A few Coachella Valley restaurants failed Riverside County health inspections this week, although none were cited for the most serious violations that lead to immediate closures.
Coachella's Las Tres Conchitas Bakery was given the lowest "C" grade after staff members were seen washing their hands without soap and one worker changed their gloves without washing their hands. At Indio's Pak Inn (China Star) restaurant, a lack of chorine being used during dishwashing and improper food holding temperatures led to the same rating.
Several other restaurants also received a "B" rating, with all to be reinspected in the coming days with the chance to achieve a passing grade.
Here are the restaurants that were inspected in the Coachella Valley July 16 through
23:
'C' grades
Las Tres Conchitas Bakery, 1590 6th St., Coachella
- Inspection conducted July 21
- Major violation: Staff washing hands without hand soap at three-compartment sink; observed another staff member changing gloves without washing their hands; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (two sandwiches with deli meat, two burritos out of temperature)
- Minor violations: Hand sinks adjacent to three-compartment sink were blocked and paper towel dispenser was nonfunctional; person in charge was unable to state adequate sanitizer concentration for ware washing; lack of food separation and possible contamination (several uncovered food items; one raw shelled egg stored on tray adjacent to tamales above baked bread in walk in cooler); and others
- "C" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
PAK INN (China Star), 81-022 Highway 111, Suite B, Indio
- Inspection conducted July 22
- Major violation: Dishwasher dispensed improper concentration of chlorine during active ware washing of dishes/utensils. An employee used a water hose connected to mop sink to rinse equipment inside the food preparation sink
- Minor violations: Observed two employees washing their hands without hand soap at food preparation sink and three-compartment sink; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (opened bag of vegetable and pork potstickers, several portions of fried shrimp, unattended bin of raw chicken out of temperature); observed soiled mop water stored inside unattended mop bucket; observed one live fly inside kitchen area at time of inspection; lack of food separation and possible contamination (observed raw shelled eggs stored over a box of broccoli in the walk-in cooler; soiled bowl on top of produce; several uncovered food items); and others
- "C" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
'B' grades
El Baja Tacos, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite 5345, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted July 21
- Minor violations: Observed a cook touch clothes and prepare sanitizer solution and then proceed to put on gloves to prepare food without washing their hands in between; paper towel dispensers were not functioning; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (steak out of temperature); one container of mayo was heavily spoiled inside the walk in cooler; hot water did not reach minimum temperature at the three-compartment sink and the preparation sink; person in charge could not identify the proper sanitizer levels for chlorine solution; lack of food separation and possible contamination (dented can of condensed milk on the shelving unit; frozen meat stored next to popsicles in the white deep chest freezer); and others
- "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
Plaza Garibaldi Restaurants, 50-057 Harrison St., Coachella
- Inspection conducted July 21 alongside complaint investigation
- Major violation: Observed the following at the time of inspection: one live adult and one live nymph cockroaches crawling on the floor below metro shelving in dry storage area; several dead cockroaches throughout the facility, including on the lid of a seasoning container, below shelving in dry storage area, below reach-in beverage cooler, below preparation table adjacent to hand sink and ice machine and on the floor adjacent to equipment at cook line
- Minor violations: Improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (sliced tomatoes out of temperature); improper thawing method; lack of food separation and possible contamination (uncovered container of raw meat in the walk in cooler; two uncovered containers of dried chiles on shelving in dry storage area; uncovered containers of salsa, sliced cucumber, sliced radishes and cut limes in one door cooler; two containers of uncovered meat and diced tomatoes in two-door reach-in cooler); unlabeled food items; and others
- "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
Sam's Sushi, 79485 Highway 111, La Quinta
- Inspection conducted July 23
- Major Violations: A fly was observed on cutting boards in the sushi bar area.
- Minor Violations: A sushi chef washed his gloved hands at the sink rather than moving the gloves before washing; soap and paper towels were missing from dispensers in employee restroom; certain food containers were missing a label ; hot water did not meet temperature requirements; grease and food debris had accumulated on certain surfaces and needed to be cleaned; knives and other utensils were stored improperly; and others.
- "B" card posted and reinspection date has been set
Thai Hot Restaurant, 81944 Highway 111, Indio
- Inspection conducted July 21
- Minor violations: A cook was observed putting on gloves after putting on an apron without washing their hands in between. Food items, including eggs and a container of Half and Half were not being kept at a sufficiently low temperature. A disclosure was not posted that beef and lamb products were being cooked to order. A bucket of cleaning water was seen left out in the bathroom. Three flies were seen in the building. Several squirt bottles on the cook's line were unlabeled. Used unapproved metal sponges were seen throughout the restaurant; and others.
- "B" card posted and 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
- Sonic Drive-In, 30-777 Date Palm Drive
Desert Hot Springs
- Miracle Springs Resort & Spa, 10-625 Palm Drive
Indio
- El Tapatio Restaurant, 83-161 Indio Blvd.
- Papa Johns Pizza, 81-022 Highway 111, Suite A
- Pawley Pool snack bar, 46-350 Jackson St.
- Signature Inn, 84096 Indio Springs Drive, Indio
- Tortilleria Guerrero and Guerrero's Meat Market, 81592 Highway 111
- Taqueria Gerrero, 81576 Highway 111
La Quinta
- SilverRock Resort, 79-179 Ahmanson Lane
- Starbucks, 50-951 Washington St.
- China Jo's, 78-550 Highway 111, #A1-1, La Quinta
Palm Desert
- Beach House Frozen Yogurt, 72-363 Highway 111, Suite A2A
- French Corner Cafe & Bakery, 72-423 Highway 111
- Islands Fine Burgers & Drinks, 72-353 Highway 111
- Jersey Mike's Subs, 72-393 Highway 111, Suite B
- Palm Desert Tennis Club, 48-240 Racquet Lane
- Pier 88 Seafood & Bar, 72-363 Highway 111, Suite A
- Oasis Country Club (multiple kitchens), 42-300 Casbah Way, Palm Desert
Palm Springs
- Inka Peruvian Cuisine, 360 N. Palm Canyon Drive
- Koutouki Greek Estiatorio, 19-345 N. Indian Canyon Road, Suite 2A
- The Saguaro, 1800 E. Palm Canyon Drive
- Workshop Kitchen & Bar, 800 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F
- Torakichi Ramen, 5001 E Ramon Road, Suite 201
- Palm Springs Hilton (multiple kitchens), 400 E. Tahquitz McCallum Way, Palm Springs
Rancho Mirage
- Koffi, 71-380 Highway 111
Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for businesses in the cities of Coachella and Indian Wells from July 17 through 23.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com, on X @ema_sasic or on Instagram @emasasic
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Several restaurants fail health inspections across Coachella Valley
