Mice, roaches & sewage spill. Worst Sacramento restaurant inspections in October
Sacramento County health inspectors closed a local coffee shop, a convenience store and a supermarket after discovering a dead mouse, gnaw marks and hundreds of rodent droppings.
Health inspectors also found more than 130 rodent droppings in the kitchen of a skilled nursing facility.
Meanwhile, a dozen restaurants, stores and other food-serving facilities were shut down due to food safety issues ranging from cockroaches and slime to a sewage spill and a lack of hot water.
In addition, dozens of local eateries received yellow placards in October for a variety of health code violations.
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.
A red placard, however, signals “imminent danger to public health and safety” and suspends the health permit until violations are corrected. This could include, but is not limited to, major vermin contamination.
In contrast, a green placard means a restaurant passed inspection. The county performs about 14,000 inspections annually, with 97% of establishments passing, spokesman Ken Casparis previously told The Sacramento Bee.
Approximately 1% of inspections result in a closure, he said.
The following restaurants received red placards in October, resulting in their temporary closures, The Sacramento Bee previously reported.
If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email The Sacramento Bee at servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
Elk Grove grocery store closed due to lack of hot water
Marhaba Halal Market & Restaurant, 8460 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 400, in Elk Grove, had one violation on Thursday, Oct. 2.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Elk Grove grocery store after discovering a lack of hot water in the facility.
Marhaba International Mart was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 3, and received a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Marhaba International Mart for comment on Thursday, Oct. 9, but the restaurant didn’t have a manager on site.
Local coffee shop had dead mouse, rodent droppings
Rescate Coffee, 2475 Elk Grove Blvd., Suite 160, in Elk Grove, had nine violations on Friday, Oct. 3.
Health inspectors shut down the Elk Grove coffee shop after finding a dead mouse on a glue trap below a storage rack.
There were 130 mice droppings throughout the facility, including in the warewashing area, ladder and the hallway to the restroom.
Health inspectors discovered a “slime, mold-like accumulation” on the inside panel of the ice machine, the Oct. 3 report said.
The facility’s ceiling vents above the food prep area had “thick dust accumulation” and the floor sinks had “residue and slime,” according to the report.
The back warewashing area, food preparation and storage areas had inoperable lighting, and the three-compartment sink was not draining properly.
Inspectors found leaks at the front counter service station.
One of the facility’s two restrooms was out of order.
The prep sink had used utensils and dishes in it.
A ceiling panel in the area between the restroom and kitchen hallway was ajar.
Rescate Coffee was reinspected on Saturday, Oct. 4, and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to Rescate Coffee for comment on Thursday, Oct. 9, but the cafe’s phone number was out of service.
Cockroaches close North Highlands restaurant
All Season Restaurant & Market, 4981 Watt Ave. in North Highlands, had 10 violations on Friday, Oct. 3.
Health inspectors shut down the Afghan restaurant and market after discovering about a dozen live cockroaches, including one roach under a broken tile and five behind the water heater.
Inspectors found one German cockroach on the wall under the three-compartment sink, another behind the sink’s hot water valve and two behind the water heater. In addition, two to three cockroaches “came out of fabric stuffed between (the) wall and water heater,” the Oct. 3 report siad.
The operator didn’t know the setup of warewashing at the three-compartment sink.
There were employee beverages with no lids or straws on the prep table.
Inspectors found food debris in the stand-up mixer bowl and dough hook, and there were bags of flour on the floor.
All Seasons Market & Restaurant was reinspected on Saturday, Oct. 4, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to All Seasons Market & Restaurant for comment on Thursday, Oct. 9, but the restaurant didn’t have a manager on site.
Sacramento diner shut down 3 times for roaches
Mr. Perry’s, 7820 Alta Valley Drive in Sacramento, had 21 violations on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Inspectors shut down the Sacramento diner after finding more than 60 dead cockroaches including near the back oven, on glue traps below the two-door prep sink and on the floor below the ice machine.
Management could not find the restaurant’s food safety certificate, and California food handler cards were not available for review.
An employee’s open can beverage was on the prep table.
Eggs, egg wash, raw chicken, raw beef and pancake batter were outside of proper holding temperatures.
Inspectors found paper towels stored on top of the dispenser in the women’s restroom.
Debris build-up was observed on the plastic deflector plate inside the ice machine.
The handwash sink at the south end of the cook’s line lacked cold water.
Inspectors saw containers of residential pesticides inside the facility.
Raw breaded pork was stored above the chili in the walk-in refrigerator, and a container of bulk salt was missing a label.
Mr. Perry’s Coffee Shop was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 24, and received a red placard after health inspectors discovered more than a dozen dead and live German cockroaches on the cook’s line and on a glue trap. This resulted in the restaurant’s immediate closure.
The diner was reinspected on Saturday, Oct. 25, and was shut down again after health inspectors found 46 dead and alive German cockroaches throughout the facility.
Mr. Perry’s Coffee Shop was inspected a third time on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Mr. Perry’s Coffee Shop multiple times for comment but the restaurant didn’t have a manager on site.
