11 failed food safety inspections at Tri-Cities area restaurants, other food sellers

Annette Cary
·8 min read

The Benton Franklin Health District gave failing grades in 11 food safety inspections of restaurants and other establishments selling food in the Tri-Cities area from Jan. 20-26.

They included a school cafeteria, food trucks and restaurants.

The health district’s food safety team gave passing grades on 70 inspections, with 26 of those awarded perfect scores.

In the district’s routine inspections, businesses or organizations that receive at least 35 points for the more serious red violations are required to have additional inspections and must meet a tougher standard on those.

To pass followup inspections, they must have fewer than 25 red points and fewer than 10 repeat red points for previous issues.

Scores of 85 or more red points result in establishments remaining on probation until they pass two follow-up inspections, the first one within 72 hours.

Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illnesses, such as improper temperature control of food, lack of adequate handwashing or bare-hand contact with foods.

Blue violations are low risk factors related to the cleanliness and physical condition of an establishment.

No notice is given before the inspections.

Businesses may have separate inspections of food sales with different health safety risks, such as a store that sells groceries and has a deli that prepares food.

Inspection results are posted online so residents can look up the status and the details of any violations of individual restaurants or check other businesses.

Go to bit.ly/BFHDinspections. Click on the business name and then on the date of the inspection on the right half of the next page. Look for the “Violations” tab.

Failed inspections

Aki Sushi, 321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up Jan. 22 (55 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Raw meat improperly stored, improper cooling procedures, room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control.

Best Western, 602 N. Young St., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 23 (35 Red, 3 Blue)

Notes: Improper hot holding (<130°F), improper cold holding (>45°F).

Casa Rosita (Mobile), Follow-up Jan. 24 (90 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, improper hand washing (no hot water available and owner said they would close until fixed), improper cooling procedures, room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, lack of conformance with approved procedures.

Connell Food & Gas Mart (Food service), 457 S. Columbia Ave., Connell, Routine Jan. 23 (40 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, inadequate handwashing facilities, improper hot holding (<130°F).

Country Mercantile (Restaurant), 5015 Ava Way, Richland, Follow-up Jan. 25 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Not properly disposing of potentially unsafe food (no date marked on bag of chopped meats).

Finley Middle School, 37208 S. Finley Road, Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (35 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Improper hand washing (kitchen employee washed hands in cold water), inadequate handwashing facilities (two employee bathrooms had no hot water).

JC’s Mesa Grocery and Deli (Grocery), 102 First Ave., Mesa, Routine Jan. 23 (45 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Improper hand washing, inadequate handwashing facilities, lack of conformance with approved procedures.

Kagen Coffee & Crepes, 270 Williams Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 26 (40 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, improper reheating procedures for hot holding.

Mi Lindo Nayarit, 1315 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco, Follow-up Jan. 25 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Improper reheating procedures for hot holding, improper cold holding (<45°F).

Taqueria Oaxaca, Routine Jan. 22 (70 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Lack of active managerial control, food worker cards not 100%, improper cooling procedures, improper hot holding (<130°F), lack of conformance with approved procedures.

Trejo’s Mexican Restaurant, 1833 W. Court St., Pasco, Follow-up Jan. 25 (30 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Food worker cards not 100%, room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control.

Passed inspections

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up Jan. 26 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Big Lots (Store), 1743 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Bombing Range Brewing Co., 2000 Logston Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Captain Gray Elementary School, 1102 N. 10th Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 3 Blue)

Chinook Middle School, 4891 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Circle K, 660 S. Columbia Ave., Connell, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 5 Blue) (Store: 0 Red, 0 Blue)

Circle K, 2601 Queensgate Drive, Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (10 Red, 0 Blue) (Store: 0 Red, 0 Blue)

Connell Food & Gas Mart (Store), 457 S. Columbia Ave., Connell, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Denny’s Restaurant, 1301 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (15 Red, 0 Blue)

Eastgate Elementary School, 910 E. 10th Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (0 Red, 2 Blue)

Eatz Pizzeria & Deli, 6916 W. Argent, Pasco, Routine Jan. 22 (15 Red, 0 Blue)

El Chapala (Caterer), Event, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Family Food (Store), 5608 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 5 Blue)

Farh Thai Restaurant, 5601 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Finley Elementary School, 213504 E. Cougar Road, Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (25 Red, 2 Blue)

