Restaurant inspections: Rodent droppings put Smith's in the red

Sep. 6—Smith's at 8100 Wyoming NE closed after a health inspector found rodent droppings in the stock area, under displays, in the maintenance room, behind grocery aisles and under fruits and vegetables in the produce storage cooler.

Annapurna was also closed after an inspector observed an employee switching job duties without washing their hands, because there were no paper towels or hand cleanser available at the sink and found food items without proper labels or temperature logs. Annapurna passed a follow-up inspection the next day.

The Subway on Central is back in the green after passing a follow-up inspection on Aug. 28.

GREEN

Albertsons, 12201 Academy NE (Aug. 28)

Albuquerque City Limits Restaurant, 3211 Coors SW (Sept. 1)

Whole Foods Market, 5815 Wyoming NE (Aug. 31)

Digital Arts and Technology Academy, 1011 Lamberton NE (Sept. 1)

Blake's Lotaburger, 2529 Washington NE (Aug. 30)

Annapurna, 2201 Silver SE (Aug. 29)

Indio Hispano Native Foods, 3517 Bryn Mawr NE (Aug. 30)

Starbucks, 12251 Academy NE (Aug. 28)

Grace Church United, 6901 San Antonio NE (Aug. 28)

Cocina Azul, 1134 Mountain NW (Aug. 31)

Los Puentes Charter School, 4012 4th Street NW (Aug. 30)

Casa Mis Abuelos, 4916 Larchmont (Aug. 30)

Vinaigrette, 1828 Central SW (Aug. 31)

The Candy Lady, 424 San Felipe NW (Aug. 31)

Hampton Inn Suites, 1300 Woodward SE (Aug. 29)

Whispering Bean Coffee Roasters, 10701 Corrales, Suite 3 (Aug. 30)

Subway at Presbyterian, 1100 Central SE (Aug. 28)

Hilton Garden Inn, 2601 Yale SE (Aug. 30)

Advance Fresh Concepts, 12201 Academy NE (Aug. 28)

21st Century Public Academy, 4300 Culter NE (Aug. 31)

Moonwalk Beverage Processor, 505 Central NW (Aug. 30)

El Forasteros, 2501 4th Street NW (Aug. 31)

TS Tynie Kitchen, 2012 7th Street NW (Aug. 30)

Alebrijes Food, 520 Louisiana SE (Aug. 28)

M&Ts Mini Market, 2012 7th Street NW (Aug. 30)

Seven Clover, 3800 Central SE (Aug. 28)

Ultra Health Nob Hill, 3213 Central NE (Aug. 28)

Crepes and Waffles, 3211 Coors SW, Suite G3 (Sept. 1)

Doobie's Smokehouse, 3619 Copper NE (Aug. 30)

Los Victors Mexican Food, 2300 Central SE, Suite B (Aug. 29)

RED

Smith's, 8100 Wyoming NE (Sept. 1)

Result: Immediate closure

Facility had evidence of ongoing rodent infestation resulting in the immediate closure of facility. Person in charge failed to ensure that employees follow necessary procedures to properly prevent contamination and protect consumers and staff from an imminent health hazard.

Observed gaps along the bottom of doors at the front doors, side doors and back dock doors leading to the outside at the time of inspection. Instructed person in charge to make repairs such as door sweeps/gaskets to seal the gaps to prevent opening for insects or rodents.

Observed significant rodent droppings in areas such as throughout back stock storage area including on merchandise, maintenance room, trash compactor area and under bakery display coolers and freezers, including area where spray foam had been used pushing rodent droppings out of hole in wall. Observed heavy amount of flies throughout the facility such as at the garbage compactor. Observed minimal amount of ants in back storage area.

Observed significant stock of product on pallets, U-Boat dollies and other equipment. Unable to fully inspect back area due to areas being filled with product. Pest control operator has noted the same issue for months.

Observed holes and gaps on the exterior of building, providing entry into facility in areas such as hole into wall at the propane tank, and along the trash compactor shoot. In the area with the significant heavy food, litter, discarded broken furniture, significant gap around plumbing fixture was observed.

