Maricopa County health inspectors cited two metro Phoenix restaurants for 12 health violations during the week of Feb. 9. Violations included moldy tamarinds, expired chana masala and serving food on a plate with bare hands.
A priority violation is a major violation that directly increases the risk of foodborne illness or injury. If listed in inspection reports, remedies implemented during the inspection are noted.
During the week of Feb. 9, inspectors visited nearly 1,500 restaurants and other food-serving facilities in hospitals, senior homes and schools. About 460 restaurants received an “A” rating. See a sampling of the A-rated restaurants at the bottom of this article.
8 priority violations
Cloves Indian Groceries & Kitchen, 1825 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler
- Tamarind in the prep cooler was speckled with white growth, indicating spoilage. The food was unsafe and thrown away during the inspection.
- Raw chicken was stored above eggs and ready-to-eat foods like sauces and prepared dishes, creating a risk of cross-contamination. Foods were reorganized correctly during the inspection.
- Large buckets of chana masala and deep containers of rice were cooled overnight, but stayed too warm in the center. Because they weren’t cooled quickly enough, all of this food was discarded.
- Several hot foods were held at unsafe temperatures. Soups, curries, biryanis, plantains, pastries and other cooked foods were sitting out or on the service line at temperatures too low to keep them safe; some foods were hot on the bottom but too cool on top, and some steamers were missing parts, allowing heat to escape. A lentil soup was discarded and all other affected foods were reheated properly during the inspection.
- Several cold foods were held too warm. A prep cooler was not keeping some foods cold enough due to active cooling inside the unit. Milk was left out at room temperature, and cooked chicken was forgotten in a microwave. Unsafe foods were either discarded or moved to proper refrigeration during the inspection.
- Chana masala dated beyond the seven-day limit was still being stored. It was discarded during the inspection.
- Window cleaner and sanitizer were stored above food and food containers, risking chemical contamination. They were moved to proper storage.
- A reverse osmosis water system was installed without proper backflow protection. The system must be fixed, modified, or removed before the next inspection.
4 priority violations
Fujisan Sushi & Grill, 2100 S. Gilbert Road, Chandler
- A chef used bare hands to place shredded cabbage on a customer’s plate and then placed a pork cutlet on top. The cabbage was thrown away, and the chef was told to use tongs or clean, gloved hands.
- Raw eggs were stored above raw shrimp in the walk-in cooler, which could cause cross-contamination. The eggs were moved to a lower shelf during the inspection.
- The dishwasher had no sanitizer present while dishes were being washed. A three-compartment sink was set up for proper sanitizing, and a repair technician fixed the dishwasher during the inspection.
- Several cold foods were held at unsafe temperatures. Cut kale used for plates was left out at 77 degrees and was moved to an ice bath in the walk-in cooler to cool quickly. Crab salad was held at 46 degrees and was discarded because it was from the previous day. Raw seafoods, including salmon, shrimp, and ahi tuna, were stored at 47–48 degrees and were discarded.
‘A’ rated restaurants
Phoenix
- Lenny’s Burger, 2545 W. Glendale Ave.
- Puerto Rico Latin Grill, 2714 W. Thomas Road.
- Dona Licha Mexican Kitchen, 4344 W. Indian School Road.
- Sfizio Italiano, 21050 N. Tatum Blvd.
- Tres Leches Café, 5602 S. Central Ave.
East Valley
- LIZ Modern Asian, 15323 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale
- Perfect Pear Bistro, 9845 S. Priest Drive, Tempe
- Golden Gate, 2640 W. Baseline Road, Mesa
- Teamakers & Co, 2080 N. Dobson Road, Chandler
- Thanks A Latte, 9201 S. Avenida del Yaqui, Guadalupe
West Valley
- Bunzee Burgers and Wings, 8024 N 51st Ave., Glendale
- Colados Coffee, 15479 W McDowell Road, Goodyear
- Tacos La Lomita, 8449 W McDowell Road, Tolleson
- Hummus Republic, 13864 W Bell Road, Surprise
- The Boyer Bakery, 10001 W Bell Road, Sun City
Connect with the reporter at [email protected]…