Restaurants in the red: Nursing home, Panda Express closed, reopened

Las Palomas Nursing and Rehab Center had an immediate closure with a rodent infestation and failed a follow up inspection before getting back in the green. Panda Express on Montgomery was closed for a cockroach infestation and passed a subsequent follow up. Best Western Executive Suites was downgraded for violations that included damaged canned food items, but passed a follow up.

Filiberto’s is back in the green after a previous downgrade.

GREEN

Walgreens, 9700 Menaul NE (June 30)

La Petite Academy, 12215 Towner NE (June 28)

Smith’s, 5850 Eubank NE (June 30)

Eloy’s Mexican Restaurant, 1508 Wyoming NE (June 29)

Best Western Executive Suites, 4630 Pan American NE (June 26)

Las Palomas Nursing and Rehab Center, 8100 Palomas NE (June 30)

Panda Express, 9500 Montgomery NE (June 28)

Sandia Learning Center, 2433 Chelwood Park NE (June 28)

Rose Garden, 10401 Golf Course NW (June 29)

Taco Bell, 1470 Coors NW (June 26)

Panera Bread, 6500 Holly NE (June 28)

Walmart, 4700 Cutler NE (June 26)

Little Lobitos, 5015 Fourth Street NW (June 30)

McDonald’s, 5700 McMahon NW (June 30)

Twister’s, 2103 Menaul NE (June 30)

Paleteria La Michoacana, 4501 Fourth Street NW (June 29)

Ross Dress for Less, 350 Eubank NE (June 30)

Starbucks, 5730 McMahon NW (June 30)

Crazy Bomb Cups, 2130 San Mateo NE (June 29)

Chuze Fitness, 9350 Eagle Ranch NW (June 28)

Dollar Tree, 370 Eubank NE (June 30)

Hanmi, 2120 Juan Tabo NE (June 26)

Fast Market, 12521 Menaul NE (June 30)

Latte Corazon, 413 Adams SE (June 26)

Filiberto’s, 5555 Zuni SE (June 28)

El Dogo de Oro, 4711 Menaul NE (June 28)

Burning Daylight Coffee Co., 4101 Menaul NE (June 30)

Toritos Carnitas, 4711 Menaul NE (June 28)

Lotus Tree Herbal, 5701 Gibson SE (June 26)

Scooter’s Coffee, 2509 San Mateo NE (June 26)

RED

Best Western Executive Suites, 4630 Pan American NE (June 26)

Result: Downgrade; passed follow-up inspection

Observed multiple dented cans, including marinara and green chile with damage along seams and with one can swelling. Observed no sanitizer solution available at the facility.

Observed no person in charge. General manager and regional manager were called in during inspection.

Observed sausage and diced cooked potatoes stored on the counter temping at 49.5 degrees. Spoke with food handling employee about how long they had been sitting out for, employee state three-and-a-half hours.

Observed no ambient air thermometers in reach in coolers or freezer.

Observed live roach under reach in coolers in storage/hand washing area.

Observed multiple boxes of coffee stored on the ground. Observed multiple wiping cloths stored on make station cutting boards and prep tables. Observed single use articles such as cups and cutlery stored in mechanical room on the ground. Observed no sanitizer testing devices available.

Observed multiple holes and gaps in storage area by hand washing sink and reach in cooler and freezer located at bottom of wall next to door to mechanical room, to the left of the hand-washing sink, and around plumbing/electrical lines. Observed significant debris under reach in cooler and freezer in storage area.

Observed food handling employees washing hands in three compartment sink.

Panda Express, 9500 Montgomery NE (June 26)

Result: Immediate closure; passed follow up inspection.

Evidence observed to substantiate complaint. Observed cockroaches in several area of the facility near, on and under food prep and food contact surfaces as well as non-food contact surfaces. Observed several cockroaches on floor under hot hold make line equipment with substantial debris build up. Cockroaches were also observed in cabinet on soda dispensing station. Observed two species of roaches in the cabinet under the soda dispensing station. Observed pest control records, records stated no signs of pest activity in the facility. But records did state several areas could use some deep cleaning and sanitizing. Areas noted on report were where cockroaches were found during inspection. Inspector requiring emergency pest control treatment.

Observed gap along bottom of back door entering the facility.

Observed substantial food build up under kitchen equipment like fryers and rice steamers.

Observed substantial food build up on floor under make line. Observed no strainer on floor drain under soda dispensing machine in dining area.

Observed electrical outlet cover near hand washing station was loose.

Evidence was observed to substantiate complaint. Observed cockroaches ins several areas of the facility near, on and under food prep and food contact surfaces as well as non food contact surfaces.

Las Palomas Nursing and Rehab Center, 8100 Palomas NE (June 26)

Result: Immediate Closure; did not pass first follow up, but passed second follow up.

Observed quat sanitizer in bucket testing at 0 parts per million. Observed black and brown debris build up on the inside of ice machine along ceiling and ice shoot.

Observed gaps along the bottom of back door leading to the outside. Along the ramp outside near trash compactor, observed holes into the walls, one of the holes with heavy significant amounts of droppings. Observed gaps around door frame at back door. Observed rodent droppings present at food prep sink, under dish racks, dish machine, dining room, paper towel and toilet paper storage area.

Observed food handling employees with bracelets on. Observed employee drinks stored on prep tables and dish machine. Observed boxes of paper towels stored on the ground.

Observed plumbing leak from two compartment sink leaking on the floor with water pooling underneath.

Observed holes into wall around plumbing fixtures under dish machine, large holes into the wall at the dish area nook with water shut off valves including where glue boards were used to block the hole, and smaller holes above water shut off valves in the nook. Observed significant debris build up on the floor underneath the dish machine. Observed grease build up on wall behind the saute station. Observed missing/broken tiles and gaps along the floor and wall junctures at the walk in cooler area and in the paper towel/toilet paper area with openings into the wall.

Observed evidence of rodent infestation through rodent droppings present at ice machine inside the kitchen area, dining room, and dry goods storage room.

Person in charge was issued a notice of closure and suspension and has five business days to cease rodent infestation and to remedy the infestation.

Evidence was observed to partially substantaite complaint of unsanitary conditions, observing evidence of rodent infestation. No evidence observed to substantiate complaint of employees not washing hands and not wearing gloves.

Observed paper towel dispenser not functioning and an empty paper towel roll next to sink.

Las Palomas Nursing and Rehab Center, 8100 Palomas NE (June 27)

Result: Not in compliance

Observed gaps around door frame at back door. Observed rodent droppings present at ice machine inside the kitchen area, dining room, and dry goods storage room. Observed no traps inside facility kitchen facility, pest control noted that they had placed five traps with three bait traps outside had been refilled. Pest control noted one mouse caught in traps when replaced.

Observed two leaks from dish machine with pooling water onto the ground.

Observed multiple outdoor sheds including multiple dilapidated storage sheds with items including medical supplies, maintenance, equipment and single use articles with holes, gaps, broken doors and heavy rodent droppings inside. Observed coving strips in pantry area with gaps along seams throughout pantry. Observed coving tile under three compartment sink ajar, unattached from wall.

At the time of follow up inspection continued evidence of rodent infestation through rodent droppings was present at food prep sink, under dish racks, dish machine, dining room, paper towel and toilet paper storage area. 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. PIC was issued a notice of closure and suspension and has five business day to cease rodent infestation and to remedy the infestation.

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information, or to view a searchable database of city restaurant inspections, visit the Environmental Health’s inspection results page here.

For questions or concerns, please contact interim business editor John Leacock at jleacock@abqjournal.com