Rodents, no hot water: Restaurant closures, other inspections in Riverside County, June 24-July 1

Here are the restaurants and other food facilities that Riverside County Department of Environmental Health inspectors temporarily shut down because of imminent health hazards between June 24 and July 1, 2021. If no reopening date is mentioned, the department had not listed that facility as reopened as of this publication.

Carl’s Jr. #818, 44515 Bedford Court, Temecula

• Closed: July 1
• Grade: Not graded
• Reason: Rodent infestation. The inspector responding to a complaint found numerous rodent droppings on surfaces that come into contact with food, including the hamburger oven, as well as on the floors, near the water heater and the exit. The facility was immediately closed and ordered to eliminate all rodent infestation, correct rodent entry and harborage locations, and disinfect of all affected areas of the facility. Once this work is complete, a reinspection will be scheduled.

Fish-O-Licious, 451 Magnolia Ave. No. 103, Corona

• Closed: June 29
• Grade: 80/B, failing
• Reason: No hot water. The water heater had been turned off, and though employees were aware of the facility was without hot water, they continued to prepare food. The inspector noted this is a repeat violation. In addition, employees did not practice correct hand-washing methods and cold food was stored at improper temperatures.
• Reopened: The same day, after the water heater was turned on during the inspection.

Non-closure inspections of note

Here are selected inspections at facilities that weren’t closed but had significant issues.

Snow & Crab, at 186 S. Sunrise Way in Palm Springs, was inspected July 1 in response to a complaint about lack of hand-washing and sanitizer, flies and gnats, and uncovered food. The facility received a failing grade of 80/B. There was one critical violation for lack of sanitizer. Among the 11 lesser violations, sinks were in disrepair, several ants and flies were observed, and there were containers of uncovered food throughout the facility, including one container of flour directly under a sticky trap with flies.

Rosie’s, at 1145 Calimesa Blvd. in Calimesa, was inspected June 30 and received a failing grade of 81/B with two critical violations. An employee cracked raw eggs open, then touched ready-to-eat tortillas. Some food was not cooled properly before it was stored and it was discarded during the inspection. Among the nine lesser violations, there were several flies in the facility and chemicals were being stored over packaged dry spices.

SS Burger Basket, at 16820 Lakeshore Drive in Lake Elsinore, was inspected June 29 in response to a complaint about undercooked chicken and received a failing grade of 80/B. There were two critical violations. A cook repeatedly wiped his bare hands on a soiled towel and proceeded to touch food, and another touched a hamburger bun after using his bare hands to place raw meat on a grill. The temperature of a reach-in cooler holding raw chicken, beef and shelled eggs, among other items, was too high. Among the nine lesser violations, there was one live cockroach, a thermometer used for cooking chicken was not working, and numerous pieces of equipment required cleaning.

Mario’s Italian Cafe IX, at 425 S. Sunrise Way in Palm Springs, was inspected June 25 in response to a complaint about improper hand-washing and food contamination and received a failing grade of 84/B. The inspector could not confirm the allegations but there was one critical violation. Three refrigeration units were not keeping food cold, resulting in a large amount of food being thrown away during the inspection. Among the 10 lesser violations, two dead cockroaches were found and the interior of the ice machine had scale build-up.

Kobe Japanese Steak House, at 69838 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage, was inspected June 24 in response to a complaint about foodborne illness and received a failing grade of 80/B. The complaint could not be confirmed but there was one critical violation. A dishwasher was not dispensing sanitizer. Among the 12 lesser violations, there were four or five large flies throughout the facility and a fly trap covered with dead flies, and raw beef was stored over raw shrimp and ready-to-eat food inside the walk-in refrigerator.

Updates from past weeks

Bouchee Cafe & Deli, at 72785 Highway 111 Suite B1, Palm Desert, which was closed June 24 because of a cockroach infestation, was permitted to reopen June 28. It passed a follow-up reinspection July 1 with a 95/A. The inspector found no signs of active infestation but did find dead cockroaches on the floor in the mop and storage rooms and in a display case, as well as one small live cockroach on a table top in the dining area. A follow-up inspection will be scheduled to ensure all cockroaches have been eliminated.

About this list

This list is published online on Fridays. Any updates as restaurants are reopened will be included in next week’s list.

All food facilities in the county are routinely inspected to ensure they meet health codes. A facility loses four points for each critical violation — and may have to close if the violation can’t be corrected immediately — and one or two points for minor violations. An A grade (90 to 100 points) is passing. Grades of B (80 to 89 points) and C (79 or below) are failing and typically require the proprietor to make improvements and be re-inspected.

For more information on inspections of these or any restaurants in Riverside County, visit restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org. To submit a health complaint about a restaurant, go to www.rivcoeh.org/Complaint or call 888-722-4234 during business hours or 951-782-2968 after-hours.