‘Rodent-chewed’ items found at a SLO County tavern. See latest inspection results

One restaurant had food "rodent-chewed food containers” another had black grime in a floor drain and yet another had issues with employees not properly washing their hands.

Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in February during dozens 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 0-point scale and make deductions based on the severity of the violations they find. Negative scores represent businesses with violations, while a restaurant with a score of 0 received a perfect score.

This is a change from the agency’s previous scoring system, which ranked eateries on a 100-point scale.

To check out the safety and cleanliness of your favorite restaurants around the county, visit EatSafeSLO.org and use the interactive map to view full inspection reports.

Here are the highs and lows of the 162 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in February.

Lowest-rated restaurants

New Earth Health Cafe, 191 S. Oak Park Blvd., Grover Beach

Points lost: 59

Notes: During its routine inspection in February, the Grover Beach cafe lost points for a number of significant violations — including that its employees were not able to demonstrate food safety knowledge applicable to their assigned duties. The inspector meanwhile observed a rag being used to dry off hands, a hand wash sink was turned off, unlabeled prepackaged brownie bites and curry soup in a refrigerator and a leaking condenser in the walk-in refrigerator, that forced the facility to keep a bucket with water under the unit. The inspector also noted there was black grime in the floor sinks and an accumulation of food debris and grime underneath the equipment.

Los Osos Mexican Market, 2169 10th St., Los Osos

Points lost: 41

Notes: The Los Osos market lost a number of points for major violations during its routine inspection in February, mostly centered around employees’ personal items. An inspector observed cooked taquitos in a tray near the range without temperature control. The taquitos were for personal consumption, according to an employee, and were then discarded. The inspector also dinged the market for an open employee drink stored inside the ice bin containing ice meant for consumption. The drink was removed and the ice was discarded, according to inspection notes. Other violations found were no sanitizer in the sanitizer bucket during active food prep, no chlorine test trips at the time of inspection, an accumulation of ice on a freezer and a broken door on a prep cooler.

Milestone Tavern, 972 E. Foothill Blvd., San Luis Obispo

Points lost: 40

Notes: Milestone Tavern in San Luis Obispo was told it would have to be inspected again after its routine inspection revealed several significant violations, including evidence of rodents. According to the inspection notes, there was evidence of rodent activity in the restaurant’s upstairs pantry and liquor room including “multiple chewed food packages and droppings on cans and paper containers of food.” Because of that, the restaurant was slated for reinspection at a later date and told it would have to clean and sanitize the impacted area, provide evidence of contracted pest control and replace all containers of food that are chewable with chew-resistant containers. An inspector also observed slightly too warm potentially hazardous foods — salami, roasted bell peppers and ranch dressing — and an accumulation of mold in the ice bin. Upon reinspection Feb. 20, all violations had been corrected.

Taco de Mexico, 374 Santa Rosa St., San Luis Obispo

Points lost: 38

Notes: A handful of major health code violations were found during the routine February inspection of Taco de Mexico in San Luis Obispo in February. According to inspection notes, an employee was seen washing their hands without soap while another employee only washed their hands for less than 10 seconds. The inspector also said no sanitizer bucket was set up during active food prep, defrosted fish was in reduced oxygen packaging and wet towels were being kept outside of sanitizer buckets.

These businesses also lost 30 or more points due to violations.

• Komo Hawaiian BBQ, 1803 Spring St., Paso Robles
• Blast 825 Brewery, 1462 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande
• The Central Grill, 545 Orchard Road, Nipomo
• Frutiland La Casa Del Sabor, 803 Grande Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Arroyo Grande Valero, 610 E. Grande Ave., Arroyo Grande
• Blacklake Golf Course, 1490 Golf Course Lane, Nipomo

Highest-rated restaurants

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

San Luis Obispo

• Anderson Social, 951 Monterey St.
• Buen Dia Coffee, 570 Higuera St., Ste 190
• Carswell Rakoobian Inc., 3000 Broad St., Ste 111
• Celia Chocolatier, 3000 Broad St., Ste 111
• Condesa, 1491 Monterey St.
• Conserv Fuel 6131, 4600 Broad St.
• Costco, 1540 Froom Ranch Road
• Dollar Tree Store #10399, 1308 Madonna Road
• El Guacamole Mexican Food, countywide
• Elks Lodge #322, 222 Elks Lane
• John’s Valero, 157 Higuera St.
• Kaffein Coffee, 1242 Monterey St. #110
• Kor Kitchen, 4750 Allene Way

North Coast

• Bear Elements Spice Company, 1236 Los Osos Valley Road Ste A, Los Osos
• Daisy Hill Estates, 1595 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
• Los Osos Liquor, 2004 10th St., Los Osos
• MHC Operating LP, 1675 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
• Morro Shores, 633 Ramona Ave., Los Osos
• Pelican Inn & Suites, 6316 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria
• Stardust Grove, LLC, 6115 Santa Rosa Creek Road, Cambria
• Wayward Baking LLC, 1001 Santa Ynez Ave., Los Osos
• Yokoso Coffee, 1230 Los Osos Valley Road, Ste A, Los Osos

South County

• AFC Sushi @ Vons #2560, 1758 W Grand Ave., Grover Beach
• Brad’s Restaurant, 209 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach
• Halo-slo Bakery, 2490 Appaloosa Way, Arroyo Grande
• In-n-out Burger #250, 1170 W Branch St., Arroyo Grande
• Motel 6, 860 4th St., Pismo Beach
• Pacific Plaza Resort, 444 Pier Ave., Oceano
• Sin Gluten Co., 191 S Oak Park Blvd. Ste #1, Grover Beach

North County

• Bovino Vineyards, 5685 El Pomar Drive, Templeton
• Calwise Spirits Co., 3340 Ramada Drive, Paso Robles
• Carbon 6, 5940 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Central Kitchen/Culinary, 1900 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles
• Courtyard By Marriott, 120 S Vine St., Paso Robles
• Eden House At Carriage Vineyards, 4337 S El Pomar Road, Templeton
• Home2suites By Hilton, 1800 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Moonlight Granola, 201 Silver Oak Drive, Paso Robles
• Renew Atascadero, 11205 Bilbao Court, Atascadero
• River Oaks Hot Springs Spa, 800 Clubhouse Drive, Paso Robles
• Starbucks Coffee #2904, 2301 Theatre Drive, Paso Robles
• Super Fiesta Market, 8605 El Camino Real, Atascadero
• Templeton Tennis Ranch, LLC, 345 Championship Lane, Templeton
• The Cookie Closet, 3855 Ardilla Road, Atascadero
• Twin Cities Hospital - Kitchen, 1100 Las Tablas Road, Templeton

This story was originally published April 2, 2026 at 9:00 AM.