Several Coachella Valley restaurants failed their Riverside County health inspections this past week, according to reports.
El Baja Tacos in Palm Desert was temporarily shut down due to not having a valid operating permit. Hours later, however, the permit was obtained and the eatery was approved to reopen.
Elsewhere in the city, Pho Vu was visited due to a complaint investigation. Though the complaint itself was not reported, inspectors observed that the kitchen area was very warm, but that employees were not sweating at the time of the inspection. The facility was not scored during this visit.
Additionally, Better Ice Cream in Indio and Guillermo's Restaurante in Palm Desert scored "C" grades and Swiss Donuts in Palm Desert received a "B" grade during
their recent inspections. All three restaurants had major violations relating to alive or dead cockroaches, among others. They will be revisited by inspectors at a future date.
Here are the restaurants that were inspected in the Coachella Valley July 24 through 30:
Temporary closure
El Baja Tacos, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite 5345, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted July 30
- Facility was not approved to operate due to failure to maintain a valid Riverside County Health Department permit. Facility was closed down and unapproved to operate for a couple of hours.
- Collection of permit fees was obtained and confirmed by the county. Facility is approved to operate
- A reinspection has been set for July 31 (a report was not available at the time of this article's publication)
Complaint investigation
Pho Vu, 34-260 Monterey Ave., Suite 101, Palm Desert
- Complaint investigation conducted July 24
- Observed the cooks line area to be excessively warm. No employees were observed to be sweating during the time of the inspection. It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that if excessive sweating from employees occur to stop operation due to possible contamination. Repair/replace the air conditioning in an approved manner. All areas of a food facility shall have sufficient ventilation to facilitate proper food storage and provide a reasonable condition of comfort for each employee
- No score was given during this visit
'C' grades
Better Ice Cream, 42-250 Jackson St., Suite C102, Indio
- Inspection and complaint investigation conducted July 29
- Major violation: Employees were observed soaking dishes with soap and hot water and without any sanitizing practice or any sanitizer solution inside the three-compartment sink
- Major violation: Observed 468 popsicles for sale produced by unapproved vendor
- Major violation: Observed 15 or more dead nymph cockroaches on the floor underneath/behind equipment near ice cream freezers, below preparation sink, three-compartment sink and mop sink
- Minor violations: Improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (Open container of sweetened condensed creamer out of temperature); mold growth inside container of sweetened condensed creamer; lack of food separation and possible contamination (uncovered food items in coolers); and others
- "C" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
Guillermo's Restaurante, 72-850 El Paseo, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted July 29
- Major violation: Several live and dead nymph or adult cockroaches all throughout facility (in unused freezer and cooler; on the wall; by the cook line, etc.)
- Minor violations: Two blenders in front of the hand wash sink at the bar area; improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (chicken tamales, heavy cream and cooked rice of out of temperature); observed spoiled tamales with white spots stored inside walk-in cooler; bar dishwasher did not have proper chlorine concentration; two sinks did not reach minimum hot water temperature; lack of food separation and possible contamination (frozen raw meat stored over frozen peas and carrots; raw meat stored over milk); and others
- "C" card posted and a reinspection date has been set
'B' grades
Swiss Donuts, 72-785 Highway 111, Suite B3, Palm Desert
- Inspection conducted July 28
- Major violation: Observed several alive and dead roaches on a stick trap in the back kitchen area of the facility
- Minor violations: Food manager card not available during the time of the inspection; lack of food separation and possible contamination (scoops touching food products; uncovered metal containers of food); 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
- Cocina De Mama Margarita, 67-778 E. Palm Canyon Drive
- Tortillas Restaurant, 32-123 Cathedral Canyon Drive
Coachella
- Rancho Grande Market, 51-508 Harrison St.
- La Sorpresa, 85-697 Highway 111
- Las Tres Conchitas Bakery, 1590 6th St. (passed reinspection)
- Plaza Garibaldi Restaurants, 50-057 Harrison St. (passed reinspection)
- Santiago Mexican Food, 46-651 Dillon Road
Desert Hot Springs
- Sibayan Bubble Tea and Coffee, 13-313 Palm Drive, Unit K
- South of the Border Restaurant, 11-719 Palm Drive
- The Good House, 12-885 Eliseo Road
Indio
- Aqui es Indio, 81-610 Highway 111
- Dinorestaurant, 82-231 Indio Blvd.
- Maxcy's Grill, 46-767 Monroe St., Suite 103
- PAK INN (China Star), 81-022 Highway 111, Suite B (passed reinspection)
- Pupusa Factory, 82-003 Highway 111, Suite B
- Starbucks, 42-250 Jackson St., Suite 101
- Taco Shop 760, 81-096 Highway 111, Suite E
- Trilogy At The Polo Club, 51-750 Polo Club Drive
La Quinta
- Carl's Jr., 78-672 Highway 111
- Cold Stone Creamery, 78-370 Highway 111, Suite 190
- Crumbl Cookies, 46-480 Washington St., Suite 2
- Jamba Juice, 79-070 Highway 111, Suite 102
- Panera Bread, 78-902 Highway 111
- Sam's Korean BBQ, 79-405 Highway 111, Suite 10
- Sam's Sushi, 79-485 Highway 111, Suite 5
- Taqueria Teotihuacan, 79-410 Highway 111, Suite 107
- The Bunny Coffee & Tea, 79-680 Highway 111, Suite 101
Palm Desert
- Arby's, 72-795 Highway 111, Suite G1
- Burger King, 78-405 Varner Road
- Casa Blanca, 72-286 Highway 111, Suite J 3-4
- Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, 73-400 El Paseo, Suite 9
- Desert Fit Sips, 72-880 Fred Waring Drive, Suite C-15
- Fisherman's Market & Grill, 44-250 Town Center Way, Suite C2
- Fresh Agave Mexican Bar & Grill, 73-325 Highway 111
- Kitchen 86, 73-130 El Paseo, Suite I
- Little Caesar's, 42-065 Washington St., Suite B
- Nothing Bundt Cakes, 72-216 Highway 111, Suite F-3
- Outback Steakhouse, 72-220 Highway 111
- Palm Desert Bike N Brews, 73-865 Highway 111
- Starbucks, 73-520 El Paseo, Suite 1A
- Subway, 72-286 Highway 111
- Subway, 74-495 Highway 111
- Swirlyz Yogurt, 72-795 Highway 111, Suite G3
- Tea Be Honest, 72-270 Highway 111, Suite B-7
Palm Springs
- Andreas Hotel & Spa, 227 N. Indian Canyon Drive
- Bar Issi, 414 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite F
- Colony Palms Hotel & Bungalows, 572 N. Indian Canyon Drive
- Miralon, 4097 Miralon Way
- Sol Agave, 262 S. Palm Canyon Drive
Rancho Mirage
- Rocky Mountain Chocolate, 71-800 Highway 111, Suite A142
- The Cheesecake Factory, 71-800 Highway 111, Suite D101
Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for businesses in the city of Indian Wells from July 24 through 30.
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: Cockroaches found at multiple Coachella Valley restaurants
