Rodent droppings, food debris spotted at SLO County bakery. What else did inspectors find?

Kaytlyn Leslie
·6 min read
2

One San Luis Obispo County bakery had rodent droppings and food debris near its equipment, while another local eatery was using magazines as potholders.

Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in January during dozens of surprise visits to eating and drinking establishments.

Many food and beverage sellers passed with flying colors, while others needed to make serious improvements.

Every month, The Tribune prints the lowest- and highest-ranked eateries to give diners more information about the places where they buy food and drinks.

Inspectors visit restaurants, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, mini-marts and more on a monthly basis. They score eateries on a 100-point scale and make deductions based on the severity of the violations they find.

To check out the safety and cleanliness of your favorite restaurants around the county, visit www.EatSafeSLO.org and use the interactive map to view full inspection reports.

Here are the highs and lows of the 178 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in January.

Lowest-rated restaurants

Samurai Sushi and Roll, 1131 Creston Road, Paso Robles

Points lost: 38

Notes: During its routine inspection in January, Samurai Sushi and Roll lost a large number of points due to health code violations. According to inspection notes, an inspector “observed multiple food-borne illness factor violations,” during the visit. The restaurant was ordered to ensure employees were educated in proper food handling practices. Other notable violations included employees washing their hands in buckets of water as hand wash and food preparation sinks were both broken, no soap being kept at the hand washing sink, employees’ beverages and meals scattered throughout the food prep area and trash and recycling that needed to be removed from the facility. The inspector also ordered restaurant employees to stop using magazines as pot holders. Due to the scope of the violations found, the restaurant was scheduled to be reinspected in February.

Sylvester’s Burgers, 1875 Front St., Oceano

Points lost: 22

Notes: A health inspector noted that employees of Sylvester’s Burgers in Oceano were “not properly trained on food safety — specifically on proper sanitation of food contact surfaces and proper reheating procedures” during a routine inspection in January. The inspector observed chili being improperly heated using a hot holding unit in the kitchen, no sanitizer being used to clean items in the sink and a front door being kept open without a screen or air curtain. Stainless steel paneling behind the cook line was falling away from the wall, and there was grease accumulation behind it. This was a fire hazard, according to the inspection notes. Because of the violations, the burger joint was ordered to be reinspected. If the violations were not fixed, it could face fines, according to inspection notes.

Hush-Harbor Artisan Bakery, 5735 El Camino Real, Atascadero

Points lost: 17

Notes: A “build up of food debris and rodent droppings” were found on the floors and around equipment at the Atascadero bakery during its January inspection, according to inspection notes. The owner was told to contact a pest management company immediately to combat the issue. Meanwhile, the inspector observed a cup with no lid in the prep area, ham and cheese croissants that were not in temperature control and “excess debris” throughout the facility. The bakery was using aluminum foil to line shelves, and that was showing evidence of use and debris accumulation, according to inspection notes. Hush Harbor was ordered to be reinspected after Feb. 26 to ensure all rodent-related violations had been corrected. If they were not, the business could be billed for future inspections, the inspector noted.

These businesses also lost 10 or more points due to violations.

  • Rancho Nipomo Deli and BBQ, 108 Cuyama Lane, Nipomo

  • San Miguel Market and Deli, 1299 Mission St., San Miguel

  • Valley Liquor, 2199 10th St., Los Osos

  • Fatte’s Pizza, 155 Niblick Road, Paso Robles

  • Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, 333 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach

  • Villa Cantina, 106 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande (change of ownership inspection)

  • Amsterdam Cafe and Gallery, 1519 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach

Highest-rated restaurants

These stores and restaurants received scores of 99 to 100, with few to no violations.

San Luis Obispo

  • AFC Sushi at Ralphs No. 656, 201 Madonna Road

  • Burritos Express, 281 Santa Rosa St.

  • Jack in the Box No. 3290, 390 Santa Rosa St.

  • Nano’s Coffee, 790 Foothill Blvd.

