2 SLO County restaurants had signs of vermin in health inspections. Here’s what else was found

Two local restaurants had evidence of vermin problems and several had mold or grime in the refrigerators.

Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in November 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 178 inspections that Environmental Health employees conducted in November.

Lowest-rated restaurants

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

Points lost: 16

Notes: During a routine inspection of Morro Bay Coffee Co. in November, the eating place lost points dues to evidence of a rodent problem, with the health inspector noting there were droppings, dead rodents, nesting material or rub marks on site. According to the notes, this was also a repeat violation, and the coffee shop was told it would need to “construct, equip, maintain and operate the food facility so as to prevent the entrance and harborage of insects and vermin.” Morro Bay Coffee Co. also lost points for not having soap and paper towels available at the hand washing station in the kitchen and no hot water to the bathroom sink; it also needed to clean all equipment and shelving.

Papi’s No. 1, 5625 El Camino Real, Atascadero

Points lost: 13

Notes: Though the Atascadero restaurant had a number of notable violations during its inspection in November, a health inspector noted that overall the “facility presents clean and maintained” and that the violations found were corrected immediately on site. Some of those violations included too-warm refrigerators, no sanitizer in the dish machine and no manager with food manager certification. The inspector also saw a container of oranges stacked directly on top of unwrapped cheese and employees storing clothing in a food closet.

The Apple Farm, 2015 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo

Points lost: 12.5

Notes: During the inspection in November, a health inspector observed The Apple Farm had leaky plumbing at the hand wash sink near the cook line, food handling cards were not available for all employees and mold and grime were seen in the walk-in refrigerator. Food debris and grime were also seen under the cook line equipment. The restaurant lost a total of seven points for repeat violations.

Yanagi Sushi and Grill, 555 James Way, Pismo Beach

Points lost: 11.5

Notes: During its inspection in November, the majority of points Yanagi Sushi and Grill lost was due to a single repeat violation: No sanitizer in the sanitizer solution buckets in back kitchen and front sushi bar. The restaurant lost a total of eight points for this violation. Other notable conditions included a lack of a splash guard on sinks in close proximity to food and tile floors that needed regrouting.

Main Street Grill, 603 Main St., Cambria

Points lost: 11

Notes: During its inspection, a health inspector noted that the restaurant needed to ensure its grease container lid stayed on to prevent grease runoff from entering a nearby storm drain. The inspector also observed “many ranch to go containers without any temperature or time controls” being held at room temperature. Main Street Grill also had evidence of cockroaches, though no live insects at the time of inspection, according to the notes. Other violations included having fly sticky strips near food prep areas where they could potentially contaminate items, a mold-like growth in gaskets and a light bulb socket of a reach-in fridge and a knife crammed between equipment at the bar area. The restaurant was ordered to have a reinspection to correct the violations or face fines.

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

• Oceano Market, 1711 Front St., Oceano

• Susy Kitchen, 6165 San Anselmo Road, Atascadero

• Di Raimondo’s Italian Market, 822 13th St., Paso Robles

• French Corner Bakery, 2214 Main St., Cambria

Highest-rated restaurants

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

San Luis Obispo

• Alba Provisions and Flowers, Department of Food Services operation
• California Grazing Boxes, Department of Food Services operation
• Mon Ami Crepe Bar, 1075 Court St.
• Perfect Scoop LLC, 3845 Higuera St.
• SLO Brew Rock, 855 Aerovista Place

North Coast

• Coast Riders Inn, 9450 Castillo Drive, San Simeon
• Dragon Spring Farm, 6115 Santa Rosa Creek Road, Cambria
• Harmony Cafe, 824 Main St., Cambria
• La Katrina, 500 Embarcadero, Morro Bay
• La Parisienne French Bakery, 1140 Front St., Morro Bay
• Red Moose Cookie Company, 2531 Village Lane, Cambria
• Rite Aid No. 5821, 1110 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos

South County

• Banner Coffee Company, 995 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
  
  
• CVS Pharmacy No. 9892, 827 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach
• Flora and Fauna Fine Foods, 816 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Gina’s Italian Restaurant, 138 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Harford Seafood Company, 3989 Avila Beach Drive, Avila Beach
• Mermaid Market, 3915 Avila Beach Drive, Avila Beach
• Monarch Dunes Golf Resort, 1606 Trilogy Way, Nipomo
• Mule Bakery, 117 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Nipomo Senior Citizens Club, 200 E. Dana St., Nipomo
• Pismo Market, 700 Highway 1, Pismo Beach
• Shore Cliff Lodge, 2555 Price St., Pismo Beach
• Starbucks Coffee No. 5933, 501 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach
• The Quarterdeck Seafood, 1500 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Village Cafe, 112 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Y’Not Juice, 897 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach

North County

• Eden House at Carriage Vineyards, 4337 S. El Pomar Road, Templeton
• Nature’s Touch Nursery, 225 S. Main St., Templeton
• Nogi, 5810 Traffic Way, Atascadero
• Oso Libre Winery, 7383 Vineyard Drive, Paso Robles
• Park Cinemas, 1100 Pine St., Paso Robles
• The Canyon Villa, 1455 Kiler Canyon Road, Paso Robles