From Oct. 1 through Oct. 7, Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District inspectors found toxic chemicals stored in a walk-in cooler, raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food and other health violations at restaurants.
Out of more than 70 businesses inspected, eight scored below a 95, and 28 received perfect scores. During the seven days, Norma'z Fruits & Delights on Kostoryz Road scored the lowest with an 86.
The health district describes a food establishment as a place that sells or serves food to the public. These establishments, which can include bars, hotels, apartments, schools and food trucks, must get an annual permit and be inspected by the health district.
Inspections
are based on a demerit system in accordance with the Texas Department of State Health Services. The inspection report checks for 47 different violations.
Here's how businesses scored from Oct. 1 through Oct. 7:
Oct. 1
Twenty-one businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Blue Water Cowboy Saloon & Mercantile: 229 Beach St. in Port Aransas (98)
- The Boost: 11309 Leopard St. (96)
- Burger King: 3941 Crosstown Expressway (97)
- Cookies by Design: 4709 S. Alameda St. (100)
- Dairy Queen: 100 N. Highway 77 in Bishop (100)
- Driftwood Coffee Co.: 4703 S. Alameda St. (100)
- The Gaff: 323 Beach St. in Port Aransas (98)
- Happy Tea: 5433 S. Staples St. (100)
- Hu-Dat Noodle House: 6418 S. Staples St. (96)
- Joe's Crab Shack: 444 N. Shoreline Blvd. (100)
- La Playa Mexican Grille: 222 Beach St. in Port Aransas (96)
- Lelo's Island Bar: 212 Beach St. in Port Aransas (98)
- Schlotzsky's: 2330 Frederick Drive (100)
- Stingray's Taphouse and Grill: 401 Beach St. in Port Aransas (100)
- Subway: 5702 S. Staples St. (98)
- Subway: 2621 S. Port Ave. (97)
- Sufi Kabob: 7150 S. Padre Island Drive (96)
- The Sunday House: 6702 S. Staples St. (96)
- Taqueria Chapala: 1237 Nile Drive (96)
- Venetian Hot Plate: 232 Beach St. in Port Aransas (97)
The following scored below a 95:
- The Crazy Cajun Seafood Restaurant: 303 Beach St. in Port Aransas (93)
- Inspectors found an unlabeled toxic chemical bottle, mold in an ice machine, food not dated and food not labeled.
- Crazy Cajun was last inspected in March and received a 95.
Oct. 2
Seven businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Freddy's Place: 3113 Morgan Ave. (100)
- Los Laguneros: 3149 Morgan Ave. (98)
- Molly's: 4201 McArdle Road (97)
- Papa Johns Pizza: 10338 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Taco Bell: 1217 Waldron Road (100)
- VU TEA: 5634 McArdle Road (98)
- Wendy's: 10438 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
Oct. 5
Fourteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Church's Texas Chicken: 10101 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Corner Bakery Cafe: 4938 S. Staples St. (99)
- Crumbl Cookies: 4938 S. Staples St. (99)
- In the Game Funtrackers: 9605 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Little Caesars Pizza: 3301 Baldwin Blvd. (98)
- Mr. G's Bar-B-Que: 4701 IH-37 Access Road (100)
- Pizza Hut: 3657 Leopard St. (99)
- The Slip: 15037 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Subway: 526 Enterprise Parkway (98)
- Whataburger: 121 N. Shoreline Blvd. (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- Acapulco No. 1: 1133 Airline Road (94)
- Inspectors found raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food, food stored on the ground in walk-in cooler, food not dated, food not labeled and wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use.
- Acapulco was last inspected in April and received a 92.
- The Honey Hole: 948 Waldron Road (94)
- Inspectors found an unlabeled toxic chemical bottle, food not dated, food not labeled and gnats.
- The Honey Hole was last inspected in February and received a perfect score.
- Ninja Mochi Donut: 6181 Saratoga Blvd. (92)
- Inspectors found an unlabeled toxic chemical bottle, no paper towels at handwashing sink, plastic utensils stored handles-side down, employees not wearing hairnets and food stored on ground in walk-in freezer.
- Ninja Mochi Donut was last inspected in June and received a 98.
- Subway: 1620 S. Padre Island Drive (94)
- Inspectors found toxic chemicals not labeled, toxic chemicals stored near food, employees improperly using handwashing sink and a dirty walk-in freezer.
- Subway was last inspected in April and received a 97.
Oct. 6
Thirteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- Bill Miller BBQ: 3942 U.S. Highway 77 (99)
- Catfish Charlie's: 5830 McArdle Road (100)
- Gullys Pub: 3029 Laguna Shores Road (98)
- Hu-Dat Noodle House 2: 14017 Northwest Blvd. (97)
- Las Chilanguitas Mexican Restaurant: 3717 Baldwin Blvd. (98)
- Nolan's Restaurant: 14101 Northwest Blvd. (100)
- Oso Rose: 2001 Yorktown Blvd. (100)
- Salty Dog Saloon: 203 N. Alister St. in Port Aransas (100)
- Starbucks: 3900 S. Padre Island Drive (100)
- Wendy's: 5934 S. Padre Island Drive (99)
The following scored below a 95:
- Castaway's Seafood & Grill: 337 N. Alister St. in Port Aransas (93)
- Inspectors found two unlabeled toxic chemical bottles, a new door sweep needed for back door, a broken knife, wet towels not stored in sanitizer solution when not in use and gnats.
- Castaway's was last inspected in January and received a 98.
- El Tacoriendo: 3250 Morgan Ave. (90)
- Inspectors found chicken stored above ready-to-eat food, food not covered, a dirty ice machine, food not dated, food not labeled, no screens on doors to block pests, grease buildup on wall near grill area, broken knives, an ice scoop without a handle and knives stored between equipment.
- El Tacoriendo was last inspected in May and received an 88.
- Norma'z Fruits & Delights: 4737 Kostoryz Road (86)
- Inspectors found food not dated, food not labeled, toxic chemicals stored inside walk-in cooler, no certified food manager present, dirty air conditioning vents, missing light bulbs, dust on walls and ceiling tiles, a dirty ice cream container and employees improperly using utensils.
- Norma'z was last inspected in March and received an 87.
Oct. 7
Sixteen businesses were inspected. The following scored a 95 or higher:
- The Bar-B-Q Man Restaurant: 4931 IH-37 (100)
- Bill Miller BBQ: 4940 Leopard St. (97)
- Denny's: 5165 IH-37 (97)
- Guadalajara Grill: 15906 Northwest Blvd. in Robstown (95)
- Hanaya Poke: 4938 S. Staples St. (97)
- Harrison's Landing: 108 Peoples St. T-Head (99)
- Landry's Seafood House: 600 N. Shoreline Blvd. (100)
- Montray's Meat Market: 6210 Yorktown Blvd. (100)
- Oasis Tavern: 722 Naval Air Station Drive (98)
- Ramen Legend: 4938 S. Staples St. (100)
- Skipper's Hideaway: 390 Naval Air Station Drive (95)
- Subway: 11101 Leopard St. (100)
- Sweet Swirl Frozen Yogurt: 14457 S. Padre Island Drive (96)
- The Sweet Times: 13434 Leopard St. (100)
- Whataburger: 1121 Waldron Road (100)
The following scored below a 95:
- Prime Meat Market & Groceries: 7629 S. Staples St. (94)
- Inspectors found toxic chemicals stored improperly, dirty surfaces and employees improperly using utensils.
- Prime Meat Market was last inspected in February and received a perfect score.
John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Have a story idea? Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Nueces County restaurant inspections for Oct. 1 to Oct. 7
