SLO County restaurant inspections: See the lowest- and highest-rated in May
Every month, hundreds of restaurants receive unexpected visits from San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Services inspectors responsible for making sure diners eat food prepared in clean facilities.
This week, county restaurants can reopen at full capacity as state coronavirus restrictions end — and The Tribune is resuming its analysis of the cleanest and dirtiest kitchens in the area.
We will print the lowest- and highest-ranked eateries on a monthly basis to give diners more information about the places where they buy food and drinks.
Our restaurant inspection reports went on hiatus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, as customers return to restaurants, we’re bringing them back to help empower your dining choices.
Inspectors visit a variety of food and beverage sellers, including restaurants, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores and mini-marts. Eateries are scored on a 100-point scale, and inspectors make more deductions based on the severity of the violations they find.
Here are the highs and lows of the 204 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in May.
Lowest-rated restaurants
Morro Bay Coffee Co., 948 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay
Points lost: 16.5
Notes: Several repeat violations. Restaurant needs to provide paper towels and soap at handwash stations. Supervisors need to train staff in the use of chlorine test strips to monitor levels in the sink when washing dishes.
Blast & Brew, 803 13th St., Paso Robles
Points lost: 14
Notes: Observed grease and grime accumulation on floors, walls and under equipment. Employees should use wiping cloths instead of sponges on sanitized or food contact surfaces. Observed chicken wing coating being used without temperature monitoring.
Thai Classic Restaurant, 1011 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Points lost: 14
Notes: Observed utensils in a bucket of soiled water on the cook line. Excessive grime and residue observed in kitchen, along with cluttered work surfaces. Wiping cloths observed on cutting boards and work surfaces.
Orcutt Burger, 1771 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach
Points lost: 12
Notes: Observed raw beef dethawing at room temperature. Food prep surfaces not being properly sanitized on the cook line. Uncovered food containers stored in freezers and coolers.
These restaurants also lost 10 or more points due to violations.
Palo Mesa Pizza, 906 Rancho Parkway, Arroyo Grande
Firestone Grill, 1001 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Tropical Hawaiian BBQ, 1436 East Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
Mongo’s, 359 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach
La Mexicana Market, 1920 Creston Road, Paso Robles
Darwish Restaurant, 967 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach
Mason Bar, 307 East Branch St., Arroyo Grande
Highest-rated restaurants
These restaurants received a score between 99 and 100, with few to no violations.
San Luis Obispo
- El Tizon, 281 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo
- The Village at the Oaks, 61 Broad St., San Luis Obispo
- Mi Tierra Mexican Food, 1000 Olive St., San Luis Obispo
- Kona’s Deli, 977 East Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
- G Brothers Smokehouse, 885 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
- Field Day Coffee, 1185 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
- Black Sheep Bar & Grill, 1117 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo
- Yogurtland, 956 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Sequoia Sandwich Company, 893 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Insomnia Cookies, 22 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo
- The Secret Garden, 740 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Bear & the Wren, 570 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Whole Foods Market, 1531 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo
- Kikka @ Whole Foods Market, 1531 Froom Ranch Way, San Luis Obispo
- Starbucks, 253 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
- Starbucks, 3971 South Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Sprouts Farmers Market, 313 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
- Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, 791 East Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo
- Embassy Suites, 333 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
- Garden Street Inn, 1212 Garden St., San Luis Obispo
- Sandy’s Liquor and Deli, 586 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- McCarthy’s Irish Pub, 600 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo
- We Olive, 958 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Libertine Brewing Company, 1234 Broad St., San Luis Obispo
- Teazer World Tea Market, 1075 Court St., San Luis Obispo
- Bull’s Tavern, 1040 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo
- The Library, 723 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
- Sidecar, 1040 Broad St., San Luis Obispo
- Wingstop, 1029 Chorro St., San Luis Obispo
North Coast
- Lolo’s of Morro Bay, 2848 Main St., Morro Bay
- Best Western Tradewinds, 225 Beach St., Morro Bay
- Sunset Grill, 9070 Castillo Drive, San Simeon
- Albertsons, 730 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
- Domino’s Pizza, 2084 9th St., Los Osos
- Foster’s Old Fashion Freeze, 801 Piney Way, Morro Bay
- Carla’s Country Kitchen, 213 Beach St., Morro Bay
- Manta Rey, 9240 Castillo Drive, San Simeon
- Ace Sushi, 730 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
- Cayucos Sunset Inn, 95 South Ocean Ave., Cayucos
- San Simeon Restaurant & Mini Mart, 9520 Castillo Drive, San Simeon
- Pelican Inn & Suites, 6316 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria
- White Water, 6736 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria
South County
- House of the Rising Buns, 950 Price St., Pismo Beach
- Johnson’s Market & Gifts, 1262 Pacific Blvd., Oceano
- Fuego, 1187 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach
- Oceano Community Center, 1425 19th St., Oceano
- Nipomo Senior Citizens Club: “Meals that Connect,” 200 East Dana St., Nipomo
- Chilly Cones LLC, 1474 East Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande (change of ownership)
- Taco Bell, 1500 West Grand Ave., Grover Beach
- In-N-Out Burger, 1170 West Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- Sinor-Lavallee Wines, 550 1st St., Avila Beach (opening inspection)
- Quality Inn, 230 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach
- Agrarian Hotel, 325 East Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- Okui Strawberry N Fruit Stand, 1234 Highland Way, Grover Beach
- Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, 1229 East Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
North County
Caliwala, 22202 El Camino Real, Santa Margarita
Joebella Coffee, 3168 El Camino Real, Atascadero
Taco Bell, 1107 24th St., Paso Robles
San Miguel Bakery No. 2, 1912 Creston Road, Paso Robles
El Sol Restaurant, 1920 Creston Road, Paso Robles
Dollar Tree, 1131 Creston Road, Paso Robles
Le Cuvier Winery, 3333 Vine Hill Lane, Paso Robles
Bramble Pie Company, 5945 Entrada Ave., Atascadero (opening inspection)
The Training Table, 3534 El Camino Real, Atascadero
May’s Farm Stand, 2930 Union Road, Paso Robles
Starbucks, 1495 Creston Road, Paso Robles
Five Below, 2169 Theatre Drive, Paso Robles (opening inspection)
Pho 4 U, 5985 Entrada Ave., Atascadero
J Lohr Winery, 6169 Airport Road, Paso Robles
Fossil Wine Bar, 5992 Entrada Ave., Atascadero
Pozo Saloon, 90 West Pozo Road, Santa Margarita
Brew-it Coffee and Tea, 6570 Morro Road, Atascadero
Negranti Creamery, 1211-A Pine St., Paso Robles (opening inspection)
Ike’s Love & Sandwiches, 1121 Rossi Road, Templeton (opening inspection)
This story was originally published June 17, 2021 at 10:08 AM.
