Restaurant inspections: Handwashing a problem at six eateries (2024)

Get details on restaurants cited by Maricopa County inspectors for four or more priority violations the week of April 23.

A priority violation is a major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of food-borne illness orinjury.Iflistedin the reports, remediesimplemented during inspections are included.

At bottom, see a sampling of the many restaurants graded as an A for no violations.

7 violations

Chen's Noodle House, 1043 E. Lemon St., Tempe.

1. Employeewasheddishes and put on gloves to prepare food before washing hands. | Employee washed hands.
2. Employee placed garnishes and cooked meat on top of soup with bare hands. | Advised to wear gloves.
3. Chlorine was not hooked up to dishwasher. | Sink used until chlorine properly connected.
4. Old white and brown debrisbuildup on blade. | Slicer taken apart, cleaned.
5. Cooked duck improperly cooled.| Discarded.
6. Cooked bok choy andnoodles at improper temperature. | Reheated.
7. Cartons of raw shelled eggs and tofu at improper temperature. | Items placed in cooler.

5 violations

Scoop and Joy Lounge, 9397 E. Shea Blvd., Suite D-110, Scottsdale.

1. Employee wore gloves to handle ready-to eat-foods without washing hands. | Advised to wash hands before putting on gloves.
2. Employee handled cone then added cookie and candy toppings with bare hands. |Advised to wash hands and wear gloves.
3. Carton of shelled eggs stored above ready-to-eat foods. |Eggs moved to bottom shelf to prevent cross contamination.
4. Employees washed food-contact surfaces with soap and water without properly sanitizing. | Advised on proper method.
5. Tiramisu held at improper temperature. | Discarded.

The Plough Chinese Cuisine, 1440 S. Country Club Drive, Suite 10,Mesa.

1. Employee washed and loaded dirty dishes into machineand proceeded to put away cleaned dishes without washing hands. | Advised to wash hands.
2. Raw chicken held over cut cabbage, raw chickenstored over peppers, raw fish stored over seaweed and cooked noodles and raw ground pork stored abovevegetables. | Rearranged.
3. Chinese bacon prepared by hanging raw bacon for more than oneday to dry, then placed into pan on top of counter to smoke and cook. Not an approved procedure. | Discarded.
4. Sweet fermented rice, cooked noodles,tofu, kimchi andcooked pickled veggies at improper temperatures. | Discarded or placed in cooler.
5. First-aid kit stored over dish rack and cold medicine, walletand phone stored in to-go containers. | Relocated to proper storage.

4 Violations

Li's Bowl, 6260 S. 35th Ave., Suite 174,Phoenix.

1. Employee removed cutting boards and cleanedafter cutting raw chicken, then returned to cleaning and food handling without washing hands. | Washed hands.
2. Employee handledraw fish with gloves, removed gloves and improperlywashedhands. | Rewashed hands.
3. Cutting board used for raw chicken was washed and rinsedbut not sanitized prior to storing for next use. Cutting board used for cutting raw fish was wiped with a soiled wiping cloth that did not contain sanitizer. | Advised how to properly sanitize cutting boards.
4. Too much bleach in bucket of wiping cloths. | Diluted to proper level.

OHSO, 3200 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Suite F-1, Phoenix.

1. Employee washed hands for less than 5 seconds after handling raw beef. | Employee rewashed hands.
2. Not enough sanitizer in dishwasher. |Glasses returned to kitchen to rewash.
3. Beer gravy with sausage in coolerat improper temperature. | Discarded.
4. Cooked chicken, macaroni and cheese, pastrami, sliced cheeses, wings, and raw chicken at improper temperature in cooler.|Discarded items and called for cooler repair.

Smoothie Run, 1633 S. Higley Road, Suite 101,Gilbert.

1. Employee used the register and thenput gloves on to complete the customer's order without washing hands. | Washed hands.
2. Moldy mushrooms in cooler. | Discarded.
3. Knives and a pizza slicer covered in dried food. |Sanitized.
4. Cut leafy greens and precooked chicken in coolerwithout any date-marking. | Advised to date by when food should be consumed by.

Grade A restaurants

Phoenix

A Couple Of Nuts, 7611 W. Thomas Road, Suite 107.

Frescas Mexican Grill, 4250 W. Anthem Way, Suite F70.

Gio's Pizza, 4205 W. Anthem Way, Suite 104.

Pirates Fish & Chips, 5041 W. Thomas Road.

Scooptacular, 5150 W. Baseline Road,Suite 102.

Southeast Valley

Tott's Asian Diner, 4030 W. Ray Road, Suite 1, Chandler.

Slim Chickens Restaurant, 748 N. Gilbert Road, Gilbert.

The Harp Pub, 1744 S. Val Vista Drive, Suite 101, Mesa.

Julia's Mesquite Mexican Grill, 1925 E. Brown Road, Space 5A, Mesa.

Peter Piper Pizza No. 1293, 1805 E. Baseline Road, Tempe.

Scottsdale

Cool Gelato Italiano, 7373 E. Scottsdale Mall, Space 125.

Creamistry, 7135 E. Camelback Road, Suite 151.

Nonna Urban Eatery, 7240 E. Main St., Suite C-100.

Papa Murphy's, 20343 N. Hayden Road, Suite 110.

Pinnacle Grille, 10428 E. Jomax Road.

West Valley

Mi Lindo Michoacan, 12301 W. Buckeye Road, Avondale.

The Glass House, 5160 W. Northern Ave., Glendale.

Robeks Juice, 15525 W. Roosevelt St., Suite 112, Goodyear.

Cabin Whiskey & Grill, 9868 W. Northern Ave., Peoria.

Dunkin' Donuts at Marley Park, 13953 W. Waddell Road, Surprise.

Source: Maricopa County Environmental Services

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