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Dirty dishes left overnight and food stored uncovered: Latest Stanislaus County inspections

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Stanislaus County health inspectors observed dirty dishes soiled with food debris from the previous operation day at a Modesto restaurant and food stored uncovered at multiple food facilities during inspections conducted in early December.

The majority of the 2,400 permitted food service establishments in the county receive two unannounced routine food safety inspections per year, according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The website says inspection reports are scanned weekly.

Food trucks that operate under a Stanislaus County Health Department permit also are inspected by the county, though those are scheduled and done at the department’s office.

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Of the 151 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Thursday, four were not updated on the site as of Friday afternoon.

If an inspection listed below needs clarification, business owners can email Modesto Bee reporter Dominique Williams at dwilliams@modbee.com.

Food exposed to contaminants among major violations

Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of Dec. 2 - Dec. 8. Only the dates of violations are listed.

The details of the reports do not indicate whether a restaurant passed or failed inspection. Corrective actions may have been made by the business by the time of publication.

The reports are linked. For updates on individual restaurants, search the DER website.

Beto’s Bakery Since 1978, 1911 Central Ave. in Ceres, had four violations on Dec. 2. Employees were using the food preparation sink to wash their hands. Soap and paper towel dispensers were lacking at the hand-washing sink near the front service counter. The paper towel dispenser in the bathroom was empty. The drain pipe to the three-compartment sink was observed inside of the floor sink.

Dos Compadres Taqueria & Bar, 3125 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four violations on Dec. 2 — one of them major. The cold-holding prep table’s temperature was at 44 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). Employees were using plates and small bowls as ingredient scoops and placing them directly on top of the food inside bulk containers. A raw fish container was stored above a salsa container. Both containers had no lids. Bulk containers were stored in the walk-in cooler without lids or identification labels.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 5.

Kung Fu Tea, 3440 McHenry Ave. Suite D14 in Modesto, had four violations on Dec. 3 — one of them major. The hand soap dispenser in the front prep area was not functional. Multiple sink stoppers and a sponge were placed in the hand-washing sink. Food handler cards and the food safety certification were not available at the time of inspection.

Two violations remained during a reinspection on Dec. 6.

P. Wexfords Pub, 3313 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had three violations on Dec. 3. The wall near the reach-in freezers was deteriorating, exposing a hole large enough to allow vermin to enter the kitchen. The walls throughout the kitchen area were soiled with dirt and grime. Rust and grime was observed inside of the ice machine.

Cocina Azteca Steakhouse, 3006 4th St. in Ceres, had three violations on Dec. 3. An employee was observed using their cell phone in the kitchen, then switching tasks without washing their hands. Food was observed uncovered in all refrigeration units. The permit to operate was not posted.

Rico’s Pizza, 2321 Main St. in Turlock, had four violations on Dec. 4 — one of them major. Sanitizer bucket located behind the counter had no sanitizer. Multiple contact surfaces were encrusted with debris. A reach-in refrigerator in front of the wing station was non-functional. No food was being stored in the refrigerator at the time of inspection. A current food safety certification could not be provided during the time of inspection.

Two violations — one major — remained during a reinspection on Dec. 6.

Quik Stop, 1301 E. Service Road in Ceres, had four violations on Dec. 4 — two of them major. The front hand-washing station was lacking soap and paper towels in dispensers. The hand-washing station in the back room was lacking soap. The ware-washing room was lacking adequate lighting. The facility did not have the permit to operate available for public viewing, a repeat violation.

Los Lagos Taqueria, 1801 H St. Suite B4 in Modesto, had six violations on Dec. 4 — two of them major. The temperature of the cheese in the prep fridge was 47 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). There was no sanitizer in the three-compartment sink. All of the cutting boards in the facility had buildup in the cut grooves. The facility lacked a food safety certification. The facility had expired food handler cards for all employees and an expired Environmental Health permit on the wall for public view.

Bob’s Giant Burger, 1801 H St. Suite B5 in Modesto, had three violations on Dec. 4 — two of them major. The beverage refrigerator’s ambient air temperature was 46 degrees. The refrigerator had cut produce and sweet relish with a temperature of 45 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). Cardboard boxes were stored on the top off the food preparation sink.

