Cockroach, rodent infestations close 3 Palm Springs area restaurants

Several Coachella Valley restaurants were downgraded or shut down by Riverside County health inspectors this past week, according to reports.

In La Quinta, Sabatino's Pizza Pasta and Wings, and in Palm Springs, Inka Peruvian Cuisine and La Bonita's were all shut down due to vermin infestations. Sabatino's and Inka will be revisited and reinspected by the health department in the coming days, while La Bonita's was approved to reopen.

Elsewhere, Del Taco in Coachella, Lunas Bar & Grill and The Local on 50th in Indio, Crepe(ing) Ramen, Mario's Italian Cafe, Pokehana and Ruby Thai in Palm Desert all received "B" grades on their inspections.

Here are the restaurants that were inspected in the Coachella Valley July 31 through Aug. 6:

Facility closure

Inka Peruvian Cuisine,

360 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

• Inspection conducted Aug. 4
• Inspectors observed several live and dead cockroaches throughout the facility. Facility was closed due to active cockroach infestation
• Inspectors returned Aug. 6, where they continued to see an active cockroach infestation. Facility remains closed and a reinspection date has been set

La Bonita's, 330 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs

• Inspection conducted Aug. 4
• Major violation: Inspector observed one live rat inside of reach-in refrigerator at cookline and droppings throughout cookline, prep area and utensil storage areas
• Major violation: Observed containers of open food located in same area where rat was seen
• Major violation: Observed hot water at three-compartment sink read only 96 degrees at time of inspection
• Facility was closed due to active rodent infestation and insufficient hot water temperature
• Inspectors returned Aug. 6 for a reinspection. Operator corrected violations and facility was approved to reopen

Sabatino's Pizza Pasta and Wings, 79-410 Highway 111, Suite 103, La Quinta

• Complaint investigation conducted Aug. 6
• Inspectors found several rodent droppings throughout the facility, including underneath the cookline and metro shelving between the fryers and the pizza oven, on the can food on the dry storage and on the metro shelving used for pizza boxes
• Facility was voluntarily closed and a reinspection date has been set

'B' grades

Del Taco, 85-494 Vista Del Norte, Coachella

• Inspection conducted Aug. 4
• Major violation: Improper sanitizer concentration at three-compartment sink with active warewashing taking place
• Minor violations: Improper hot and cold food holding violations (diced tomatoes, cheese, guacamole with diced tomatoes and sour cream out of temperature); several dead gnats inside unused portion of the soft serve machine, two flies in the kitchen area and two flies in the dining area; and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
• Inspectors returned on Aug. 5. However, due to the presence of many violations listed on the previous inspection report and new violations observed during their second visit, a reinspection was not completed. A reinspection of the facility is scheduled for Aug. 12

Lunas Bar & Grill, 49-830 Jefferson St., Suite 100, Indio

• Inspection conducted Aug. 6
• Major violation: Observed approximately 13 thawed, previously frozen, sealed reduced oxygen packaged raw ahi tuna and raw salmon inside metal container stored in cold-holding drawers
• Minor violations: Observed debris on knives stored on magnetic wall mounted holder; no disclosure or reminder statements for raw or uncooked food items (ahi tuna) displayed on menus; reduced oxygen packaged frozen salmon and tuna products not completely submerged under cool running water at food preparation sink; lack of food separation and possible contamination (multiple uncovered containers of sauces inside walk-in cooler; two uncovered containers of bread stored on shelving above cold-holding table); and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set

The Local on 50th, 49-990 Jefferson St., Suite 110, Indio

• Inspection conducted Aug. 4
• Major violation: Observed thawed, previously frozen, sealed reduced oxygen packaged raw ahi tuna inside metal container stored in reach-in freezer
• Major violation: Debris on knives stored on magnetic wall mounted strip and improper chlorine concentration at bar dishwashing machine
• Minor violations: Improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (ranch out of temperature); soiled mop water stored unattended inside the mop bucket; uncovered food containers and opened bags inside cold-holding equipment; and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set

Crepe(ing) Ramen, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite 8, Palm Desert

• Inspection conducted Aug. 5
• Minor violations: No valid food manager's certificate available at the time of inspection; hand soap dispenser in disrepair at front handwashing sink; debris on knives and spatula stored on magnetic wall mounted holder; hot water turned off at rear hand washing sink at the time of inspection; rodent droppings on the floor adjacent to metro shelving in dry storage area; lack of food separation and possible contamination (raw chicken stored directly next to/above noodles); and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set

