No hairnets, room-temperature food: See SLO County restaurant inspections from March

One local restaurant had room-temperature ham-and-cheese croissants. In another eateries, employees with no hair nets were cooking food, and several places had workers without food handling safety cards.

Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in March 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 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in March.

Lowest-rated restaurants

Villante’s Authentic Homemade Italian Cuisine, 1111 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles

Points lost: 24 points

Notes: During a routine health inspection in March, employees at Villante’s were observed not washing their hands prior to preparing food items and were not wearing hairnets or head coverings while preparing food, an inspector noted. The inspector also found unlabeled spray bottles with toxic materials and personal beverages without any lids or coverings in the food prep area. Employees were also not using a chlorine solution to sanitize surfaces that came into contact with food, and the restaurant was ordered to clean and sanitize its bathrooms.

A re-inspection was scheduled for later in the month.

Kitchenette, 105 South Main St., Templeton

Points lost: 16 points

Notes: A health inspector observed a food holding unit that was warmer than required; an employee was asked to throw out sliced tomatoes, mayonnaise-based sauces, feta, hominy, black beans, Soyrizo, sliced bell peppers, pulled pork, shelled eggs and prepared sweet and red potatoes that were kept in the too-warm unit. The restaurant was also ordered to ensure that employees were adequately trained and knowledgeable in duties. Flooring also was ordered to be replaced or repaired.

Ariana’s Market, 515 Morro Bay Boulevard, Morro Bay

Points lost: 15 points

Notes: A health inspector observed salsa being kept at a too-warm temperature (requirement is 41 degrees Fahrenheit), no paper towels in the hand washing station and dishes not being sanitized after use, according to March inspection reports. The inspector noted uncovered food and raw potentially hazardous foods were being stored in improper order and above ready-to-eat foods, while salt containers were being kept on the floor. The restaurant was also ordered to clean accumulated food debris from floors and counters ahead of a reinspection later in the month.

DK’s Donuts, 1740 Spring St.

Points lost: 15 points

Notes: A health inspector saw ham-and-cheese croissants being stored at room temperature, grease and dust buildup on the hood above the doughnut fryer and improperly labeled bulk food containers. The inspector also ordered the restaurant to ensure all workers have food handler cards.

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

• 15 Degrees C Wine Shop and Bar, 624 S. Main St., Templeton

• Kochi BBQ and Seafood, 6900 El Camino Real, Atascadero

• La Reyna Market, 532 24th St., Paso Robles

• Cowgirl Cafe, 501 Orchard Road, Nipomo

• Mi Casa, 650 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay

• @Bites, 195 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo

• Las Cazuelas Restaurant, 131 Dana St., Nipomo

Highest-rated restaurants

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

San Luis Obispo

• Baileyana Winery, 5828 Orcutt Road
• Budget Cafe, 3121 S. Higuera St.
• Celia Chocolatier, Department of Food Services Operation
• Chevron No. 1976, 151 Santa Rosa St.
• Chinelo, 1131 Broad St.
• Coastal Peaks Roasters, 3566 S. Higuera St.
• Conserv Fuel No. 6112, 221 Broad St.
• Cornercopia Fresh Market, 606 Crestmont Dr.
• Honey’s Pizza, 12300 Los Osos Valley Road
• Jay Bird’s Chicken, 3845 S. Higuera St. (opening inspection)
• John’s Valero, 157 Higuera St. (change of ownership inspection)
• Lahaina’s, 3975 S. Higuera St.
• Proof and Gather Baking Company, Departme of Food Services Operation
• Rite Aid No. 5820, 1251 Johnson Ave.
• Torricella Pizeria, 3845 S. Higuera St.

North Coast

• AFC Sushi at Ralph’s No. 271, 1240 Los Osos Valley Road
• Cayucos Sunset Inn, 95 S. Ocean Ave., Cayucos
• Golden Gate Petroleum, 995 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
• Grassy Bar Oyster Co., 1215 Embarcadero, Morro Bay
• La Serena Inn, 990 Morro Av., Morro Bay (opening inspection)
• Little Sur Inn, 6190 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria
• Los Osos Grocery Outlet, 1130 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
• Mimi’s B&B on the Sea, 2649 Ocean Blvd., Cayucos
• Morro Bay House of Jerky, 1130 Front St., Morro Bay
• Nautical Bean, 1399 Second St., Los Osos (opening inspection)
• Panda Panda Chinese Restaurant, 810 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay (opening inspection)
• Ragged Point Inn, 19019 Highway 1, Ragged Point
• Three Stacks and a Rock Brewing Co., 595 Embarcadero, Morro Bay (opening inspection)
• White Water, 6736 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria

South County

• Blaze Pizza, 1150 Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Center of Effort Winery, 2195 Corbett Canyon Road, Arroyo Grande
• Delicias De Mi Tierra, 235 Tefft St., Nipomo
• Halcyon Farms, 1075 The Pike, Arroyo Grande (opening inspection)
• Harford Seafood Company, 3989 Avila Beach Dr., Avila Beach
• Harry’s Nightclub and Beach Bar, 690 Cypress St., Pismo Beach (opening inspection)
• Jocko’s, 125 N. Thompson Ave., Nipomo
• McDonalds No. 14896, 1550 Grand Ave., Grover Beach
• Panda Express No. 932, 1401 Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Puffers of Pismo, 781 Price St., Pismo Beach
• Sheldon’s Bait Shack, 100 Pomeroy (at Pier), Pismo Beach
• Subway No. 13508, 536 Tefft St., Nipomo
• Surfside Deli, 191 Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach
• Sweat Pea Bakery, 1200 Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Tasty Thai, 161 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande

North County

• Atascadero Grocery Outlet, 21000 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Carbon 6, 5940 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Cava Robles Resort, 3800 Golden Hills Road, Paso Robles
• Jack in the Box No. 171, 2304 Spring St., Paso Robles
• Mission Market Liquor and Deli, 1402 Million St., San Miguel
• Oso Libre Winery, 7383 Vineyard Dr., Paso Robles
• Paso Robles Swim and Tennis Club, 2975 Union Road, Paso Robles
• Refuge Church, 6955 Portola Road, Atascadero
• Starbucks Coffee, 9002 Front St., Atascadero
• Taco Bell No. 1588, 7385 El Camino Real, Atascadero

This story was originally published April 21, 2022 at 10:00 AM.

Kaytlyn Leslie

The Tribune

805-781-7928 (voicemails only)

Kaytlyn Leslie writes about business and development for The San Luis Obispo Tribune. Hailing from Nipomo, she also covers city governments and happenings in San Luis Obispo. She joined The Tribune in 2013 after graduating from Cal Poly with her journalism degree.