Sacramento Vietnamese restaurant in need of cleaning
Bon Mua Restaurant, 6835 Stockton Blvd., Suite 400, in Sacramento, had 13 violations on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Sacramento County Health inspectors shut down the Vietnamese restaurant after discovering five German nymph cockroaches in the restaurant including on the water heater and a light.
All food handler cards on site were expired.
Soup was stored on the ground in front of the cook’s line.
Several areas of the restaurant were in need of cleaning after inspectors found grime, grease and dust accumulation throughout the facility, including on the dish machine racks, household freezer and the walk-in cooler fan guard.
The prep cooler had standing water on the bottom.
The facility’s rice paddle was stored in neutral, stagnant water at room temperature.
There was a leak from the mop sink faucet.
Bon Mua Restaurant was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 10.
The Bee reached out to Bon Mua Restaurant for comment on Thursday, Oct. 9, but the restaurant did not answer the phone.
Curtis Park deli closed due to lack of hot water
Curtis Park Market Deli, 2703 24th St. in Sacramento, was closed on Thursday, Oct. 9.
Health inspectors shut down the Sacramento bottle shop and deli due to “insufficient hot water,” the Sacramento County Environmental Management Department said on its website.
No official report of the inspection was available online.
Curtis Park Market Deli reopened on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
The Bee reached out to Curtis Park Market Deli for comment on Thursday, Oct. 16, but the market didn’t have a manager on site.
Nearly 100 rodent droppings shut down convenience store
Tony’s Market, 4011 West Nichols Ave. in Sacramento, had eight violations on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
Health inspectors shut down the convenience store after finding approximately 92 rodent droppings on a bottom shelf behind the candy “from Big Cherry to Starburst,” the Oct. 14 report said.
Inspectors found six more rodent droppings near the candy shelf and behind the cookies on a bottom shelf.
There were gnaw marks on a chocolate bar on the floor, and a bag of peanuts under the hard candy shelf had been gnawed open.
The consumer self-serve microwave had food debris.
The water temperature at the mop sink measured outside of proper temperatures.
A bag of onions was stored on the floor in the back room. The fan grates in the walk-in cooler were dusty, and the walk-in freezer evaporator lacked part covers.
A four-door cooler by the stairs was draining into a plastic container.
A cardboard container was being reused for refuse disposal in the restroom.
Tony’s Market was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 15, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Tony’s Market for comment on Thursday, Oct. 16, but the market didn’t have a manager on site.
Rodent droppings, mold close Carmichael grocery store
Sana Market and Bakery, 6451 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, had 19 violations on Wednesday, Oct. 15.
The Carmichael grocery store and bakery received a red placard after health inspectors discovered 73 rodent droppings in areas including a shelf next to the restroom, the corners of an unapproved ice cream preparation area and retail sales dishes.
Various dairy and sausages measured outside of proper holding temperatures. Inspectors found several moldy tomatoes and red peppers at the produce area.
An unapproved fly zapper was installed on a shelf above the meat prep table.
Several boxes with dry food were stored on the floor at the retail area.
Several employees lacked knowledge of proper food safety procedures including handwashing, food storage and warewashing.
The facility was missing a copy of the food manger’s certificate. This was a repeat violation.
An employee was observed drinking a beverage at the kitchen from an unapproved cup and placing it on the food prep table between sips.
Sana Market and Bakery was reinspected on Thursday, Oct. 16, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Sana Market and Bakery for comment on Thursday, Oct. 16, but the bakery didn’t have a manager on site.
Dozens of rodent droppings at Elk Grove nursing home
Windsor Elk Grove Care & Rehab, 9461 Batey Ave. in Elk Grove, had five violations on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Elk Grove skilled nursing home’s kitchen after discovering approximately 137 rodent droppings throughout the facility including the floor of the storage room, below the stove in the cook’s line and inside the walk-in refrigerator.
There were approximately 80 fly pupae on the floor in the back storage room.
Shredded cheese inside the walk-in cooler measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
The speed rack, fan guard and floor inside the walk-in refrigerator had mold, dust and “old food residue,” according to the Oct. 22 report.
There was insufficient lighting in the walk-in refrigerator, and its ambient temperature measured too warm to be considered safe.
The kitchen of Windsor Elk Grove Care & Rehab was reinspected on Thursday, Oct. 23, and passed with a green placard.
As of Thursday, Oct. 23, nursing home representatives were not available for comment.
Denny’s shut down due to sewage spill
Denny’s Restaurant, 7900 College Town Drive in Sacramento, had one violation on Wednesday, Oct. 22.
Denny’s was closed after Sacramento County health inspectors found a sewage spill from the cleanout drain and grease interceptor “flowing toward the storm drain,” the Oct. 22 report said.
The chain diner was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 22, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Denny’s for comment on Thursday, Oct. 23, but the diner didn’t have a manager on site.