Observed plumbing leak from water spigot at the maintenance room. Observed significant, heavy amounts of debris/food build up at the trash compactor area. Heavy fly presence was noted in this area on the debris build up. Observed significant heavy food, litter, discarded broken furniture, present around the outside of facility at side door. Evidence was observed of rodents in this area, with droppings found throughout the ground, and in chip bags present.

Observed significant heavy debris build up in areas such as under display cooler and freezer.

Observed paint and rusted areas of the ceiling flaking off in the meat cutting room above areas such as over prep tables with meat cutting being performed. Observed significant frost build up in walk in freezer. Observed plumbing leaks from handwashing sink, three-compartment sink and compressor in the meat cutting room. Observed plumbing piping from handwashing sink not fully draining into floor drain. Instructed person in charge to make repairs to have plumbing system fully draining into floor drain. Observed significant heavy debris build up in areas such as under display cooler, three-compartment sink, and throughout meat cutting room with large amounts of meat of various ages throughout. Heavy, significant amount of debris build up was observed behind ice machine. Observed significant debris build up on meat cutting and walk in cooler ventilation systems and the surrounding area. Observed broken light shielding with pieces missing in the meat area.

At produce handwashing station, observed no paper towels provided.

Observed significant rodent droppings in areas such as throughout back stock storage area including on merchandise, maintenance room, trash compactor area and under and behind grocery aisles including aisles such as freezer, pet food, eggs and under produce: fruits and vegetables and in the produce storage cooler.

Observed gaps along bottom of wall and floor junctures with openings unsealed.

Evidence was observed to substantiate citizen complaint of fly infestation in the produce area with rotting produce.

Annapurna, 2201 Silver SE (Aug. 28)

Result: Immediate closure; passed follow-up inspection on Aug. 29

Observed multiple food items stored inside walk in refrigerator uncovered and unprotected.

Observed no sanitizer available inside kitchen. Two employees preparing food inside kitchen with no sanitizer available.

Observed cooked potatoes cooling at room temperature inside kitchen. Observed multiple food items above 41 degrees stored inside walk in refrigerator. Person in charge had no documentation of temperature logs for walk in refrigerator. Last recorded date of walk in refrigerator provided was March 28, 2021. Instructed person in charge since there is no knowledge of food temperatures inside walk in refrigerator all time/temperature control for safety foods must be discarded.

Observed multiple potentially hazardous foods in walk in refrigerator, such as cooked pasta, chopped garlic and chopped vegetables with no date marking.

Observed degreaser and coffee cleaner stored next to food items and single use containers inside kitchen and barista area.

Observed large food container with dry goods food item stored inside underneath prep table at entrance to kitchen with no label or identification. Observed employee preparing food inside kitchen with bracelets on. Observed used wiping cloths stored on prep tables and make cutting board. Observed improper employee drink stored on prep table next to food items. Observed single use food containers being used and stored inside food containers to scoop food items from food containers inside walk in refrigerator.

Observed both quat sanitizer and chlorine sanitizer being used inside facility. Person in charge only had chlorine sanitizer test strips.

Observed debris build up underneath kitchen equipment such as fryers, prep tables, reach in refrigerators and hot holding.

Observed cellphone stored on food shelving above food items and next to food items.

Whenever the enforcement authority finds an imminent health hazard or other conditions in the operation of a food establishment, which, in its judgment constitute a substantial hazard to the public health, the enforcement authority may without any prior warning, notice, or hearing, issue a written notice to the permit holder or operator that the permit is immediately suspended and all food-service or food processing operations are to be immediately discontinued.

Observed employee switching job duties without washing hands. Employee was unable to wash hands due to no paper towels or hand cleanser available at handwashing sink inside kitchen. Observed no hot water available at handwashing sink in barista area. Observed no paper towels or hand cleanser available at handwashing sink inside kitchen.

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections.

For questions or concerns, please contact business reporter Matthew Narvaiz at mnarvaiz@abqjournal.com.