IHOP red-tagged by city inspectors after dead cockroaches found in storage areas

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information, or to view previous reports, visit cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/food-safety.

GREEN: Food establishment received a passing grade, demonstrating the skills to create a safe and sanitary food-service environment.

YELLOW: Food establishment can operate but must follow a plan to correct violations observed during inspection.

RED: Food establishment had major violations that presented an imminent hazard and required an immediate downgrade or closure.

Sept. 14-20

GREEN

10721 Ristorante LLC, 10721 Montgomery NE (Sept. 19)

66 Diner, 1405 Central NE (Sept. 19)

Albuquerque Job Corps, 1500 Indian School NW (Sept. 15)

Cocina Azul, 4243 Montgomery NE (Sept. 17)

Cocina Azul, 5916 Holly NE (Sept. 17)

Donut Mart, 831 Juan Tabo Blvd NE (Sept. 19)

Dunkin Donuts, 5502 4th NW (Sept. 19)

Ex Novo Brewing Co., 701 Central NW (Sept. 17)

Fusion Tacos, 3600 Cutler NE, B (Sept. 18)

High Desert Relief Kitchen, 4840 Pan American Fwy NE (Sept. 18)

Ihatov, 3400 Central SE (Sept. 16)

IHOP, 1400 Mercantile NE (Sept. 19)

Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE (Sept. 18) (Class B, Class C)

Juani’s Kitchen, 5010 Cutler NE (Sept. 17)

Keller’s Farm Stores, 6100 Coors NW (Sept. 17)

La Petite Academy, 5212 Homestead NE (Sept. 16)

Mazaya Cafe, 120 Harvard SE (Sept. 17)

Owl Cafe, 800 Eubank NE (Sept. 17)

Palo Alto, 2201 Eubank NE (Sept. 16)

Papa Murphy’s, 8400 Menaul NE (Sept. 15)

Pizza Hut, 4400 Wyoming NW (Sept. 16)

Saggio’s, 107 Cornell SE (Sept. 19)

Shell, 501 Candelaria NE (Sept. 17)

Slim Chickens, 8240 Montgomery NE (Sept. 17)

Sonic Drive-In, 5000 San Mateo NE (Sept. 16)

Sonic Drive-In, 3110 Juan Tabo NE (Sept. 16)

Stripes, 2505 Wyoming NE (Sept. 17)

Stufy’s, 1107 Candelaria NW (Sept. 17)

Subway, 2839 Carlisle NE (Sept. 19)

Sushi Gen, 5210 San Mateo NE (Sept. 18)

Teriyaki Chicken Bowl, 5117 4th NW (Sept. 17)

The Great Greek, 5600 Coors NW (Sept. 19)

Tikka Spice Stackers Burger Mobile Unit, 4321 Ellison NE (Sept. 17)

Truckin’ Delicious, 5701 Gibson SE (Sept. 15)

Walgreens, 2950 Central SE (Sept. 16)

Whataburger, 2808 Carlisle NE (Sept. 17)

Word of Mouth, 1725 Broadway SE (Sept. 19)

YELLOW

Amore Pizza, 3600 Cutler NE (Sept. 19)

Donut Mart, 831 Juan Tabo Blvd NE (Sept. 19)

Isotopes Park, 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez SE (Sept. 18) (Class C)

Keller’s Farm Stores, 6100 Coors NW (Sept. 16)

Mazaya Cafe, 120 Harvard SE (Sept. 17)

Palo Alto, 2201 Eubank NE (Sept. 16)

Papa Murphy’s, 8400 Menaul NE (Sept. 15)

Sonic Drive-In, 3110 Juan Tabo NE (Sept. 16)

RED

Dunkin Donuts, 5502 4th NW

The ice cream scoops, bulk food storage containers and ice machine were soiled with debris buildup. Outdoor waste bins were found without tight-fitting lids. There were multiple leaks in the plumbing system and inadequate air gaps at floor drains. The person in charge could not provide records of food employee training or certification. The rear dumpster enclosure was unclean with a large amount of trash and debris. Milk and oat milk in the coolers were being held at temperatures above 41 degrees, and ice cream in the walk-in freezer was not maintained in a frozen state. Debris and buildup were observed on facility floors and in floor drains. A single-use cup was being used as a scoop and was improperly stored submerged in bulk food bins, and single-service coffee filters and cups were stored outside their original packaging. The establishment did not have temperature logs available for time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Sept. 17); re-inspection required (Sept. 17); passed follow-up inspection (Sept. 19)

Ex Novo Brewing Co., 701 Central NW

Poisonous or toxic materials, specifically sanitizer, were stored next to food. Ready-to-eat food was held past its seven-day limit or lacked date marking. There was an inadequate air gap at the three-compartment sink. Food employees were not in possession of a food handler card or other approved training. Working containers holding food ingredients were not labeled with the common name of the food. An employee’s drink was stored improperly next to food products. A food employee did not wash their hands when required, such as when changing tasks. There was no written notification of major food allergens for unpackaged food. The facility lacked an adequate consumer advisory warning for consuming raw or undercooked animal products. Utensils, including stainless steel pots and pans, were wet stacked and not air-dried.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Sept. 17); re-inspection required (Sept. 17); passed follow-up inspection (Sept. 17)