Family Pizza and Bar, 2921 E. Whitmore Ave. in Ceres, had six violations on Dec. 4 — one of them major. The prep fridge had an ambient air temperature of 44 degrees. Pepperoni had an internal temperature of 42 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). The shield in the ice machine had black growth on it. The ice scoop was stored in the ice machine. The cutting board was heavily soiled. The bottom of the prep fridge was soiled with food debris and floors, walls and the ceiling were soiled with food debris throughout the kitchen area.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 19.

Bonanza Tortilleria, 315 H St. in Modesto, had five violations during a reinspection on Dec. 4 — four of them major. A gas range with a griddle and standard oven was observed in use in the back kitchen area, slightly off from under the mechanical hood ventilation system. The sanitizer bucket had a concentration of 0 ppm chlorine. The solution was observed with a milky, cloudy color. A container of frozen meat was thawing at room temperature with no running water. The ice machine was draining into a pan. The men’s bathroom was out of paper towels, and toilet paper was not provided in the dispenser.

Taqueria San Jose, 1800 Prescott Road Suite Q in Modesto, had four violations on Dec. 4 — two of them major. The cold-holding prep table’s temperature was 47 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). Hot food was found improperly cooled at room temperature. A ready-to-eat food container was stored underneath raw meat. A few food handler cards were expired.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 12.

Ranas Taqueria, 2240 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had three major violations on Dec. 5. The prep-table refrigerator’s ambient air temperature was 46 degrees. The temperature of the cheese in the prep fridge was 45 degrees. The sanitizer in the dishwasher was at 0 ppm.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 11.

Verona’s Cucina Italiano, 1700 McHenry Ave. Suite I46 in Modesto, had four violations on Dec. 5 — two of them major. All of the cutting boards at the prep fridge had buildup in the cut grooves. The sanitizer was not set up in the ware-washing station. The sink was filled with dirty utensils. The facility lacked food handler cards for each staff member as well as a food safety certification.

Rivets American Grill, 2307 Oakdale Road Suite 300 in Modesto, had four violations on Dec. 5 — two of them major. The bathrooms were lacking hot water. The chlorine sanitizer level was at 50 ppm (must be 100 ppm). A few bulk trays in the walk-in freezer containing potentially hazardous foods were lacking lids. The prep area was lacking adequate lighting.

Tandoori Flame, 907 10th St. in Modesto, had eleven violations on Dec. 5 — one of them major. A beverage refrigerator was being used for the storage of potentially hazardous foods. Per the manufacturer, the unit is intended for the storage of non-potentially hazardous bottled or canned products only. Food containers were stored without lids in the refrigerators throughout the facility, exposing the food to air contaminants and falling debris from shelves. A rice container and an empty food container were stored directly on the floor in the kitchen. Multiple disposable cups were stored directly on the floor in the bar. Multiple utensils such as knives, pans and tongs were soiled with food debris from the previous operation day. The racks in the food prep fridge were coated in debris over food containers without lid protection. Cutting boards were heavily soiled with food stains and deep cut grooves.

The ice machine had mold growth inside. The refrigerator and freezer in the drink section were soiled with food accumulation. Employees were using cloth towels on the bottom shelves of the refrigerators to keep them clean of spills. The freezer was missing shelves and food was stored compacted together. Floors, walls and ceilings throughout the facility were soiled with food stains. The floors under equipment and storage shelves had trash and dust accumulation. The mechanical hood system had dust and grease accumulation. Paper towels were outside of dispensers in the kitchen and employee bathroom. The food handler card for one employee was expired and the Stanislaus County Health Department permit was not posted at the time of inspection.

Morena’s Taqueria, 2500 Mitchell Road in Ceres, had three violations on Dec. 5 — two of them major. The two-compartment food preparation sink had a temperature of 66 degrees (must be a minimum of 120 degrees). The warm water at the hand-washing sink behind the front service counter had a temperature of 65 degrees (must be a minimum of 100 degrees). The interior of the ice machine had black growth.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 9.

Ramada, 1525 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four major violations on Dec. 5. The hot water temperature was 108 degrees in the three-compartment sink (must be a minimum 120 degrees). The janitor sink had a hot water temperature of 107 degrees. The sanitizer in the three-compartment sink was 0 ppm. The facility lacked Environmental Health permits on the wall for public view. The facility was restricted to serving prepackaged food only, due to no hot water at a minimum temperature of 120°F in the three-compartment and janitor sinks.

