Restaurant inspections: Rodent infestation closes 2 spots; Cathedral City eatery scores B

Ema Sasic, Palm Springs Desert Sun
·7 min read

Rodent infestations closed down two Coachella Valley spots this week, and another facility scored a "B" grade, according to reports conducted Feb. 16 through 22.

Bangkok Noodles in Cathedral City and Villa Royale (the hotel that houses Del Rey restaurant) in Palm Springs were closed by Riverside County environmental health inspectors this week after they observed signs of active rodent infestations, including droppings, urine and gnaw marks. The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health website states Villa Royale was reopened on Feb. 22, but a reinspection report was not available on Friday morning. Bangkok Noodles will have a reinspection on Feb. 29.

Wang's Chinese Cuisine in Cathedral City also received a "B" grade during its most recent inspection. Though there were no major violations noted, citations included an employee handling raw meat and not properly washing their hands before handling more raw meat and improper storage of food.

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

Bangkok Noodles, 35-911 Date Palm Drive, Suite C3, Cathedral City

  • Multiple rodent droppings on floors, single-use cup wrapper, opened bag of sugar, on top of soy sauce container and on shelving with seasonings at dry storage room. Rodent urine also found on can of chili paste at dry storage room

  • Other violations include: No food manager certificate available at time of inspection; hot water turned off at handwashing sink but later turned on by employee; opened bags of sugar stored on shelving at dry storage room, gnaw marks on a bag of potatoes and on one of the potatoes at dry storage room, uncovered container of tofu stored below other food items inside cooler and an open container of coconut milk stored below other food items inside cooler; leaking faucet at handwashing sink; accumulation of food debris, grease and ice on utensils and equipment; cardboard used to line shelving, single-use bowls used as scooping utensils inside bulk containers of rice and a scooping utensil stored with handle in contact with food; all three trash bin lids stored open; personal cup stored above bags of rice noodles; food debris, dirt and dust on floors and walls

  • Facility has been closed due to rodent infestation. A reinspection has been set for Feb. 29

Villa Royale (Del Rey), 1620 S. Indian Trail, Palm Springs

Note: The Riverside County Department of Environmental Health website states the facility was reopened on Feb. 22, but a reinspection report was not available on Friday morning.

  • Observed rodent activity throughout the facility (one dead rodent on a trap underneath the refrigerator; gnaw marks on a bulk bag of brown sugar; fur on a prep table; droppings inside a container of receipt paper, on the floor underneath the food storage shelves, on a can in the food storage shelves, on the floor in the water heater room on the floor near the warewash/prep area). Flies also observed in the food facility

  • Other violations include: No valid food manager certificate; soap dispenser at the indoor hand wash sink not functioning; potentially hazardous foods (cooked vegetables, sauces with dairy, meats) stored in refrigerator measuring 44-45 degrees for more than four hours, and three sauces and sliced tomatoes in refrigerator measuring 49 degrees for more than four hours; no sanitizer was detected in the final rinse of the two bar low temperature dish machines, observed an employee towel dry bar glasses, multiple food contact surfaces/equipment in need of cleaning; a large gap present when the pool bar doors are all closed, a gap underneath the server room/breakfast service room door, holes and gaps in other areas of the facility and snap traps on the floor underneath the food prep sink and near the storage shelves of the kitchen; food stored on the floor in the walk-in refrigerator, food uncovered in the indoor bar freezer and bar toppings stored uncovered at the pool bar; certain equipment in need of repairs, a leak from the faucet of the prep sink, three-compartment sink detaching from the wall; debris, grease and other buildup on equipment throughout facility; multiple wiping cloths stored outside of wiping cloth containers; hot water measuring 119 degrees and not minimum of 120 degrees; employee phones and cups among food prep counters and shelves in the kitchen and pool bar areas; floor tiles cracked and missing base coving tiles; floors throughout the facility in need of cleaning and standing water observed on the floor of the kitchen

  • Facility has been closed due to rodent infestation. Due to a second downgrade within a 24-month period, this facility is required to attend an administrative hearing prior to having a rescored inspection. The administrative hearing has been scheduled for 9 a.m. Feb. 27

0 major violations, 20 points deducted

Wang's Chinese Cuisine, 35-300 Date Palm Drive, Cathedral City

  • Violations include: Observed an employee handle raw meat, rinse his hands with water and attempt to continue handle raw meats; handwashing sink blocked by boxes and empty containers; multiple large containers of raw beef and chicken measuring 56-61 degrees stored at food preparation sink, food preparation table and on top of mechanical dishwasher (food was delivered less than 30 minutes prior to inspection and was being separated to be marinated); improper sanitation concentration and employee rinsed wiping cloths with water and used cloth to wipe cutting board; observed multiple flies inside food preparation area; cooked chicken and diced beef stored inside grocery bags, large bowl of raw chicken stored directly on the floor near food preparation sink, large containers of raw pork stored on food preparation sink next to a large container of water and unclean equipment, uncovered container of cooked chicken stored below other food items, uncovered container of Chinese mushrooms stored in cooler, raw beef stored inside a bean sprouts bag, open cans of oyster sauce and corn stored inside cooler, and missing lids on bulk food containers at dry storage; certain utensils and equipment in need of repair or proper storage; accumulation of food debris, grease and black buildup on certain utensils and equipment; an accumulation of grease buildup on filters and exhaust hood frame; multiple wiping cloths stored at cook line; a can of Raid stored below handwashing sink at front counter and personal items stored above food for customers; damaged floor tiles and missing base cove tiles; dirt, debris, animal blood, and black mold-like substances on floors, walls and doors

  • "B" card posted. Due to facility's on-going non-compliance and failed inspections, the permit may be suspended or revoked

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

  • Memo's Sushi, 68-655 Ramon Road, Suite A

  • Taco Uno 1, 68-463 Ramon Road

  • Denny's, 69-050 Highway 111

  • New Leaf Catering/Sammy's Place, 69-032-69-034 Palm Canyon Drive

  • Wienerschnitzel, 68-785 Ramon Road

Coachella

  • Eastern Buffet, 49-211 Grapefruit Blvd., Suite 7

La Quinta

  • El Pollo Loco, 78-621 Highway 111

Palm Desert

  • Koutouki Greek Estiatorio, 73-675 Highway 111, Suite A (Following reinspection)

  • Ruby Thai, 72-840 Highway 111, Suite FC3 (Following reinspection)

  • The 19th Hole Bar & Restaurant, 42-305 Washington St., Suite A

Palm Springs

  • Village Pub, 266 S. Palm Canyon Drive

  • Cold Stone Creamery, 2465 E. Palm Canyon Drive

  • McDonald's, 2465 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite 13

  • Nina Mani, 555 S. Sunrise Way

  • Holiday House Palm Springs, 200 W. Arenas Road

  • Jake's, 664 N. Palm Canyon Drive

  • La Bonita's, 330 N. Palm Canyon Drive (Following reinspection)

Rancho Mirage

  • Five Guys Burgers & Fries, 71-800 Highway 111

  • Haus of Poke, 42-500 Bob Hope Drive, Suite 3

  • Honey Baked Ham, 71-634 Highway 111

Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for the week of Feb. 16 through 22 in Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells and Indio.

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: Rodent infestation closes Cathedral City, Palm Springs restaurants