IHOP, 1400 Mercantile NE

Equipment food-contact surfaces, including the food dicer, mixer and ice maker, had a buildup of dried food debris and other grime. A working container, a plastic spray bottle, was not properly labeled with its common name, glass cleaner. Approximately six dead cockroaches were found in the back dry storage and mop storage areas. Gravy and green chile sauce were not held at the proper hot holding temperature of 135 degrees or above. Ready-to-eat foods like pancake batter, chocolate milk and shredded cheddar cheese were found past their use-by or expiration dates. An outdoor waste bin in the parking lot had its lid open and litter on the ground. There was an inadequate air gap at the prep sink near the cookline and under the soda machine at the server station. The facility did not provide a designated area for employees to eat or drink, and a personal drink was found in an undercounter cooler. Employee personal belongings, specifically a cellphone, were stored on a prep table. There was no approved method for hand drying at the customer restroom handwashing sink. A handwashing sink in the back kitchen was being used to dump sanitizer wiping cloth containers. The chemical sanitizer concentration in a wiping cloth container was over 3000, which is an excessive level. An employee was wearing unapproved jewelry, bracelets, while preparing food. A food employee on the cookline was without a proper hair restraint, a beard net, while cooking. A food employee did not wash their hands when required, such as when changing tasks and before donning new gloves. There was no written notification of major food allergens for unpackaged food served to consumers. An in-use single-serve portion cup without a handle was improperly stored in direct contact with sugar at the front beverage station. Nonfood contact surfaces, including monitors above the cookline, a fan on a prep table and floors throughout the facility, had a buildup of soil residues, grease and dust.

Result: Closure (Sept. 19); re-inspection required (Sept. 19); passed follow-up inspection (Sept. 19)

La Madeleine, 2110 Louisiana NE

The chlorine sanitizer solution in the warewash machine had a concentration of zero ppm. The warewash machine station had a buildup of white, orange, brown and black grime. An employee’s Advil medication was improperly stored on the paper towel dispenser at the handwashing station. Pests were found accumulating in the facility, including one live cockroach and over 10 dead cockroaches. The floor drain of the janitor sink was missing a strainer. An inadequate air gap was observed at a floor drain located under the beverage station. The food establishment did not have a certified food protection manager on staff. Food employees did not have a food handler card or other proof of training. Food containers holding graham cracker crumbs and coconut shavings were not labeled with their common name. Mixed cut fruit on a prep table was held at a temperature of 62 degrees, which is above the 41 degrees requirement for cold holding. A food scoop was improperly stored in a handwashing sink. A light bulb was burned out in the hood vent over the oven. A food employee did not wash their hands when changing tasks and donning new gloves. An ice scoop was stored incorrectly on a dirty drip tray. There was food debris and buildup on the vinyl sheeting in the kitchen near the cook line.

Result: Closure (Sept. 16); re-inspection required (Sept. 16); unsatisfactory (Sept. 16); re-inspection required (Sept. 16)

La Petite Academy, 5212 Homestead NE

Chlorine solution used to sanitize food-contact surfaces had a concentration of zero ppm. The can opener had a buildup of food debris and metal shavings on its cutting blade. The person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention, specifically, not knowing the required ppm for chlorine sanitizer. There was an inadequate air gap at the floor drain under the three-compartment sink. The facility did not have a sanitizing solution testing kit or device. Chemical sanitizer in a spray bottle was above the maximum permitted level of 200 ppm.

Result: Closure (Sept. 16); re-inspection required (Sept. 16); passed follow-up inspection (Sept. 16)

Owl Cafe, 800 Eubank NE

A buildup of soil residue was found on the kitchen’s ice machine. Pooled eggs were found that were not prepared for a customer's order or for batter. An employee failed to change single-use gloves when switching tasks. The person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention. A dented can of strawberry filling was found in the back storage room. Food items like pickles, onions, and shredded cheese were not covered in the walk-in cooler and freezer. There was insufficient cold holding equipment to properly hold food, with a prep top cooler measuring at 51 degrees. Handwashing sinks were blocked or inaccessible. The chlorine sanitizer concentration in the wiping cloth buckets was over 200ppm. Light bulbs in the hood ventilation system lacked protective shielding. A food employee did not wash their hands when required. Equipment was wet stacked and not air-dried after cleaning. The wall at the serving station was in disrepair around the water faucet and drain area.

Result: Closure (Sept. 17); re-inspection required (Sept. 17); passed follow-up inspection (Sept. 17)

Sushi Gen, 5210 San Mateo NE

TCS foods like fried shrimp were not hot held at 135 degrees or above. The food establishment did not have a certified food protection manager on staff. Food employees were not in possession of a valid food handler card or had not been trained in an approved food safety course. There was inadequate lighting under the kitchen’s hood due to a burned-out light bulb. Buildup and debris were observed on the floors, walls and ceilings throughout the kitchen area.

Result: Unsatisfactory (Sept. 15); re-inspection required (Sept. 15); passed follow-up inspection (Sept. 18)