As Tucson returns to life with college students back and the snowbirds right on their heels, restaurants can move out of their summer funk. The hot summer months are often the most difficult for local restaurants, both from the extreme heat keeping would-be guests inside their own homes while also reducing the number of available customers. Still, as restaurants see an increase in visitors, it remains important to stay on top of cleanliness and upkeep. One local restaurant struggled with demonstrating this during its most recent health inspection.
On August 23, a health inspector paid a visit to Chickenuevo at 1491 West St Mary’s Road. While visiting the Class 3 restaurant (a location under 2,500 square feet of space), a total of 7 violations were identified.
The biggest problem with the restaurant was the assortment of temperature issues. While a common problem (for those with violations) proper temperature control is one of the first lines of defense against bacteria and foodborne illness. Food sitting inside the oven, including three full chickens, had temperatures ranging from 156 to 151 degrees. Chicken must reach at least 165 degrees, so the staff was instructed to put all the meat back in the oven and increase its temperature.