Coachella Valley eateries fail inspection for possible contamination

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. E

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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