Foodies Too, 701 The Parkway, Richland, Routine Jan. 25 (15 Red, 0 Blue)

Garibaldi, 2125 E. Hillsboro St., Pasco, Routine Jan. 25 (10 Red, 10 Blue)

Golden Horse Restaurant, 108 Merlot Drive, Prosser, Follow-up Jan. 22 (0 Red, 5 Blue)

Guesthouse Inn & Suites, 5616 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 23 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Hae Ha Thai, 1407 N. Young St., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (10 Red, 3 Blue)

Headstart/Martin Luther King, 205 S. Wehe Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Jacksons (Food service), 1400 W. 27th Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 22 (30 Red, 0 Blue)

Jochos Tacos, Event, Follow-up Jan. 25 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Kahlotus Korners (Deli), 120 Pasco Kahlotus Road, Pasco, Follow-up Jan. 25 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Kahlua’s Bar and Lounge, 1901 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 26 (15 Red, 0 Blue)

Lep-Re-Kon Mart (Deli), 620 S. Columbia Ave., Connell, Follow-up Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Let’s Get Baked Potatoes (Mobile), Event, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 5 Blue)

Leyte Oriental Store (Store), 1412 Jadwin Ave., Richland, Routine Jan. 24 (10 Red, 5 Blue)

Little Caesar’s, 234 Symons St., Richland, Routine Jan. 22 (30 Red, 0 Blue)

Longfellow Elementary School, 300 N. 8th Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 3 Blue)

McCorkle’s Market (Deli), 14601 N. Rothrock Road, Prosser, Follow-up Jan. 22 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

McDonald’s, 1275 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Meadow Springs Country Club, 700 Country Club Road, Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Monterosso’s Italian Restaurant, 1026 Lee Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 25 (20 Red, 0 Blue)

My Place Hotel, 6830 Rodeo Drive, Pasco, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

North Korners (Food service), 52 E. Vineyard Drive, Pasco, Follow-up Jan. 25 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Nueva Esperanza Leadership Academy, 3713 E. A St., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Opportunity Kitchen (Catering), 500 S. Auburn Kennewick, Routine Jan. 25 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Out And About, 327 W. Lewis St., Pasco, Routine Jan. 26 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Papa Murphy’s Pizza, 1332 Jadwin Ave., Richland, Routine Jan. 24 (0 Red, 3 Blue)

Park Middle School, 1011 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 25 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Pasco High Deca Doghouse, 1108 N. 10th Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Pasco High School, 1108 N. 10th Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 3 Blue)

Pasco Child Development Center, 1010 S. 6th Ave., Pasco, Routine Jan. 23 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Peacock Coffee Roasting Co., 707 The Parkway, Richland, Routine Jan. 25 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Proof, 924 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (10 Red, 5 Blue)

Pupuseria Salvadorena, 127 Gage Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Restaurante El Asadero (Mobile), Event, Routine Jan. 26 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Riverview High School, 36509 S. Lemon Drive, Kennewick, Routine Jan. 26 (0 Red, 10 Blue)

ROMA House, 617 The Parkway, Richland, Routine Jan. 25 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Roscoe Coffee, 2003 Logston, Richland, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Sakura Restaurant, 130 Keene Road, Richland, Routine Jan. 24 (15 Red, 13 Blue)

Southridge High School, 3520 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Southridge High School Hot Spot, 3520 Southridge Blvd., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 23 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Tequilas Sports Bar, 414 W. Lewis St., Pasco, Routine Jan. 26 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

The Bistro, 2101 Argent Road, Pasco, Routine Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

The Spudnut Shop, 228 Williams Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Three Margaritas, 627 Jadwin Ave., Richland, Routine Jan. 25 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Tri-City Orthodontics, 3200 Duportail, Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Vargas Taqueria, Event, Follow-up Jan. 22 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Walgreens (Store), 585 Gage Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 23 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Washington Elementary School, 105 W. 21st Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 25 (0 Red, 4 Blue)

Westgate Elementary School, 2514 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick, Routine Jan. 25 (25 Red, 2 Blue)

White Bluffs Brewing, 2034 Logston Blvd., Richland, Routine Jan. 22 (10 Red, 0 Blue) (Commissary: 10 Red, 0 Blue)

Wine Social, 702 The Parkway, Richland, Routine Jan. 25 (15 Red, 0 Blue)

Wok King, 7011 W. Canal Drive, Kennewick, Routine Jan. 23 (10 Red, 10 Blue)