A number of Coachella Valley restaurants were downgraded by Riverside County health inspectors this week, according to reports.
Indian Kitchen in Indian Wells and California Pizza Kitchen, Dragon Sushi and ROC's Firehouse Grille in Palm Desert all received "B" grades due to a number of violations. Each will be revisited by inspectors when they will have an opportunity to raise their scores (Indian Kitchen and California Pizza Kitchen received "A" grades upon reinspection).
Here are the restaurants that were inspected in the Coachella Valley Aug. 21 through 27:
'B' grades
Indian Kitchen, 74-901 Highway 111, Indian Wells
- Inspection conducted Aug. 25
- Major violation: Improper chlorine sanitizer solution; employee washing soiled utensil at handwashing sink
- Minor violations: Hand washing sink blocked; spoiled rice pudding with visible mold inside walk-in cooler; no disclosure or reminder statement for ahi tuna on menu; employees unable to show adequate knowledge of dishwashing steps, sanitizer concentration, appropriate test strips and internal cooking temperatures; lack of food separation and possible contamination (raw shelled eggs stored above ready-to-eat food items inside walk-in cooler; uncovered tandoor dipping sauces inside walk-in cooler); and others
- "B" card posted
- On Aug. 27, inspectors returned for a reinspection. Seeing that violations were corrected, the restaurant received an "A" grade
California Pizza Kitchen, 73-080 El Paseo, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted Aug. 21
- Major violation: Observed reduced oxygen packaged seafood (salmon) thawed while in packaging
- Major violation: Dishwasher hot water temperature was 148 degrees
- Minor violations: Lack of food separation and possible contamination (uncovered food in reach-in coolers; scoops with handles touching food product at the salad station adjacent to the server station); testing materials hot water dishwasher missing; and others
- "B" card posted
- On Aug. 26, inspectors returned for a reinspection. Seeing that violations were corrected, the restaurant received an "A" grade
Dragon Sushi, 72-261 Highway 111, Suite 131, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted Aug. 25
- Major violation: Dishwasher with improper chlorine concentration, and sanitizer bucket with improper concentration
- Minor violations: Hand sink blocked; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (stuffed chiles gueros, gyoza, dumplings out of temperature); shellstock identification tags missing for the months of June and July; lack of food separation and possible contamination (boxes of beef and shrimp stored on floor; missing labels on small plastic containers with seasonings; several squeeze bottles with sauces stored on three-compartment sink drain board); and others
- "B" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
ROC's Firehouse Grille, 36-891
Cook St., Suite 10, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted Aug. 27
- Minor violations: Improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (sliced cheddar cheese, sliced Swiss cheese, sliced deli meats, raw marinated chicken, raw beef patties out of temperature); one package of thawed, not frozen reduced oxygen packaged raw tuna; no written disclosure/reminder of raw or undercooked foods on menu; lack of food separation and possible contamination (tray of raw bacon, tortellini, buttered bread and container of shrimp uncovered); 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
- Clix Pool Hall, 68-100 Ramon Road
- Dave's Hot Chicken, 31-875 Date Palm Drive
- Dulce Aroma, 68-100 Ramon Road
- Gigi's Crepes, Waffles & Juices, 68-030 Vista Chino, Suite D104
- Jack in the Box, 68-020 Vista Chino
- Villa Bakery, 67-470 Ramon Road
Coachella
- La Michoacana Ice Cream Parlor, 50-249 Harrison St., Suite E
- Maguitos Bakery, 49-829 Cesar Chavez St.
- Sabor A Mi Tierra, 49-661 Cesar Chavez St.
- Taqueria Allende, 49-715 Harrison St.
Indio
- Cocina de Melina (home-based food facility)
- Goody's Cafe, 82-900 Avenue 42, Suite A
- San Fernando Coffee Company, 42-425 Jackson St., Suite A
La Quinta
- Handel's Homemade Ice Cream, 79-630 Highway 111, Suite 100
- Jack in the Box, 79-724 Highway 111
- Nothing Bundt Cakes, 46-660 Washington St., Suite 10
Palm Desert
- BBQ Chicken, 74-868 Country Club Drive, Suite 103
- Billy Q's, 36-901 Cook St., Suite 7
- Bowl of Heaven, 36-891 Cook St., Suite 9
- Carl's Jr., 36-879 Cook St.
- Casa Luna, 72-355 Highway 111, Suite C
- Castaneda's Mexican Food, 75-048 Gerald Ford Drive, Suite 104
- China Wok, 77-912 Country Club Drive, Suite 31
- Cups Cafe, 77-912 Country Club Drive, Suite 34
- D'Coffee Bouteaque, 36-901 Cook St., Suite 8
- Eddie V's, 73-040 El Paseo
- IW Coffee & Chai Bar, 74-868 Country Club Drive, Suite 101
- Katsuyama, 74-990 Country Club Drive, Suite 330a
- La Casita, 77-912 Country Club Drive
- Mastro's Restaurants, 73-405 El Paseo, Suite 120
- Mojave Resort, 73-721 Shadow Mountain Drive
- Olive Garden, 72-225 Highway 111
- Popeyes, 78-395 Varner Road, Suite A
- Pueblo Viejo Grill, 36-901 Cook St., Suite 4
- Ristorante Mamma Gina, 73-705 El Paseo
- Sakura Palm, 72-355 Highway 111, Suite A
- Shadow Mountain Resort, 45-750 San Luis Rey Ave.
- Starbucks Coffee, 74-836 Technology Drive, Suite 100
- Tea N Tea, 77-940 Country Club Drive, Suite 72
- The Wine & Cheese Shop on El Paseo, 73-280 El Paseo, Suite 1
- Wilma & Frieda's Cafe, 73-575 El Paseo, Suite c2310
Palm Springs
- Balboa Candy, 112 N. Palm Canyon Drive
- Del Marcos Hotel, 225 W. Baristo Road
- Del Taco, 6620 N. Indian Canyon Drive
- Il Corso, 111 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 180
- Johannes, 196 S. Indian Canyon Drive
- Lolli & Pops, 111 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 14
- New York Pizza Delivery, 260 N. Palm Canyon Drive
- Picasso Cafe Acai Oasis, 144 S. Palm Canyon Drive
- Sammy G's Tuscan Grill, 265 S. Palm Canyon Drive
- Sancho's at Caliente Tropics, 411 E. Palm Canyon Drive
- Shamrocks Irish Pub, 238 N. Palm Canyon Drive
- Subway, 1717 E. Vista Chino, Suite B6
- Thai House Restaurant, 246 S. Palm Canyon Drive
- V Wine Lounge, 600 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Suite 1
Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for businesses in the cities of Desert Hot Springs and Rancho Mirage from Aug. 21 through 27.
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: Coachella Valley eateries fail inspection for possible contamination











