SLO County restaurant inspections: Rodent infestation stops food sales at gas station

One local restaurant had a grimy meat display, two had tomato problems and several had blocked sinks.

Those were some of the issues 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.

One of the most notable conditions observed in December, however, was evidence of a rodent infestation at the Spyglass Shell station in Shell Beach.

After inspectors found rodent droppings in cupboards throughout the facility on Dec. 30, the county ordered the station to stop selling food until the situation was remedied, according to inspection notes.

The Spyglass Shell station was expected to be re-inspected at the start of January. As of Monday, the station was selling pre-packaged food items but its coffee, soda and slush ice drinks stations were closed off.

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 113 inspections conducted in December by San Luis Obispo County Environmental Health Services employees.

Lowest-rated restaurants

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

Points lost: 15

Notes: In a December inspection of the Paso Robles facility, a health inspector noted that foods were not being held at the correct temperature during and after preparation. For example, fried pork skin in a hot display was being kept at 113 degrees Fahrenheit when it needed to be stored at 145 degrees. Raw and cooked meats being left out of temperature control for significant periods of time were especially of concern, according to the inspection notes. The inspector also observed utensils being stored in room-temperature water, a fan dripping condensation on tomatoes in the walk-in refrigerator, employees using the three-compartment sink as a step stool to reach equipment and dirty wiping cloths used with raw animal products kept out on food preparation surfaces.

Mi Guadalajara Market, 1400 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach

Points lost: 14.5

Notes: During a routine inspection, the market was dinged for blocking access to a handwashing sink on site. An inspector noted that a bucket was inside the sink of the Grover Beach facility in December. The inspector also noted that food prep surfaces in the meat department were not being sanitized correctly with a chlorine solution, food debris was visible on the meat display cooler sliding doors and workers were using a table-top propane grill inside the back of the facility without exhaust ventilation. Due to a number of repeat violations, the market was ordered to be reinspected and threatened with fines if it did not bring the facility into compliance by the time of the re-inspection.

Third Degree, an American Grill by Berry Hill, 1803 Spring St., Paso Robles

Points lost: 12.5

Notes: The Paso Market Walk restaurant lost eight points for repeatedly blocking a hand wash sink at the facility — its largest violation during the December inspection. An inspector noted sour cream was left out of temperature control and a box of tomatoes were being stored on the floor, according to inspection notes. The restaurant was told to ensure only commercial-grade equipment was being used in the kitchen after an inspector observed a non-commercial-grade freezer.

Street Side Ale House, 843 12th St., Paso Robles

Points lost: 12

Notes: During its December inspection, a manager was told to discard cooked pasta, potatoes and Brussels sprouts as well as salmon fillets, ahi tuna, corn relish, steaks and mahi mahi from a broken, too-warm refrigeration unit. The restaurant was told to repair torn bar and kitchen refrigeration units and clean off the build-up of food debris on gaskets throughout the facility. The inspector also noted an empty soap dispenser was in the bathroom, with no hand-washing sign posted, and spray bottles of toxic materials were not clearly labeled.

The Training Table, 3534 El Camino Real, Atascadero

Points lost: 11.5

Notes: An inspector noted the facility “has outstanding repeat violations in need of correction” during its December inspection. Those included the restaurant not providing a pump-top bottle or wall-mounted soap dispenser for hand washing, some employees not having the proper food safety certifications and a lack of sanitizer testing strips to determine if items are being properly cleaned.

These businesses also lost 10 points due to violations.

• Efrens Deli Shop, 1720 Beach St., Oceano

• Yamato Japanese Restaurant II, 1741 Grand Ave., Grover Beach

• Yanagi Sushi & Grill, 1221 Park St., Paso Robles

Highest-rated restaurants

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

San Luis Obispo

• Capriotti’s, 791 E. Foothill Blvd.
• Las Brisas, 1299 Briarwood Drive

North Coast

• Ace Sushi at Albertson’s No. 6345, 730 Quintana Road, Morro Bay
• Best Western Tradewinds, 225 Beach St., Morro Bay (change of ownership inspection)
• Mimi’s B&B on the Sea, 2649 Ocean Blvd., Cayucos
• Red Moose Cookie Company, 784 Main St., Cambria
• Suns-N-Buns Bakery, 830 Embarcadero, Morro Bay

South County

• Arroyo Grande Home and Garden, 1578 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Center of Effort Winery, 2195 Corbett Canyon Road, Arroyo Grande
• Chipotle Mexican Grill No. 2906, 1229 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Cottage Inn By the Sea, 2351 Price St., Arroyo Grande
• CJ’s Restaurant, 611 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• G Brothers Kettlecorn, 191 S. Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach
• Grocery Outlet, 1574 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Manrock Brewing Company, 1750 El Camino Real, Grover Beach
• Pier Street Deli, 325 Pier Ave., Oceano (change of ownership inspection)
• Sodexo Magic, LLC, 3890 Avila Beach Drive, Avila Beac
• Tribe Coffee House, 1355 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Virt Juice, 1200 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Vons Gas No. 4607, 550 W. Tefft St., Nipomo

North County

• Brown Butter Cookie Company, 801 12th St., Paso Robles

• Cured and Cultivated, 825 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles

• Dellas’s, 831 13th St., Paso Robles

• The Hatch, 835 13th St., Paso Robles
• Hickory Farms, LLC, 176 Niblick Road, Paso Robles
• Pasolivo, 1229 Park St., Paso Robles

This story was originally published January 30, 2023 at 1:19 PM.