings on some food items, cleaning supplies on a food prep area and no training was provided to the kitchenβs only employee when she was hired in February.
- Follow-up: Passed April 25.
- Response: Manager was not available for comment.
- By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Five Palms Steak and Seafood (April)
3500 E. Sunrise Drive
- History: The restaurant , which has been open since 2013, failed two consecutive inspections in June 2014 and previously failed an inspection in October.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating during an April 20 inspection, when the inspector observed five critical violations. Temperatures in the restaurantβs refrigerators were higher than code allows, an employeeβs take-out box of food was on the prep table, and kitchen equipment and utensils had βexcessive build-up of food debris.β When the inspector saw that Five Palms was vacuum packaging seafood on the premises, the restaurant was ordered to βcease and desist (packaging) operations immediatelyβ and throw away all of the product.
- Follow-up: Scheduled May 2.
- Response:Β βWeβve been changing the kitchen around, since weβre getting ready to start a new menu. We have a brand new staff as of last week,βΒ saidΒ Alex Hartleb, who took over as general manager a few weeks ago.Β βThe inspector wants us to focus on the temperature of our product and the walk-in refrigerator. Employees were going in and out that day, which probably brought down the temperature, but the inspection took place well before dinner service.β
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Hi-way Chef Restaurant (April)
5451 E. Benson Hwy.
- History: Received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2003.
- What the inspector saw: With six critical violations observed during an April 8 inspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. Issues included food stored above or below safe holding temperatures, employee cups on the food service area and missing date markings on prepared food items.
- Follow-up: Passed April 19.
- Response: βWe worked with the health department and brought everything up to code,β said ownerΒ Omar Ramirez. βSeveral of the managers are going to start attending (food safety) classes next week.β
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Great Wall of China (April)
2445 S. Craycroft Road
- History: Has received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2007.
- What the inspector saw: Six violations were observed during an April 7 inspection, earning the restaurant a βprobationaryβ rating. Violations included employee food and drinks on a prep table in the kitchen, raw chicken and seafood stored above produce, handwashing violations and dishes stored as clean that were βcoated in food debris and oil.β The report also mentioned kitchen utensils that had been left out overnight, rinsed and used again, without being washed or sanitized.
- Follow-up: Passed April 19.
- Response: Owner or manager was not available for comment.
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Culverβs (April)
3070 S. Campbell Ave.
- History: Since opening in August 2014, the restaurant has received all βexcellentβ ratings on its three health inspections.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating during an April 20 inspection, when the inspector observed five critical violations. Soup and gravy were not being held at hot enough temperatures, and a container of pastrami sitting on the counter was above a safe holding temperature. βSeveral employees observed moving from cleaning tasks to handling food, touching contaminated surfaces, without washing hands and changing gloves,β the report said. In addition, a spray bottle of stainless steel cleaner was being stored above open containers of fish.
- Follow-up: Passed April 29.
- Response: βOur guests should be assured that the infractions in question were corrected at the time of the inspection,β said ownerΒ Kyle KolsrudΒ via email. βAt Culverβs, we take issues regarding food safety, quality, cleanliness, service and hospitality very seriously and have taken steps to ensure these incidents do not occur again.β
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Hogie House (April)
5138 E. Speedway
- History: Restaurant has received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2002, until it received a βneeds improvementβ on April 12.
- What the inspector saw: With one violation still not corrected during an April 13 reinspection for the βneeds improvementβ rating, the restaurant received a βfail.β A refrigeration unit still wasnβt keeping food below 41 degrees, and the inspector told the owner the lack of refrigeration could be grounds for closure if not repaired.
- Follow-up: Passed April 14.
- Response: βWeβve appealed the April 13 inspection,β said co-ownerΒ George Raizk. βThe inspector was checking the temperature of the meats on the table, and had the doors (to the refrigerator below) open, warming the case up.β One of the items the inspector checked was one degree above the approved temperature, he said. βWe donβt feel that was fair, and we expect to have the rating reversed.β
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Jasmine (April)
3906 N. Oracle Road
- History: Has received mostly βgoodβ ratings since it opened in 2013, until receiving a βprovisionalβ rating during a March 29 inspection.
- What the inspector saw: With four critical violations during an April 8 reinspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. The inspector saw live and dead cockroaches in the kitchen, and the report mentioned a βmeat saw not cleaned since yesterdayβs useβ with βmeat and roaches inside.β
- Follow-up: Failed April 18; passed April 20.
- Response: βThe failure is because the department changed the health code and the temperatures were different,β ownerΒ Saba AlsafarΒ told the Star, when contacted earlier in the month. βThey said they were posted online, but we didnβt know.β
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
La Indita Cafe (April)
622 N. 4th Ave.
- History: Failed seven inspections between 2000 and 2010, but has received mostly βgoodβ or βexcellentβ ratings since.
- What the inspector saw: The restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating during an April 18 inspection, with five critical violations. βShelves in walk-in refrigerator are severely rusted and have food debris hanging off of them above uncovered foods,β the report said. Additional violations include missing date markings, raw beef stored above produce and a refrigerator that wasnβt keeping food cool enough. La Indita was closed by the health department until the refrigerator was repaired and able to keep food at a safe temperature.
- Follow-up: Reinspection hasnβt taken place yet.
- Response: No answer at number provided.
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Taqueria Juanitoβs (April)
708 W. Grant Road
- History: Received βprovisionalβ and βfailβ ratings during four consecutive inspections in February and March.
- What the inspector saw: During an April 8 inspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. One of the continuous violations during the February and March inspections was a lack of functioning hand sink in the restaurantβs kitchen. Although a hand sink had been installed by the April 8 inspection, the hot water wasnβt working.
- Follow-up: Passed April 11.
- Response: No answer at number provided.
- Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Lodge on the Desert (April)
306 N. Alvernon Way
- History: Has received only βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2004.
- What the inspector saw: With eight violations noted during an April 20 inspection, the restaurant received a βprobationaryβ rating. The inspector found food that was stored above safe temperature, handwashing violations, no soap in the dispensers on the cooking line, dirty utensils and food stored past expiration date. βCook was observed dipping hands in wash basin of three-compartment sink containing ... dirty dishes, and then rinsing hands in hand sinkβ because of the lack of soap.
- Follow-up: Reinspection hasnβt taken place yet.
- Response: Lodge provided the following statement via email: βThe Lodge On The Desert has taken the food safety and evaluation findings and recommendations seriously. We have addressed the critical violations and we will continue to work with the Pima County Health Department to make sure we receive the good and excellent evaluations we have received in the past.β
- By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Szechuan Omei (April)
2601 E. Speedway
Szechuan Omei was temporarily closed by the health department in March. After five consecutive failed inspections between February and April, the restaurant received a passing rating on an April 25 inspection.
Szechuan Omei failed an April 4 reinspection.
- By Caitlin Schmidt Arizona Daily Star
Las Margaritas (April)
3602 E. Grant Road
- History: Consistently βgoodβ and βexcellentβ ratings since 2003, but received a βneeds improvementβ during a March 21 inspection.
- What the inspector saw: Two violations were noted during an April 1 reinspection to the βneeds improvementβ rating, earning the restaurant a βfail.β A container of shredded beef in the walk-in refrigerator was above safe holding temperature. βThe rodent issue is being brought under control,β the inspector wrote. βNeed to continue cleaning up feces behind ice machine and various rooms adjacent to the kitchen.β
- Follow-up: Passed April 12.
- Response: No answer at number provided.
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