Local pizza joint red-tagged for rodent droppings, fly infestation

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information, or to view a searchable database of city restaurant inspections, 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.

July 19-25

GREEN

Amnesia Dispensary, 2100 Juan Tabo NE (July 23)

Arby’s, 5800 Menaul NE (July 25)

Barelas Coffee House, 1502 4th SW (July 24)

Catholic Charities Children’s Learning Center, 2010 Bridge SW (July 23)

Cheba Hut, 6902 Menaul NE (July 22)

Chilis Grill & Bar, 1700 Miles SE (July 25)

Cliff’s Rocky Mountain Munchies, 4800 Osuna NE (July 23)

Cliff’s Cabana Grill and Chill, 4800 Osuna NE (July 23)

Cliff’s Rattlin’ Pizzeria, 4800 Osuna NE (July 23)

Cliff’s All American Cafe, 4800 Osuna NE (July 23)

Cliff’s Dippin’ Dots Cart, 4800 Osuna NE (July 23)

Denovo Market, 101 98th SW (July 22)

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 1410 Wyoming NE (July 24)

El Bronco, 5420 Central SE (July 23)

Garcia’s Kitchen, 8518 Indian School NE (July 23)

Hinkle Family Fun Center, 12931 Indian School NE (July 24)

Hinkle Family Fun Center, 12931 Indian School NE (July 24)

Hook It Up Fish & Chips, 1909 Bellamah NW (July 24)

Island Vibes Cuisine, 110 Louisiana SE (July 22)

Japanese Kitchen, 6521 Americas NE (July 25)

Kona Ice, 6320 Zuni SE (July 23)

La Quinta Inn, 6101 Iliff NW (July 25)

Leaf & Flower, 4711 Lomas (July 25)

Little Caesars, 10020 Central SE (July 21)

Manzano Del Sol, 5201 Roma NE (July 23)

McDonald’s, 5001 Gibson SE (July 25)

Milly’s, 2100 Candelaria NE (July 24)

Oasis Cannabis Co., 2720 Central SE (July 22)

Presbyterian, 1100 Central SE (July 21)

Quality Custom Distribution, 3205 Broadway SE (July 22)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Class B), 6640 Indian School NE (July 23)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Class C), 6640 Indian School NE (July 23)

Southwest Child Care, 4802 Wyoming NE (July 25)

Springhill Suites, 5910 Holly NE (July 23)

Sprout’s, 13150 Central SE (July 21)

Tokyo Hana Hibachi & Sushi Bar, 10001 Coors NW (July 23)

Verdes Foundation, 6105 Coronado NE (July 24)

Wendy’s, 4800 Culture NE (July 24)

YELLOW

El Bronco, 5420 Central SE (July 23)

Ruth’s Chris Steak House (Class C), 6640 Indian School NE (July 23)

RED

Bahama Bucks, 10131 Coors NW

Personal drinks and food were found on the front counter near the ice machine. There were no lockers or suitable storage for employee clothing or personal belongings. A restricted-use pesticide, store-bought Roundup for insects, was applied by an uncertified person. Poisonous or toxic materials were stored improperly, potentially contaminating food. No handwashing cleanser was available at the women’s restroom sink. The drive-thru handwashing sink was misused for washing syrup bottle tops. No approved hand drying method was available in the women’s restroom. The drive-thru handwashing station lacked a handwashing sign. Interior air ducts had substantial debris buildup throughout the kitchen and dining areas. Lighting was inadequate in the walk-in freezer, making it dim and hard to see and clean. The facility had insufficient hot water, with none present during the inspection. A scoop was stored incorrectly in protein powder, with its handle in direct contact with the food. Dead and living pests, including rodents, flies and ants, were observed in the back kitchen and drive-thru window areas. Nonfood contact surfaces throughout the facility had substantial food and soil debris buildup. A food employee worked without proper hair restraints in the kitchen area while handling open food products. Floors, walls and ceilings throughout the kitchen and dining areas had buildup and debris. A soiled mop was stored directly on the floor next to the mop sink. The wall behind the front counter under the sink had a large hole, approximately 5 inches. The water line was leaking in the ceiling/attic area near the back of the kitchen. A floor drain was missing its protective dome cover. Inadequate air gaps were present at floor drains at the front counter, ice machine, and back of the kitchen area. The person in charge could not demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention due to multiple priority violations. The food establishment had no certified food protection manager on staff. Food employees did not possess food handler cards or approved food safety training. No testing kit was available for chemical sanitizing solution concentration. The establishment lacked calibration logs for temperature measuring devices. No temperature logs were available for TCS food items, specifically cut fruit that was thawed and cooled. Soiled wiping cloths were improperly used and stored on prep tables and cutting boards. No sanitizer was available at the time of inspection. Ready-to-eat TCS food had no date marking indicators, including cut fruit and various unknown sauces/flavorings in the prep top cooler.

