Every month, Maricopa County health inspectors travel around the Valley, paying unannounced visits to Phoenix restaurants. They work to keep everyone safe, from restaurant staff to customers, and sometimes find things that are less than savory.
The health inspectors file reports, which are available to the public via an online database. The reports detail issues found and often include a letter grade. Inspectors rank issues on two levels. Violations are problems that could lead to more serious issues. For example, a lack of soap may cause improper handwashing. Priority violations are more serious and pose an immediate threat to food or personal safety.
Restaurants must fix issues at the time of the inspection. If the problems can’t be immediately solved, a reinspection is scheduled…