Dead mouse, rusty can opener: Here’s what SLO County restaurant inspectors found last month

One restaurant had a grimy and rusty can opener, another a potential fire hazard, and a different one was thawing meat right out on the counter.

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

Lowest-rated restaurants

Courtyard by Marriott, 120 S. Vine St., Paso Robles

Points lost: 18.5

Notes: An inspector found uncovered employee beverages in food prep areas and saw employees washing their hands in the food prep sink, according to inspection notes from the Courtyard by Marriott’s routine inspection in April. The inspector also noted that prep area and bar hand wash stations had empty towel dispensers — a repeat violation for the hotel’s restaurant.

Thai Talay, 601 Price St., Pismo Beach

Points lost: 15.5

Notes: During inspection, a health inspector noticed a faulty prep-top unit that was used to store cut vegetables and sauces at 57 degrees Fahrenheit, 16 degrees warmer than the recommended 41 degrees — and it wasn’t the first time the restaurant was dinged for that, according to the inspection notes. The inspector also saw “heavy accumulation of food debris and rust on the large table mounted can opener” which staff were ordered to clean and sanitize daily to prevent cross contamination. The restaurant also has an issue with an expired food manager certificate, which it was ordered to remedy.

Jalapeno City, 1510 Park St., Paso Robles

Points lost: 14

Notes: During a routine inspection, a health inspection observed a number of violations at the restaurant, including employees wiping their hands on cloth towels. There was no soap in the front handwashing sink and another sink was blocked. The inspector also noticed restaurant employees were improperly thawing items by leaving meat out on the counter and that food being stored on the floor.

Kitchenette, 105 S. Main St., Templeton

Points lost: 14 points

Notes: An inspector found a faulty dishwashing machine at the Templeton restaurant that wasn’t dispensing any chlorine while cleaning. Meanwhile, a separate food prep top unit was also not in working order, forcing staff to use ice baths to keep items cool. Inspection also revealed a ceiling leak and degrading flooring throughout the facility. The inspector noted that bulk food was being stored with labels on containers, and staff were using scoops without handles to reach into and obtain the bulk items.

J&R Natural Meats, 1121 Rossi Road, Templeton

Points lost: 13 points

Notes: Inspection of the butcher shop revealed the facility was packaging food using a reduced-oxygen packaging, but does not have a state-approved Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP) — essentially a food safety management plan — and was ordered to immediately cease operations that would rely on a HACCP plan and discard any affected foods. The market was ordered to contact the state department to apply for a plan before resuming. A food prep unit on site was measuring at 100 degrees, and was unplugged to prevent a possible fire hazard.

Oasis Restaurant, 1351 Price St., Pismo Beach

Points lost: 12 points

Notes: Upon inspection in April, a health inspector noted Oasis Restaurant was in need of “a deep cleaning all throughout.” Notably, the inspector observed mouse droppings and a dead mouse behind a refrigeration unit, food debris on the fry cutter above the sink and several pieces of unused or broken equipment in throughout the facility. Because of the condition of the restaurant, the inspector ordered a reinspection the next month.

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

• Loading Chute, 6350 Webster Road, Creston

• Oasis Restaurant, 1351 Price St., Pismo Beach

• Cracked Crab, 751 Price St., Pismo Beach

• Chilis Restaurant, 2001 Theater Drive, Paso Robles

• Kuma, 2011 10th St., Los Osos

• Charlie’s Place, 981 Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo

• The Longbranch Saloon, 6258 Webster Road, Creston

Highest-rated restaurants

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

San Luis Obispo

• Bishop Peak, 451 Jaycee Drive
• Fujisan Sushi, 1321 Johnson Ave.
• Jay Birds, 3845 Higuera St., Suite 104
  
  
• Kitchen & Vine, 3897 Higuera St.
• Sycamore Mineral Springs Resort, 1215 Avila Beach Drive
  
  
• Taste, 3000 Broad St.
• Trader Joe’s No. 41, 3977 Higuera St.

North Coast

• AFC Sushi at Ralphs No. 271, 1240 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
• Grandma’s Frozen Yogurt & Waffle Shop, 307 Morro Bay Blvd., Morro Bay
• Mijit Mart, 1700 Embarcadero, Morro Bay
• Taco Bell, 1700 Main St., Morro Bay

South County

• Agrarian Hotel, 325 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Best Apple Co., 151 Rim Rock Road, Nipomo
• Blacklake Golf Resort, 1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo
• Kaleidoscope Inn, 130 E. Dana St., Nipomo
• Mama’s Preserves, 1358 Deer Canyon Road, Arroyo Grande
• Mother Shuckers, 133 Thompson Ave., Nipomo
• Subway Sandwiches, 806 Grande Ave., Arroyo Grande

North County

• Andrea’s on Pine, 840 11th St., Suite 104, Paso Robles
• Angelea’s Pastries, 1740 Spring St., Unit B, Paso Robles
  
  
• Burger King No. 10606, 8304 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Epic de Cesar Chavez, 3348 Spring St., Unit 105, Paso Robles
• La Salsa, 120 Third St., Shandon
• Rava Wines LLC Event Center, 6785 Creston Road, Paso Robles
• Shale Oak Winery, 3235 Oakdale Road, Paso Robles