Sunlight Indian Cuisine, 1775 Mitchell Road in Ceres, had nine violations on Dec. 5 — one of them major. Chemicals were stored next to food and utensils. Multiple containers of food were stored uncovered in all refrigeration units. Partially cooked meat was stored in the walk-in refrigerator above ready-to-eat foods. Multiple bags of food were stored directly on the floor. The ice machine was heavily soiled.

The soap dispenser at the hand-washing sink was not operational. Employees were using the bathroom sink to wash their hands in between tasks. The paper towel dispenser at the hand-washing sink was empty. Aluminum foil was heavily soiled on the back of the cooking equipment.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 9.

Safeway, 3051 Countryside Drive in Turlock, had five violations on Dec. 5. Reconstituted fruit juice pitchers were left out at room temperature, noted at 77 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). The hot water throughout the facility was noted at 114 degrees at the beginning of the inspection. At the end of the inspection, a maximum hot water temperature of 119 degrees was noted (must be a minimum of 120 degrees). The high-temperature mechanical dishwasher at the bakery had a maximum temp of 157 degrees (must be 160 degrees). Paper towel dispensers in the meat department were in disrepair. A plastic liner was lacking inside the trash container in the men’s bathroom.

Indian Sweets Foods & Spices, 2600 Mitchell Road Suite D in Ceres, had three violations on Dec. 5. Multiple containers of food in the walk-in refrigerator were stored uncovered. A display refrigerator was being used to store potentially hazardous foods. The data plate of the unit states it is only intended for prepackaged bottled or canned drinks. The hand-washing sink was leaking.

7-Eleven, 1045 Old Oakdale Road in Modesto, had three major violations on Dec. 6. The hot-holding unit with potentially hazardous foods such as sausage, cheeseburger bites and chicken rolls ranged in temperature between 117 and 127 degrees (must be 135 degrees or higher). The three-compartment sink’s hot water temperature was at 115 degrees, then dropped to 104 degrees (must be 120 degrees or higher). The hot water temperature at the janitor sink was 104 degrees. The facility was placed on a restricted menu to sell prepackaged food only due to no hot water.

All three violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 10. All restrictions were removed.

Thai Cuisine, 235 W. Main St. in Turlock, had four violations on Dec. 6. The Coca Cola refrigerator had an ambient temperature of 53 degrees. The refrigerator was being used to store half and half, sticky rice and tofu. The hand-washing sink next to the cooking line did not have soap in the dispenser. The dishwasher had a sanitizer concentration of 0 ppm. The permit was not posted in a conspicuous place.

Starbucks, 1800 Oakdale Road Suite J in Modesto, had three major violations on Dec. 6. Potentially hazardous foods such as milk, oat milk and whipping cream ranged in temperature between 57 and 67 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). These products were stored inside the under-counter refrigerator and the refrigerator’s ambient temperature was 56 degrees. The three-compartment sink was full of dirty utensils and there was no sanitizer.

The Secret Garden Restaurant & Lounge, 2401 E. Orangeburg Ave. in Modesto, had six major violations on Dec. 6. Inspectors observed one of the cooks wash their hands with soap while they had gloves on. The cook then went back to cook the food. Employees were handling dirty utensils and then touching cooked food to serve to the customers without washing their hands. The soda and juice fountains had yellow slime/mold buildup underneath the nozzle. The facility was using a hand-washing sink to fill up a bucket of sanitizer. The hand-washing sink by the coffee area lacked paper towels in the dispenser. The cold-holding unit at the prep table had an ambient temperature 52 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower).

Dan’s BBQ, 2101 W. Rumble Road Suite G in Modesto, had five violations on Dec. 6 — two of them major. The facility was lacking paper towels in all hand sinks. Employees were drying their hands using reusable towels. The chlorine sanitizer was noted at 10 ppm (must be 100 ppm). Floors and walls were soiled with dirt and food debris. Soiled food containers were stored directly on the floor. The food safety certification was unavailable upon inspection.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection on Dec. 12.

Other food facilities with three or more, or major, violations at the time of their inspections are:

Minor violations

According to Stanislaus County, food facilities that had one to two violations, none of them major, are:

No violations

These food facilities had no violations, according to the county:

This story was originally published December 30, 2024 at 4:00 PM.

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Dominique Williams
The Modesto Bee
209-253-9007
Dominique Williams writes about new business, restaurant and retail developments for The Modesto Bee. She is a Ripon native and a graduate of Sacramento State.
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