Which Merced-area restaurants failed health inspections in February, March? See the results

Tim Sheehan
·4 min read

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Twenty-one restaurants, markets or other food businesses across Merced County failed health inspections the past two months, receiving “unsatisfactory” scores from inspectors’ visits.

But seven of those salvaged passing “satisfactory” or “good” ratings from follow-up re-inspection visits before March ended.

Merced County’s ratings are based on how many violation points a business gets in an inspection visit.

The county serves up “good” ratings to businesses with six or fewer violation points, “satisfactory” ratings for seven to 13 violation points, and “unsatisfactory” ratings for 14 or more points.

Of almost 140 food establishments visited by inspectors between Feb. 1 and the end of March, 35 received “satisfactory” ratings. “Good” ratings were awarded to 82 businesses, including 24 that passed with no violation points.

M&M Italian Restaurant on West Pacheco Boulevard in Los Banos racked up 30 points in a March 25 inspection – the highest number of violation points over the two-month period. The most serious violations noted by a health inspector were a lack of hot water at hand-washing sinks in the kitchen and restrooms, and a bartender washing hands in a three-compartment sink instead of the designated hand-washing sink.

Seven of the businesses that received unsatisfactory ratings were in Merced, including the school cafeteria at the Iris Garrett Juvenile Justice Complex on Sandy Mush Road south of Merced. There, a total of 17 violation points were noted. Two of the serious violations involved a lack of hot water, failing to reach the required minimum temperature for washing dishes. A lesser violation was noted in logs showing that food received at the cafeteria was at a temperature less then 135 degrees – a threshold at which food should not be accepted for safety reasons.

Other Merced businesses with unsatisfactory scores were:

  • Applebee’s on West Olive Avenue, 27 points in a March 4 inspection.

  • The Boys & Girls Club of Merced on West 15th Street, 16 points in a Feb. 16 reinspection. The club earned a good rating with only two points in a March 20 follow-up visit.

  • New Thai Cuisine on West 16th Street, 20 points in a March 20 inspection.

  • Table 59 on North Highway 59, 19 points in a Feb. 7 inspection. The restaurant earned a satisfactory rating from a March 13 follow-up visit with 10 points.

  • El Bajio Market on West 16th Street, 20 points in a Feb. 6 inspection. The market earned a good rating from a March 7 follow-up visit with four points.

  • New China Cafe on West Main Street, 21 points in a Feb. 1 inspection. The restaurant earned a satisfactory rating from a March 5 follow-up visit with seven points.

Other communities where businesses received unsatisfactory scores were:

  • Los Banos – In addition to M & M Italian Restaurant, five businesses: the 7-Eleven store on North Mercey Springs Road; La Esperanza Food Center on West Pacheco Boulevard; Wool Growers Restaurant on H Street; Mr. Taco on West Pacheco Boulevard; and Wienerschnitzel on West Pacheco Boulevard. Mr Taco received a good rating from a March 25 re-inspection.

  • Livingston – Two businesses: Livingston Gas & Grovery on Davis Street in a Feb. 23 inspection; and La Morenita Restaurant No. 4 on Main Street in a Feb. 20 inspection.

  • Snelling – Two businesses: Snelling Chevron on North Highway 59 in a Feb. 22 visit; and Boland’s Market on North Highway 59, also in a Feb. 22 inspection. Snelling Chevron received a satisfactory rating from a March 27 follow-up inspection, but a March 27 reinspection at Boland’s Market resulted in an unsatisfactory rating.

  • Atwater – One business: Orient Market on Broadway Avenue in a Feb. 1 visit.

  • Dos Palos – One business: Azusa Market on West Azusa Road in a Feb. 7 visit. The market received a good score in a Feb. 16 re-inpsection.

  • Gustine – One business: L and E Dining and Take-Out on 5th Street in a March 19 inspection.

  • Stevinson – One business: Stevinson Bar & Grill on Third Avenue in a March 21 inspection.

Merced County’s Environmental Health Division maintains a database of restaurant and food inspections online for public viewing at its web page, www.countyofmerced.com/597/Environmental-Health; click the “Food Inspections” tab along the left side of the page.