SLO County restaurant inspections: See the lowest- and highest-rated in December
One fast food spot had dead cockroaches, another restaurant had no soap in the bathrooms and finally one place (which has already wracked up several health code violations before) got dinged for a dirty can opener that was put away with food still on it.
Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in December during hundreds of surprise visits to eating and drinking establishments.
Many food and beverage sellers passed with flying colors, while others needed to make serious improvements.
Every month, The Tribune prints the lowest- and highest-ranked eateries to give diners more information about the places where they buy food and drinks.
Inspectors visit restaurants, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, mini-marts and more on a monthly basis. They score eateries on a 100-point scale and make deductions based on the severity of the violations they find.
To check out the safety and cleanliness of your favorite restaurants around the county, visit www.EatSafeSLO.org and use the interactive map to view full inspection reports.
Here are the highs and lows of the 224 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in December.
Lowest-rated restaurants
7-11, 2331 Spring St., Paso Robles
Points lost: 19.5
Notes: The inspector observed employees were not educated in adequate sanitation and food-handling practices, that the business’ restrooms and handwashing station had empty paper towel and soap dispensers and that the pizza refrigeration unit and freezer were covered in grime and food debris. The business was also dinged seven points for having repeat violations.
Orcutt Burgers, 1771 W Grand Ave., Grover Beach
Points lost: 18
Notes: The inspector found there were no paper towels at the handwashing sink, uncovered food containers in the walk-in cooler and two dead cockroaches on the floor of the backroom. The inspector noted there was no sanitizing bucket setup for the cookline and food prep area and that workers were thawing frozen foods improperly. The restaurant was also instructed to not line the walk-in cooler with cardboard. On top of that, the business lost seven points for having repeat violations.
Paleteria Y Neveria Las Michoacanas #2, 1463 Creston Road, Paso Robles
Points lost: 13
Notes: The inspector found the front handwashing sink was blocked, employee personal items were scattered about the facility and the restaurant was cooking food with a propane burner that did not have a hood system. The restaurant was also told to ensure toilet tissue is stored on a roll to prevent cross contamination and that the trash in the bathroom should be discarded regularly. The restaurant was dinged two points for repeat violations.
IHOP, 212 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
Points lost: 12
Notes: The inspector observed a can opener being put away with visible accumulated food debris still on it, cutting boards with deep cuts and stains, dirty refrigerator fans and heavy accumulations of debris under equipment. It also lost seven points for repeat violations.
These businesses also lost 10 or more points due to violations.
La Mexicana, 631 13th St., Paso Robles
Appy’s Liquor, 2816 Spring St., Paso Robles
Tropical Hawaiian BBQ, 1436 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
Highest-rated restaurants
These stores and restaurants received scores between 99 and 100, with few to no violations.
San Luis Obispo
- Antigua Brewing Company, 1009 Monterey St. (opening inspection)
- Avila Valley Barn and Ice Cream Shop, 560 Avila Beach Drive
- Baht, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- Beda’s Beirgarten, 3230 Broad St.
- Benny’s Kitchen, 977 E. Foothill Blvd.
- Ben Franklin’s, 313 Higuera St.
- Bevmo, 1502 Froom Ranch Way
- Bottlecraft SLO, 3845 S. Higuera St.
- Brasserie SLO, 1119 Garden St.
- Buona Tavola, 1037 Monterey St.
- Central Coast Creamery, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- Central Coast Wines, 712 Higuera St. (change of ownership inspection
- Chevron #1970, 3180 Broad St.
- Ciopinot, 1051 Nipomo St.
- Creekside Farm, 1691 See Canyon
- Ebony, Department of Food Services Operation
- Eddie’s Grill Restaurant, 3212 Broad St.
- Haha Ramen and Sushi, 1065 Olive St. (change of ownership inspection)
- Home Goods, 1520 Froom Ranch Way
- Juicing With Judy, Department of Food Services Operation (opening inspection)
- Kikka at Whole Foods, 1531 Froom Ranch Way
- Kin Coffee Bar, 1340 Tafft St. (opening inspection)
- Kraken Coffee Co., 3885 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- La Lomita Ranch, 1995 La Lomita Way
- Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- Night Shift Cookie Co., 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- Nobu Hawaiian BBQ, 1308 Monterey St.