Jimboy’s Tacos lacked hot water in multiple sinks
Jimboy’s Tacos, 5442 Hazel Ave., Suite 500, in Fair Oaks, had seven violations on Tuesday, Oct. 21.
Sacramento County health inspectors shut down the Sacramento-area Jimboy’s Tacos location due to a lack of hot water in both restroom hand sinks, a food preparation sink and a three-compartment warewashing sink.
The restaurant did not have a food safety certificate or California food handler cards available at the time of inspection. These were repeat violations.
There were containers without labels throughout the restaurant.
Inspectors found unapproved scoops without handles in the bulk beans, and a cutting board stored behind the faucet of the prep sink.
There was excessive clutter and unused equipment in the back room.
Jimboy’s Tacos was reinspected on Tuesday, Oct. 21, and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to Jimboy’s Tacos for comment on Thursday, Oct. 23, but the restaurant didn’t have a manager on site.
Mexican restaurant shut down for lack of hot water
El Tito Kitchen, 2330 Arden Way in Sacramento, had 14 violations on Monday, Oct. 20.
Health inspectors closed the Sacramento Mexican restaurant due to a lack of hot water in the kitchen hand sink, food prep sink and the three-compartment ware washing sink.
Employees lacked food safety knowledge in sanitizer use, test strips usage, proper thawing methods and foods that qualify as potentially hazardous foods. This was a repeat violation.
Flour was being reused for breading raw proteins.
The restaurant’s operator told inspectors that the flour was changed out every one to two days without any sifting.
The restaurant had no consumer advisory listed on the menu for undercooked food items.
Health inspectors saw raw scallops thawing at room temperature in the prep sink in stagnant water without being actively handled, another repeat violation.
The facility lacked “quat ammonia” test strips, and there were no sanitizer buckets prepared.
El Tito Kitchen passed reinspection on Monday, Oct 20, with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to El Tito Kitchen for comment on Thursday, Oct. 23, but the restaurant didn’t have a manager on site.
Sandwich shop shut down due to lack of sanitizer
Charleys Cheesesteaks, 1689 Arden Way, Suite 2026, in Sacramento, had 10 violations on Thursday, Oct. 23.
Sacramento County health inspectors closed the Philly-style cheesesteak sandwich restaurant due to a lack sanitizer and other food safety violations.
“Potentially hazardous foods” including chicken wings, pre-wrapped chicken slices and grilled onions were outside of proper holding temperatures, the Oct. 23 report said.
The restaurant was improperly cooling fried chicken wings.
A food safety certification was not available at the time of inspection.
Multiple boxes were stored in front of the rear handwashing sink.
Charleys Cheesesteaks was reinspected on Friday, Oct. 24 and passed with a green placard.
The Sacramento Bee reached out to the restaurant for comment on Thursday, Oct. 30, but was unable to reach representatives.
Carmichael boba tea shop closed due to cockroaches
New Rice Bowl & Boba Milk Tea, 7416 Fair Oaks Blvd. in Carmichael, had 15 violations on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
The Carmichael boba tea shop was closed after health inspectors discovered 59 dead and live German cockroaches in several areas including on the wall alarm.
There was also “fecal matter near the kitchen’s handwashing sink,” according to the Oct. 28 report.
Eggs and shrimp measured outside of proper holding temperatures.
A floor drain next to the Vevor ice machine was filled with wastewater. Inside the ice machine was “gray-colored residue,” the report said, a repeat violation.
An employee’s food handler card had expired.
A bag of onions was stored less than 6 inches off the floor in the dry storage room.
A spray bottle of water was missing a label at the beverage station, and the restroom’s paper towel dispenser was empty.
New Rice Bowl & Boba Milk Tea was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 29. The restaurant received an additional red placard after inspectors discovered a total of 51 live and dead cockroaches as well as an “excess amount of cockroach fecal matter on the outlets, walls, and shelves” above the warewashing area and the two-door, cold-top refrigerator.
The tea shop was reinspected on Thursday, Oct. 30 and passed with a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the facility on Thursday, Oct. 30, but no manager was available to comment.
Vietnamese restaurant shut for roaches, blocked sink
Banh Mi House, 6901 Stockton Blvd., Suite 300, in Sacramento, had 11 violations on Tuesday, Oct. 28.
Sacramento County health inspectors closed the Sacramento Vietnamese restaurant after finding 38 dead and live German cockroaches at spots including under the three-compartment warewashing sink and at the water heater.
The hand sink in the back prep area was obstructed by a bucket, a repeat violation.
Marinated pork, deli meats and grilled pork measured outside proper holding temperatures.
The restaurant’s staff lacked food safety knowledge of temperature control.
Two bags of flour were stored open on the floor near the dough preparation station.
The glass upright cooler had a fan guard with dust accumulation.
Banh Mi House was reinspected on Wednesday, Oct. 29, and received an additional red placard after finding additional cockroaches in the restaurant.
On Thursday, Oct. 30, the restaurant was reinspected and received a green placard.
The Bee reached out to the restaurant on Thursday, Oct. 30, but a manager was not available to comment.
