2 SLO County restaurants shut down due to public health hazards. What did inspectors find?

Kaytlyn Leslie
·4 min read

One local restaurant had mouse droppings in the storage room, another didn’t have soap and two were shut down for a lack of warm water.

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

Health inspectors: 2 SLO County restaurants closed due to lack of hot water

Two Nipomo restaurants were briefly shut down for a lack of warm water last month.

According to inspection notes, Little Caesars Pizza, located at 532 W. Tefft St., was closed by the county’s Environmental Health Services Division department on Nov. 13.

The restaurant was told it represented an “imminent public health hazard” because of the lack of warm water and it must remain closed until given written approval by the department. It would also have to be reinspected.

Sol Brillante at 505 Orchard Road was shut down for similar reasons on Nov. 21, according to the inspection notes. The inspector also noted employees were keeping personal items near the serving area.

Both businesses remedied the situation and were allowed to reopen.

Lowest-rated restaurants

Here are the lows of the 107 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in November.

F. McLintocks Saloon, 133 Bridge St., Arroyo Grande

Points lost: 15.5

Notes: The Arroyo Grande restaurant lost a number of points during its routine November inspection, including several for repeat health code violations. According to inspection notes, an inspector observed mouse droppings in the restaurant’s dry storage room; employees were told to ensure all surfaces were throughout cleaned and sanitized according to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employees were also instructed to eliminate rodents and any evidence of rodents by “safe, legal and effective means at once.” The inspector also saw flies in the front bar area near the floor sink, tepid water at the kitchen’s hand washing sink, a rag propping up a freezer and unapproved raw wood shelving in the storage rooms.

Flour House, 690 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo

Points lost: 11.5

Notes: During its routine November inspection, the Italian restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo lost points for a handful of health code violations. No soap was available at the hand wash sink in the back kitchen, “a few flies” were found throughout the food facility and food was being kept on the floor of the walk-in refrigeration unit and the flour storage room, according to inspectors’ reports. The restaurant was also dinged for several repeat violations, including “large amounts of dust” near a food preparation station, no sanitizer test strips, degrading wood shelves and the inspector not being able to verify food safety certifications during the time of the inspection.

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

Points lost: 9.5

Notes: During a routine inspection of the Grover Beach cafe, an inspector “observed employees with limited knowledge on sanitizer and how to make it and measure concentration.” The restaurant was ordered to ensure all food employees were properly trained in food safety. The inspector also noted there was no pump soap at the hand wash sink, a wiping cloth was being kept on the counter rather than in sanitizer, the concrete flooring was degrading and the front door was kept propped open.

Highest-rated restaurants

These stores and restaurants received scores of 99 to 100, with few to no violations.

San Luis Obispo

  • Elks Lodge No. 322, 222 Elks Lane

  • Eureka! SLO, 1141 Chorro St.

North Coast

  • Ace Sushi at Albertsons 6345, 730 Quintana Road, Morro Bay

  • Carla’s Country Kitchen, 213 Beach St., Morro Bay

  • Chowa Bowl, 898 Main St., Morro Bay

  • Hungry Fisherman, 399 Beach St., Morro Bay

South County

  • Arroyo Grande Community Hospital, 345 S. Halcyon Road, Arroyo Grande

  • Dana Adobe Cultural Center, 671 S. Oakglen Ave., Nipomo

  • Red Bee Coffee LLC, 278 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach

North County

  • Brunch, 840 13th St., Paso Robles

  • Burger King No. 24162, 180 Niblick Road, Paso Robles

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

  • CVS Pharmacy No. 9925, 187 Niblick Road, Paso Robles

  • Derby Wine Estates, 525 Riverside Ave., Paso Robles

  • Farm Supply Company, 2450 Ramada Drive, Paso Robles

  • Kindred Oak Farm, 1250 Paint Horse Place, Paso Robles

  • Les Petites Canailles, 1215 Spring St., Paso Robles

  • LXV Wine Live Area LLC, 1306 Pine St., Paso Robles

  • McPhee’s Grill, 416 Main St., Templeton

  • Nature’s Touch Nursery, 225 S. Main St., Templeton

  • Paso Robles Wine Merchant, 1803 Spring St., Paso Robles

  • Taco Bell No. 023052, 191 Niblick Road, Paso Robles

  • Vegivore Kitchen, 1815 Spring St., Paso Robles

  • Woodland Chevron, 190 Niblick Road, Paso Robles