- Panda Express, 789 Foothill Blvd.
- Perfect Scoop, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- Popeyes Chicken, 840 Foothill Blvd.
- Rice Jefe, Department of Food Services Operation
- Ross Dress For Less #2094, 273 Madonna Road
- SLO General Store, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- SLO Wine and Beer Company, 3536 S. Higuera St.
- Sprouts Farmers Market #427, 313 Madonna Road
- Staples #361, 2950 Broad St.
- Starbucks Coffee #5251, 17 Chorro St.
- Taco Roco, 11560 Los Osos Valley Road
- Urbane Cafe, 952 Higuera St.
- Veg on the Edge, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
- Whole Foods Market, 1531 Froom Ranch Way
- Wine Sneak, 4468 Broad St.
- Wren Foods, Department of Food Services Operation
North Coast
- Ace Sushi, 730 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
- Albertsons #1345, 730 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
- Beach Bums, 10 N. Ocean Ave., Cayucos
- Blue Shell’s Sweets and Treats, 903 Embarcadero, Morro Bay (opening inspection)
- Cowgirl Cafe, 8300 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Galley Seafood Grill and Bar, 899 Embarcadero, Morro Bay
- Lolo’s of Morro Bay, 2848 Main St., Morro Bay
- San Simeon Restaurant and Mini Mart, 9520 Castillo Dr., San Simeon
- Starbucks Coffee #6956, 1076 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
- Sweet Offerings, 4070 Burton Drive, Cambria
- The Cafe, 4286 Bridge St. Cambria
South County
- Arroyo Grande Stadium 10, 1160 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- Camp One, 340 Front St., Avila Beach (opening inspection)
- Carl’s Jr., 1590 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- The Casitas of Arroyo Grande, 2655 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande
- CVS Pharmacy, 610 W. Tefft St., Nipomo
- Kennedy Athletic Club, 1299 James Way, Arroyo Grande
- Kulturhaus Brewing Company, 779 Price St., Pismo Beach
- Lopez Lake Marina and Store, 6820 Lopez Lake Drive, Arroyo Grande
- Marshall’s #750, 1128 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
- Mermaid Market, 3915 Avila Beach Drive, Avila Beach
- Rite Aid #5824, 1207 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
- Rite Aid #5833, 531 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach
- Tasty Thai, 161 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande
North County
- ABC Cafe and Prep Kitchen, 6225 Atascadero Mall, Atascadero
- Atascadero Elks Club BPOE #2733, 1516 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Atascadero Lake Pavilion, 9315 Pismo Ave., Atascadero
- Cali Paso, 4230 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles
- The Canyon Villa, 1455 Kiler Canyon Road, Paso Robles
- The Creston House and General Store, 6330 Webster Road, Creston
- Danish Care Center, 10805 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Dollar Tree #03631, 2040 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- The Great Escape, 8115 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- High Ridge Manor, 5458 High Ridge Road, Paso Robles
- Hug A Mug, 915 13th St., Paso Robles (change of ownership inspection)
- Jackson #6824, 9155 San Gabriel Road, Atascadero
- Kiler Ridge, 1111 Kiler Canyon Road, Paso Robles
- Pizza Express, 8220 El Camino Real, Atascadero
- Rite Aid #5831, 1151 Creston Road, Paso Robles
- Rite Aid #5832, 2424 Spring St., Paso Robles
- San Anselmo Chevron, 6105 San Anselmo Road, Atascadero
- Templeton Mercantile, 508 Main St., Templeton (opening inspection)
- The Vreamery, 1815 Spring St., Paso Robles
- Ziggy’s International, 1227 Pine St., Paso Robles (opening inspection)
This story was originally published January 27, 2022 at 10:00 AM.
%20Cropped.jpg)