Restaurant inspections: No hot water closes Cathedral City spot; two eateries score 'B'

A new Italian bakery and deli in Cathedral City was shut down for at least a week by Riverside County environmental health inspectors, while two Palm Desert spots scored failing “B” grades on their most recent inspections, according to reports conducted Feb. 2 through 8.

From Mouth To Mouth in Cathedral City did not have hot water available at the time of its inspection, resulting in a closure, along with other violations deemed minor under the health standards. It will be able to reopen if it passes a follow-up inspection.

Additionally, Ruby Thai and Koutouki Greek Estiatorio in Palm Desert both received “B” grades due to a number of violations they racked up, including improper hot and cold food holding temperatures, improper storage of food containers and various areas in need of cleaning. The latter two spots can remain open but will be reinspected.

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.

Facility closure

From Mouth To Mouth, 67-730 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 102, Cathedral City

• Hot water did not reach minimum temperature of 120 degrees | Facility closed

• Other violations include: No food manager certificate available on-site; missing soap and soap dispenser inside employee restroom, paper towels stored directly on sink inside employee restroom and missing permanently installed soap dispenser inside customer restroom; improper hot and cold holding temperatures (sliced cheese, mayonnaise, salsa and mozzarella cheese measuring between 45-49 degrees; milk and shredded cheese measuring between 47-55 degrees); food debris on ice inside ice tray and mold growing inside shredded cheese; uncovered tray of ice stored below other food items inside freezer; cooler holding foods above 41 degrees, and an accumulation of water found in another cooler; unclean inner and outer surfaces of two-door freezer and two-door cooler; multiple unclean wiping cloths stored on food preparation table; missing self-closing mechanism on door and toilet paper in employee restroom; personal items stored near food prep area; two expired food handler cards

• Facility has been closed due to no hot water. A reinspection date has been set for Feb. 15

1 major violation, 18 deductions

Ruby Thai, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite FC3, Palm Desert

• Improper hot and cold food holding temperatures (cooked rice at the end of the cook line − without any temperature control − measuring between 90-120 degrees | Rice was voluntarily discarded by employee

• Other violations: Observed employee remove gloves and put on new gloves without washing their hands first; handwashing sink near the back door was observed to be missing soap and paper towels in dispensers and large black gloves stored inside the bin of the handwashing sink; large plastic containers to be wet stacked on a rack at the warewashing area; multiple boxes of food stored directly on the floor of walk-in freezer; grease and food debris buildup on equipment; utensils and equipment stored on top of the water heater and a bowl used as a dispensing scoop inside a container of rice; various wet wiping cloths stored on counters throughout the facility; personal items stored near food prep areas; repairs needed to wall and floor tiles; floors, ceiling and walls in need of cleaning; three missing food handler cards

• "B" card posted. Operator has a minimum of one week to fix violations. A follow-up inspection will be conducted then

0 major violations, 20 points deducted

Koutouki Greek Estiatorio, 73-675 Highway 111

• Minor violations include: cigarette butt on the floor in the office; paper towels missing from the dispensers at the bar handwashing station; cooling rack with potentially hazardous foods stored next to the back door, and meat, potatoes and wraps reheated inside the steam table; air curtain on the back door appears to be nonfunctional and sticky fly traps in use; multiple containers of food stored uncovered in cooler, three containers of food stored uncovered inside walk-in cooler, double stacking of food sheet pans without separation between food and bottom of the sheet pan; three cleaning chemical spray bottles stored on a shelf next to cooking equipment, one chemical spray bottle hanging inside the three-compartment sink bin, open can of Comet cleaner stored on the shelf next to clean dishes; four food buckets stored directly on the floor of the walk-in cooler; multiple pieces of equipment in disrepair; chlorine test strips damaged; grease buildup, food debris, mold and dust observed on equipment and utensils; four pressurized tanks freestanding inside the walk-in cooler at the bar, plastic container used as a scoop stored inside the flour bulk container and two pairs of tongs stored on the oven handle with tong face sticking out into walkway; facility operating without any sanitizer buckets set up through facility; air gaps missing between drain pipes and floor sink in two locations; personal items stored near food prep areas; repairs needed on ceiling, outlet cover and window; floors, walls and ceilings need cleaning

• "B" card posted. Operator has a minimum of one week to fix violations. A follow-up inspection will be conducted then

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

• Carl's Jr., 32-250 Date Palm Drive

• KFC, 32-120 Date Palm Drive

• La Michoacana All Natural, 32-280 Date Palm Drive

• Starbucks, 69-040 Ramon Road

• Subway, 69-030 Ramon Road

• Apong's Philly Steak, 68-444 Perez Road, Suite N

• Cathedral Canyon Country Club, 68-311 Paseo Real

• China 8, 31-855 Date Palm Drive, Suite

• Showgirls Gentleman’s Club, 68-444 Perez Road

• Las Carretas Taco Shop, 67-555 E. Palm Canyon Drive

• Umami Seoul, 67-555 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Palm Desert

• Carmen's Restaurant, 78-010 Country Club Drive, Suite 400

• Guadalajara Cafe & Bar, 74-478 Highway 111, Suite C

• Jillian's, 74-155 El Paseo

• Luna Grill, 73-405 Highway 111, Suite D1

• McDonald's, 72-755 Highway 111

• Pokehana, 73-405 Highway 111, Suite 104

• Gastro Grind Burgers, 73-850 Highway 111, Suite B

• Olga's Tacos, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite FC4

• Papa Dan's Pizza & Pasta, 73-131 Country Club Drive

Palm Springs

• Jelly Donut, 1751 N. Sunrise Way, Suite D8

• Jus Chillin', 190 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way

• Olive A Sudden, 110 Tahquitz Canyon Way

• Birba, 622 N. Palm Canyon Drive

• Cheeky's, 622 N. Palm Canyon Drive

• Cipolline Osteria, 1260 S. Palm Canyon Drive

• Bongo Johnny's Patio Bar & Grill, 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 200

• El Mirasol, 140 E. Palm Canyon Drive

• Gelato Granucci, 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 104

• La Quinta Brewing Co. Palm Springs Taproom, 301 N. Palm Canyon Drive 100

• Palm Springs Stadium 9, 789 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way

• Purple Room, 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive

Rancho Mirage

• Starbucks, 40-101 Monterey Ave.

• Swiss Donut, 40-101 Monterey Ave., E3

• Duke's Mini Mart & Deli, 69-900 Frank Sinatra Drive

• Subway, 40-101 Monterey Ave., Suite F3

• Shanghai Inn, 40-101 Monterey Ave., Suite A3

• Starbucks, 40-101 Monterey Ave., Suite G-1

• Los Arcos Mexican Restaurant, 72-817 Dinah Shore Drive, Suite 103

• Wendy's, 72-837 Dinah Shore Drive

• Wingstop, 34-151 Monterey Ave., Suite 100

Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for the week of Feb. 2 through 8 in Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, 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: No hot water closes Cathedral City restaurant; two others score 'B'