SLO County restaurant inspections: See the lowest- and highest-rated in February

One restaurant had improperly cooling salsa, another had a salmonella-risking flour mixture and one had a fridge that was almost 20 degrees warmer than code.

Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in February 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.

North County restaurants and food service businesses struggled the most in the surprise visits in February: Of the eight businesses that lost 10 or more points during their inspection, five were in Paso Robles — and only two North County restaurants earned perfect scores.

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 208 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in February.

Lowest-rated restaurants

Golden Hill Mobil, 2401 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles

Points lost: 15

Notes: A health inspector found a handwash sink blocked with cans, meat thawing on the counter and unlabeled toxic substances on site at the gas station. The inspector noted the obstructed sink and labeling issues were repeated violations, meaning extra points were docked for the infractions.

Don Jose’s Mexican Grill, 709 6th St., Paso Robles

Points lost: 14.5

Notes: A health inspector observed an empty paper towel dispenser in the kitchen handwash sink and bathroom, grime on surfaces that make contact with food and unused equipment cluttering the server hallway.

The inspector also found significant problems with the restaurant’s refrigeration: They noted the refrigerator was almost 20 degrees warmer than health codes dictate it should be, with the inspector recording an interior temperature of 65 degrees, when it should have been 41 degrees or lower. Grime, grease, mold and food debris were also seen on the fridge units, plus torn and broken refrigeration gaskets.

Because there were significant violations found during the February inspection, the restaurant was ordered to be reinspected in March.

Samurai, 1131 Creston Road, Paso Robles

Points lost: 13.5

Notes: A health inspector observed grime on surfaces that come into contact with food and foil and cardboard lining food prep counters. The restaurant was ordered to clean and sanitize floors throughout the facility, including under the food prep and cookline areas.

The inspector noted these were repeated violations, meaning extra points were docked.

Haha Ramen and Sushi, 1065 Olive St., San Luis Obispo

Points lost: 12

Notes: A health inspector noted “overall improvement is needed” at the sushi restaurant. “Facility maintenance is currently inadequate, and important food safety practices are not being performed consistently,” the inspector wrote.

Some of the violations observed included a sheet pan blocking a hand sink, raw meats being dipped in a flour breading mixture that was kept at room temperature and used throughout the day, knives stored in a “soiled space” between the refrigerators, a backed-up kitchen floor drain and “excessive clutter” throughout the entire restaurant.

Springside Restaurant, 1646 Spring St., Paso Robles

Points lost: 11

Notes: A health inspector observed salsa improperly cooling in a fridge; the restaurant was told to cool food in shallow pans, in an ice bath or by using a cooling wand rather than covering and placing in a fridge. The inspector also observed the dishwasher on the premises was not working properly and that there was no handwashing sign posted in the women’s bathroom.

These businesses also lost 10 or more points due to violations.

• Fill and Save, 2121 Heritage Loop, Paso Robles

• Sushi Kokku, 285 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo

• Morro Bay Coffee Co., 948 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay

Highest-rated restaurants

These stores and restaurants received scores between 99 and 100, with few to no violations.

San Luis Obispo

• Barnes and Noble Booksellers, 894 Marsh St.
• Bear and the Wren, 570 Higuera St.
• Buffalo Wild Wings, 308 Madonna Road
• Cafe Creps de SLO, 785 Marsh St.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill #1708, 297 Madonna Road
• Cork N Bottle Liquor Store, 774 Foothill Blvd.
• Costco #741, 1541 Froom Ranch Way
• Damon Garcia Snack Bar, 3615 Broad St.
• Doc Burnstein’s, 860 Higuera St.
• Farmhouse Corner Market, 1025 Farmhouse Lane
• French Hospital, 1911 Johnson Ave.
• Grocery Outlet, 1314 Madonna Road
• The Habit Burger Grill, 839 Higuera St.
• Highwater, 1127 Broad St. (opening inspection)
• Honey’s Pizza, 12300 Los Osos Valley Road (opening inspection)
• Lucy’s Coffee, 1279 Laurel Lane
• Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates, 1445 Monterey St.
• McDonald’s #7675, 275 Madonna Road
• Mission Station, 328 Marsh St.
• Petit Soleil, 1473 Monterey St.
• Quality Suites, 1631 Monterey St.
• Scout Coffee, 1130 Garden St.
• The Secret Garden, 740 Higuera St.
• SLO Donut Co., 793 Foothill Blvd.
• Teazer World Market Tea Market, 1075 Court St.

North Coast

• Best Western San Marcos Inn, 250 Pacific, Morro Bay
• Carla’s Country Kitchen, 213 Beach, Morro Bay
• Cayucos Sausage Co. & Delicatessen, 121 N Ocean Ave., Cayucos
• Dolly’s Donuts, 1095 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay
• Foster’s Old Fashioned Donuts, 801 Piney Way, Morro Bay
• Mojo’s Village Bean, 2320 Main St., Cambria
• Nautical Bean, 1399 2nd St., Los Osos (opening inspection)
• Oceanpoint Ranch, 7200 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria
• Red Moose Cookie Company, 2531 Village Lane, Cambria

South County

• Avila Bay Athletic Club, 6699 Bay Laurel Drive, Avila Beach
• Banner Coffee Company, 995 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Breezway Cafe, 230 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
• De Bu of Pismo Beach, 1250 Price St., Pismo Beach
• Five Cities Meals on Wheels, 780 Bello St., Pismo Beach
• Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 1229 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Flora and Fauna Fine Food, 816 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Harry’s Nightclub and Beach Bar, 690 Cypress St., Pismo Beach
• House of the Rising Buns, 950 Price St., Pismo Beach
• Mason Bar, 307 E Branch St, Arroyo Grande
• Mellow Banana, 1474 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande (opening inspection)
• Monarch Dunes Golf Resort, 1606 Trilogy Way, Nipomo
• Starbucks Coffee, 1586 W Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Starbucks Coffee, 1211 E Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Starbucks Coffee, 501 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach
• Trader Joe’s #117, 955 Rancho Parkway, Arroyo Grande
• Woodstone Marketplace, 6675 Bay Laurel Drive, Avila Beach
• Y’Not Juice, 897 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach

North County

• 7 Eleven 25473K, 8000 El Camino Real, Atascadero (change of ownership inspection)
• Bru Coffee House, 5760 El Camino Real, Atascadero
  
  
• Carl’s Jr, 7085 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Gather Natural Market, 4825 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Elkhorn Bar, 1263 Mission St., San Miguel
• Hampton Inn & Suites, 212 Alexa Court, Paso Robles (change of ownership inspection)
• The Hatch, 853 13th St., Paso Robles
• Paso Robles Golf Club, 1600 Country Club Drive, Paso Robles
• Ranchita Canyon Vineyard, 3439 Ranchita Canyon Vineyard, San Miguel
• Starbucks Coffee, 925 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Starbucks Coffee, 2429 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles
• Summerwood Winery, 2175 Arbor Road, Paso Robles
• Taco Bell #1875, 1107 24th St., Paso Robles
• Taqueria Don Jose, 9965 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Vivant Fine Cheese, 821 Pine St., Paso Robles

• Walgreens #07210, 8005 El Camino Real, Atascadero

This story was originally published March 22, 2022 at 9:00 AM.