Result: Closure (July 21); re-inspection required (July 21); unsatisfactory (July 24); re-inspection required (July 24)

Garcia’s Kitchen, 8518 Indian School NE

A dented metal can of tomato sauce was observed with compromised packaging integrity. Poisonous or toxic materials were stored improperly next to utensils, potentially contaminating them. Working containers for toxic materials were not properly labeled or identified. The facility had insufficient hot water because the water heater unit was not maintaining temperature overnight. Carne adovada was not held at or above 135 degrees. Cleaned metal tongs were improperly stored in a dirty plastic container with food debris. The waste storage area in the parking lot was unclean with piled food waste and trash. A soiled mop not in use was stored improperly on an employee drink area/table shelf. An inadequate air gap was observed at the floor drain under the handwash station. Uncovered chicken nuggets were improperly stored in an upright freezer, exposed to contamination. The quaternary ammonium compound sanitizer solution was below the required concentration in a wiping cloth container. The sopapilla dough mixer was not cleaned and sanitized between uses and had soil buildup.

Result: Closure (July 23); re-inspection required (July 23); passed follow-up inspection (July 23)

Richie B’s Pizza, 7200 Montgomery NE

A food employee did not wash hands when required, after picking items off the ground with bare hands before donning gloves and touching food. The handwashing sink in the kitchen area lacked a handwashing sign. Interior intake and exhaust air ducts and fans in the kitchen area had significant debris buildup. Utensils during a pause in use were stored incorrectly, specifically a pizza cutter in a container of water with ice. Equipment components, such as door gaskets in reach-in coolers and food prep table coolers, were torn and in poor repair. A cutting surface had deep scratches and scoring, limiting its effective cleaning and sanitization. The facility had inadequate procedures to effectively control pests, with significant rodent droppings and a fly infestation throughout the kitchen and service area. Observed heavy, significant amounts of grease and other debris build up immediately outside the door next to grease collection and dumpster. Outer doors to the outside were not tight-fitting, allowing light and gaps for pest entry. A nonfood contact surface, specifically an oven handle, was not smooth and was coated in peeling tape. Nonfood contact surfaces throughout the facility, including fryers, ovens, shelving and coolers, were coated in significant heavy debris. Waste bins outside the food establishment lacked tight-fitting lids or doors and had a significant number of flies present. A food employee in the kitchen was observed preparing food without proper hair restraints. There was a tremendous amount of buildup and debris throughout the facility, coating surfaces, walls and floors, including areas with oil dripping. Numerous holes were present in the walls, including a large cut-out in the mop sink area, and wall/flooring junctures were not fully sealed. An inadequate air gap was observed at the warewashing area floor drain. A plumbing line by the three-compartment sink was in disrepair, leaking water and pooling onto the floor. The person in charge was unable to demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention and Food Code requirements due to multiple imminent health hazards. Food employees were not in possession of a food handler card or had not been trained in an approved food safety course. Ambient air thermometers in reach-in coolers were not easily readable and were improperly placed in the very back of coolers next to compressors. The food establishment did not have calibration logs for temperature measuring devices. The food establishment did not have temperature logs available for TCS food items, with no logs kept for any food items throughout the facility. The toilet room was not equipped with a tight-fitting self-closing door or had the door propped open. Soiled wet wiping cloths were improperly used and stored outside of sanitizer buckets on storage surfaces. Food items in cold holding units throughout the kitchen and warewashing/storage area were measuring above 41 degrees. No written notification of the presence of major food allergens was provided for unpackaged food served or sold to consumers. Utensil food-contact surfaces, including can openers, strainers, pans and cutting boards, were coated in significant debris and had flies present. Ready-to-eat time and temperature-controlled for safety food had no date marking indicators, including miscellaneous sauces in the back cooler.

Result: Closure (July 22); re-inspection required (July 22); unsatisfactory (July 25); re-inspection required (July 25)