North Coast

  • Best Western Tradewinds, 225 Beach St., Morro Bay

  • Flippos, 220 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay

  • Foghorn Brewhouse, 2940 Main St., Morro Bay

  • Harmony Cellars, 3255 Harmony Valley Road, Harmony

  • Lily’s Coffee House, 2028 E. Main St., Cambria

  • Morro Bay Community Center, 1001 Kennedy Way, Morro Bay

  • Morro Creek Ranch, 1800 Atascadero Road, Morro Bay

South County

  • Brad’s Restaurant, 209 Pomeroy Ave., Pismo Beach

  • CJ’s Restaurant, 611 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande

  • Doughboy’s Pizzeria, 1800 E. Grand Ave., Grover Beach

  • Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 1229 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande

  • Frutiland La Casa Del Sabor, 803 Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande

  • Locals Taproom, 90 San Miguel St., Avila Beach (change of ownership inspection)

  • Nipomo’s Senior Citizen’s Club, 200 E. Dana St., Nipomo

  • Peacock Cellars, 1543 Los Berros Road, Nipomo

  • Sam’s Market, 200 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach

  • Starbucks Coffee, 1586 W. Branch St., Arroyo Grande

  • Starbucks Coffee, 501 Five Cities Drive, Pismo Beach

  • Stop-N-Buy, 459 W. Tefft St., Nipomo

  • Subway No. 13508, 536 Tefft St., Nipomo

  • Tribe Coffee House, 1355 E. Grand Ave., Arroyo Grande

  • Wingstop, 1144 Branch St., Arroyo Grande

  • Yo, Banana Boy! 1381 S. Fourth St., Oceano

North County

  • Alba Provisions & Flowers, 225 S. Main St., Templeton

  • Bethel Road Distillery and Winery, 1266 N. Bethel Road, Templeton

  • Bramble Pie Company, 5945 Entrada, Atascadero

  • Bru Coffee House, 5760 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Burger King No. 10606, 8304 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Carl’s Jr., 7085 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Dollar Tree No. 03631, 2040 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Grey Wolf Vineyard and Cellars, 2174 Highway 46 West, Paso Robles

  • Halter Ranch, 8910 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles

  • Hunter Ranch Golf Course, 4041 Highway 46 East, Paso Robles

  • Jack in the Box No. 3505, 1900 Ramada Drive, Paso Robles

  • Jeffry’s Wine Country BBQ, 819 12th St., Paso Robles

  • Jersey Mike’s, 2301 Theatre Drive, Paso Robles (change of ownership inspection)

  • Just Baked Cake Studio and Bakery, 1815 Spring St., Paso Robles

  • Kilikilo Brewing Company, 3340 Ramada Drive, Paso Robles

  • Leo’s Cafe, 249 10th St., San Miguel

  • Loaves and Fishes, 2650 Spring St., Paso Robles

  • Moe’s Pizza, 7339 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Mr. Pickle’s Sandwich Shop, 7177 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Mt. Olive Company, 3445 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles

  • Negranti Creamery, 2989 Limestone Way, Paso Robles

  • Niner Wine Estates, LLC, 2705 Anderson Road, Paso Robles

  • O’Neill Beverages Co., LLC, 3443 Mill Road, Paso Robles

  • Olivas de Oro, 2989 B Limestone Way, Paso Robles

  • Paris Valley Road Winery, 5265 East Highway 46, Paso Robles

  • Red Scooter Deli, 1102 Pine St., Paso Robles

  • San Anselmo Chevron, 6105 San Anselmo Road, Atascadero

  • The Sea Chest, 6216 Moonstone Beach Drive, Cambria

  • Starbucks Coffee No. 57322, 9002 W. Front Road, Atascadero

  • Su Casa Bar and Grill, 2927 Spring St., Paso Robles

  • Tablas Creek Vineyard, 9339 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles

  • Taco Bell No. 1588, 7385 El Camino Real, Atascadero

  • Taco Roco, 2307 Theatre Drive, Paso Robles

  • Tap Room II, 1395 Vendels Circle, Paso Robles

  • Templeton Donuts Plus, 70 Main St., Templeton

  • Vina Robles Amphitheatre, 3800 Mill Road, Paso Robles

  • We Olive, 1311 Park St., Paso Robles

  • Wendy’s No. 11996, 8600 Curbaril Ave., Atascadero

  • Wines on Main, 624 S. Main St., Templeton