Restaurant inspections in October: The cleanest and dirtiest kitchens in SLO County
It’s common for health inspectors with San Luis Obispo County Public Health to find health code violations at local restaurants.
It’s not so common to find violations that warrant inspectors to close the restaurant until the problem is fixed. That happened at a steakhouse in October.
Here’s a list of restaurants with sparkling kitchens and a summary of violations found in the lowest-scoring kitchens, presented by The Tribune to help you make decisions about where you want to eat.
All information came from county reports written after inspections in October.
Lowest rated restaurants in SLO County
60 Degree Steakhouse & Pub, 4090 Burton Drive, Cambria
Points lost: N/A
Notes: Restaurant was closed for a day until violations were abated. Inspectors observed vermin droppings in most rooms and a dead rodent on a slap-trap under the bar counter. Lack of required supplies at hand washing sink and another sink was blocked by a table. Grease was spilling into storm drain.
Gringo, 1495 Creston Road, Paso Robles
Points lost: 17.5
Notes: Inspectors observed several repeat violations. Employee worked cash register then prepared foods without washing hands. Hand washing sink was inaccessible. Foods prepared without sanitizer used on surfaces. Frozen, raw meats stored above ready-to-eat foods in freezer.
Wineman Grill Haus, 851 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Points lost: 16
Notes: Several repeat violations. Dried food residue observed on slicer. Facility needs detail cleaning. Excessive grease, soil and debris observed on surfaces throughout the kitchen. Garbage accumulation was observed under the bar and kitchen three-compartment sinks.
Embassy Suites, 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
Points lost: 15
Notes: Several repeat violations. Potentially hazardous salad dressings measured too warm in refrigerator with a history of malfunction. Dried food residue observed on food slicer.
Touch of Mexico, 105 Main St., Templeton
Points lost: 14
Notes: Repeat violations. Observed a pan of chicken cooling in a melted ice bath inside the janitorial sink. Internal temperature of salsa and ranch dressing stored in prep-top unit were too warm. Mops improperly rinsed outside by storm drain.
The Central Grill, 545 Orchard Road, Nipomo
Points lost: 14
Notes: Several repeat violations. No hot water at restroom hand wash sinks. Directed to provide health warnings regarding under cooked meat. No paper towels at food preparation hand wash sink.
Caba Robles, 38000 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles
Points lost: 12.5
Notes: Repeat violations. Empty paper towel dispenser at the bar. Cooked turkey meat juices on food prep counter. Raw beef patties stored above ready-to-eat foods in the food prep top table.
Sushi Hide Japanese, 898 Main St. Suite D, Morro Bay
Points lost: 12.5
Notes: Repeat violations. Hand wash sink blocked by personal items. Fabric La-Z-Boy chair in kitchen not appropriate. Clean linens stored in toilet room.
These restaurants also lost more than 10 points.
- Redwood Cafe, 2094 Main St., Cambria
- Willow, 1050 Willow Road, Nipomo
- McPhee’s Grill, 416 Main St., Templeton
- Baja Fresh, 929 Rancho Parkway, Arroyo Grande
- Mongo’s, 359 W. Grande Ave., Grover Beach
- VRE, LLC, 3800 Mill Road, Paso Robles
- Cool Cat Cafe, 3165 Broad St., San Luis Obispo
Highest rated restaurants in SLO County
These restaurants received a score of 100 with no violations.
San Luis Obispo:
- Panda Express, 789 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
- Captain Bills Subs SLO, 1074 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo (change of ownership)
- Popeyes Chicken, 840 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
- Milk In It, 858 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
- High Street Market & Deli, 350 High St., San Luis Obispo
- Wine Country Deli, 1653 Old Price Canyon Road, San Luis Obispo
- Haha Ramen & Sushi, 1065 Olive St., San Luis Obispo
- Sierra Vista, 1010 Murray St., San Luis Obispo
- Cowgirl Cafe, 1055 Olive St., San Luis Obispo
- SLO Brew, 736 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Giuseppes Cucina Rustica, 849 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
- Pokirito, 848 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
North County:
- Nardonnes La Famiglia Pizzeria, 8501 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- The Training Table, 3534 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- La Donna’s, 6195 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Les Petites Canailles, 1215 Spring St., Paso Robles (opening inspection)
- Six Test Kitchen, 3075 Blue Rock Road, Unit B, Paso Robles
- Negranti Creamery, 2989 Limestone Way, Suite A, Paso Robles
North Coast:
- McDonalds, 780 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
- Bayside Cafe, 10 State Park Road, Morro Bay
- Blue Heron, 1365 Second St., Los Osos
- Martin’s Restaurant, 905 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
- The Morgan, 9135 Hearst Drive, San Simeon
South County:
- Poke Morro, 922 Rancho Parkway, Arroyo Grande (opening inspection)
- Custom House/Mr. Ricks, 404 Front St., Avila Beach
- Willow Market, 2131 Price St., Pismo Beach
- Cape Cod Eatery and Taphouse, 1127 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach (opening inspection)
- Taco Bell, 535 W. Tefft St., Nipomo
- Lopez Canyon Conference Grounds, 3067 Upper Lopez Canyon, Arroyo Grande
- Breezway Cafe, 230 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach (change of ownership)
These restaurants received a score of 99 or 99.5 with few violations.
The Sip Line, 6800 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande
Starbucks Coffee, 1495 Creston Road, Suite B, Paso Robles
Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, 345 S. Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande
Marisol At Cliff’s Resort, 2757 Shell Beach Road, Pismo Beach
Nichols Pizza-N-Grill, 1236 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
Pho King Vietnamese Restaurant, 1800 E. Grande Ave., Suite A, Grover Beach
Hapy Bistro, 821 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach
Brothers Cafe 316, 1487 Creston Road, Paso Robles (opening inspection)
El Pollo Loco, 11982 Los Osos Valley Road, San Luis Obispo
Chipwrecked, 246 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
MConnell’s Fine Ice Cream, 868 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
Pardon My French Bakery, 1544 W. Grande Ave., Grover Beach
House of the Rising Buns, 950 Price St., Pismo Beach
Subway, 660 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
Y’not Juice, 897 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach
Starbucks Coffee, 253 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
California Grill, 277 W. Tefft St., Nipomo
Pho 4 U, 5985 Entrada Ave., Atascadero
J’s Country Kitchen, 22412 El Camino Road, Santa Margarita (opening inspection)
Wellness Kitchen & Resource Center, 1255 Las Tablas Road 102, Templeton
Spearhead Coffee, 619 12th St., Paso Robles
Leroy’s @ The Kinney SLO, 1800 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
Cuesta Cafeteria, 7400 California Highway 1, San Luis Obispo
CAPSLO Homeless Services, 40 Prado Road, San Luis Obispo
Carl’s Jr., 1590 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
ABC Prep Kitchen, 6225 Atascadero Mall, Atascadero
The Scoop Ice Cream, 607 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach
Vivant Fine Cheese, 821 Pine St. Suite B, Paso Robes
Oceano Front Pizza, 155 N. Oceano Ave., Cayucos
This story was originally published November 27, 2019 at 5:05 AM.