Mario's Italian Cafe, 73-155 Highway 111, Suite A, Palm Desert

• Inspection conducted Aug. 6
• Major violation: The walk-in cooler piping appeared to be leaking from the fan unit, which was positioned over open containers of uncut produce. Additionally, spoiled peppers were found in cardboard boxes in the walk-in cooler
• Minor violations: Observed the person in charge wash hands only with cold water when asked to demonstrate the handwashing procedure; hand sink blocked with mixer parts and broom; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (dozens of containers of whipped cream, tiramisu, half and half creamer, milk, butter and garlic bread out of temperature); person in charge did not know internal cooking temperature of chicken; dish detergent in a spray bottle was stored unlabeled at the front of house area next to clean utensils; and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set

Pokehana, 73-405 Highway 111, Suite 104, Palm Desert

• Inspection conducted Aug. 3
• Major violation: Reduced oxygen packaging fish thawed while still in the packaging
• Minor violations: Improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (sushi rice out of temperature); raw seafood stored over ready-to-eat foods in the reach in coolers; milk crates used for storage throughout the facility and unapproved fly swatter at the back kitchen area; and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set

Ruby Thai, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite Fc3, Palm Desert

• Inspection conducted Aug. 5
• Minor violations: Observed an employee rinse their hands and did not use hand soap in the prep sink after handling raw chicken; sinks blocked with items; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (spicy Mongolian chicken and BBQ chicken out of temperature); bucket of sanitizer did not have proper concentration; soiled mop water stored inside the yellow bucket; employee had a bin of raw chicken over a trash bin while prepping the raw meat; and others
• "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set

'A' grades

An “A” grade, or a score of 90 to 100 points, means a restaurant passed an inspection and met minimum health standards.

Cathedral City

• Apong's Philly Steak, 35-850 Date Palm Drive, Suite A
• El Tarasco, 34-481 Date Palm Drive, Suite 2-D
• Showgirls, 68-444 Perez Road
• Taqueria San Miguel, 35-320 Date Palm Drive
• Winchell's Donuts, 34-091 Date Palm Drive, Suite A

Coachella

• Cookies by Jackie (home-based food facility)
• Just Smoke BBQ (home-based food facility)

Desert Hot Springs

• 2 Bros Coffee House (home-based food facility)
• Esparza Meat Market, 66-396 Pierson Blvd.

Indian Wells

• Kitchen Kitchen, 74-945 Highway 111

Indio

• Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 82-894 Highway 111
• Croux & Co Catering, 83-711 Peach St.
• Del Taco, 82-742 Highway 111
• Fresh Juice Bar, 49-950 Jefferson St., Suite 120
• Starbucks Coffee, 82-710 Highway 111

La Quinta

• Oumi Sushi at Sprouts, 79-050 Highway 111
• TQLAS, 78-015 Main St., Suite 109

Palm Desert

• Birrias Sinaloa #2, 73-120 Dinah Shore Drive, Suite 101
• Buffalo Wild Wings, 72-920 Highway 111
• Denny's, 42-455 Washington St., Suite 401
• Fresh Juice Bar, 73-030 El Paseo, Suite 104
• JC's Patio Cafe, 73-200 El Paseo
• La Quinta Brewing Co., 74-714 Technology Drive
• McDonald's, 78-365 Varner Road
• Monsoon Indian Cuisine, 72-221 Highway 111, Suite 109
• Guillermo's Restaurante, 72-850 El Paseo (passed reinspection)
• Shadow Mountain Golf Club, 73-800 Ironwood St.
• Sottovoce Cafe, 73-575 El Paseo, Suite 1320
• Spartan Nutrition, 77-880 Country Club Drive, Suite 5-3
• Starbucks, 78-385 Varner Road
• Starbucks, 42-175 Washington St.
• Swiss Donuts, 72-785 Highway 111, Suite B3 (passed reinspection)
• The Gardens on El Paseo, 73-545 El Paseo
• Wendy's, 78-030 Country Club Drive
• Which Wich?, 73-405 Highway 111, Suite 102

Palm Springs

• Crepes de Paris, 245 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite A1
• GiGi's, 333 E. Palm Canyon Drive
• The Tropicale, 330 E. Amado Road
• Triada Palm Springs, 640 N. Indian Canyon Drive
• Tutti Frutti, 245 S. Palm Canyon Drive
• V Palm Springs, 333 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for businesses in the city of Rancho Mirage from July 31 through Aug. 6.

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [e-mail], on X @ema_sasic or on Instagram @emasasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Cockroach, rodent infestations close 3 Palm Springs area restaurants