Restaurant health inspections: Cathedral City spot earns 'B' over food temps

Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·3 min read

While most Coachella Valley restaurants passed their Riverside County environmental health inspections with flying colors, one Cathedral City spot scored a "B" grade, according to reports conducted Feb. 9 through 15.

Taco Uno 1 in Cathedral City was cited for two major violations, including improper hot and cold holding temperatures and improper reheating procedures, as well as other minor issues, which led to a score of 80, or a "B." The restaurant was not shut down by inspectors, but it's not clear if or when a reinspection will take place.

Major violations pose an imminent risk to public health and warrant the immediate closure of a food facility or immediate correction, while minor violations do not pose an imminent public health risk, but do warrant correction.

2 major violations, 20 points deducted

Taco Uno 1, 68-463 Ramon Road, Cathedral City

  • Improper hot and cold holding temperatures (cooked potatoes with bacon measuring 72 degrees; two opened packages of shredded cheese measuring 54-56 degrees; raw shell egg measuring 62 degrees) | Potentially hazardous foods shall be held at or below 41 degrees or at or above 135 degrees. Certain items were discarded or placed in proper temperature

  • Improper reheating procedures (cooked shredded beef, rice and beans being reheated in steamtable with an internal temperature of 54-62 degrees) | Any potentially hazardous foods cooked, cooled and subsequently reheated shall be brought to an internal temperature of 165 degrees for 15 seconds prior to hot holding

  • Other violations include: No food safety certificate provided at time of the inspection; observed owner put on glove without first washing hands and then proceed to handled unpackaged food products; paper towel dispenser empty at one handwashing sink; hot water did not reach minimum of 120 degrees; entry door propped open; case of food product stored under oven on the floor, two open cans with food products stored incorrectly and paper towels used to line inserts at the cookline drawer refrigerator; equipment needs proper cleaning; clean utensils stored on the dirty side drain-board at three-compartment warewash sink and sponges stored on the drain board at the food prep sink

  • "B" card posted. No further information available about a reinspection date

Grade A restaurants

An “A” grade, or a score of 90 to 100 points, means a restaurant passed an inspection and met minimum health standards.

Cathedral City

  • Azucena's Raspados Y Ice Cream, 68-420 Ramon Road, Suite 6

  • Otori Japanese Cuisine, 68-100 Ramon Road, Suite A1

  • Romano's Pizza Subs & Salads, 27-800 Landau Blvd., Suite 101B

  • McDonald's, 31-250 Bob Hope Drive

  • Starbucks, 31-280 Bob Hope Drive

Desert Hot Springs

  • Its Taste of India, 13-104 Palm Drive

  • La Abuelita Bakery, 13-112 Palm Drive

  • La Michoacana, 13-148 Palm Drive

  • The Village Donut, 13-160 Palm Drive

Palm Desert

  • Avondale Golf Club, 75-800 Avondale Drive

Palm Springs

  • Maleza at Drift Palm Springs, 284 S. Indian Canyon Drive

  • Fujisan Sushi, 1717 E. Vista Chino

  • Dick's on Arenas, 301 E. Arenas Road

  • Hunters Palm Springs, 302 E. Arenas Road

  • Streetbar, 224 E. Arenas Road

  • Subway, 425 Sunrise Way, Suite G-1

  • Clandestino, 175 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 160

Rancho Mirage

  • International House of Pancakes, 34-199 Monterey Ave.

  • Monteferante Fine Foods, 72-301 Country Club Drive, Suite 110

  • Slice Italia, 72-775 Dinah Shore Drive, Suite 107

  • Sushi Kawa, 71-800 Highway 111, Suite A116

  • Thunderbird Country Club, 70-612 Highway 111

Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for the week of Feb. 9 through 15 in Coachella, Indian Wells, Indio and La Quinta.

This weekly report was compiled using restaurant grading reports from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, accessible at restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org/Default.aspx

Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Cathedral City restaurant earns 'B' grade during health inspection