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Rodent droppings temporarily close Modesto restaurant for a second time

Restaurant inspections

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Rodent droppings were observed at a Ceres restaurant and a Modesto restaurant during Stanislaus County health inspections conducted in mid-April. Employees at two food facilities were observed not washing their hands.

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 121 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Wednesday and Friday, 27 were not updated on the site as of Monday morning.

Rodent droppings and fruit flies among major violations

Violations were found during routine inspections of the following Stanislaus County food facilities during the week of April 7-20. 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.

Hot Rod Diner, 1515 Herndon Road in Ceres, had 10 violations during an inspection April 8, which was the result of two complaints. Five of the violations were major. One complaint alleged that there was a rodent observed in the kitchen. A rodent inside the facility could not be verified during the inspection, but there were rodent droppings on the bottom shelf of the dry storage area. The second complaint reported foodborne illness allegedly associated with this facility. The complaint could not be verified at the time of inspection, but potentially hazardous food items were found out of the accepted temperature range and employees working the cook line were not washing their hands between tasks. They were observed using sanitizer cloths with a low chlorine sanitizer level.

Pooled eggs in a plastic container on the cook line noted had a temperature of 60 degrees (must be 41 or lower). Shelled eggs in a metal container on the cook line were noted at 48 degrees. The food-prep refrigerator had a temperature of 50 degrees. Mayonnaise was at 48 degrees. The shield of the ice machine had growth buildup. A cutting board was noted with many grooves. Multiple holes were observed in walls of the dry storage area, potentially allowing the entrance of rodents, flies, cockroaches and other vermin. Unsealed wood was being used as coving around the walk-in freezer. A sanitizer bucket along the cook line had a chlorine concentration of 50 ppm sanitizer cloths at 10 ppm (must be 100 ppm for adequate sanitization).

Two violations remained during a reinspection April 22.

Cupcake Boutique, 3018 E. Service Road, Suite 100, in Ceres, had six violations April 10 — one of them major. The paper towel dispensers at the hand-washing stations were empty. A spray can of insecticide was stored next to the mop sink. An unlabeled bottle of liquid was underneath the three-compartment sink. There were gaps in the ceiling tiles in the kitchen. The front door of the facility was propped open upon inspection. The facility did not possess a current health permit.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection April 29.

Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill, 3900 Sisk Road in Modesto, had five violations during an inspection April 10, which was the result of a complaint. Two of the violations were major. The complaint alleged that what appeared to be a rodent dropping was on a customer’s plate of food. Rodent droppings were found on top of the mechanical dishwasher in the kitchen. The droppings did not appear to be fresh. Rodent droppings also were found on the floor near the chemical storage rack.

A couple of fruit flies were found in the bar area near the fruit. Behind the ice bin that was holding the fruit, the caulking between it and the wall of the bar had deteriorated and accumulated grime. Tiles along the wall and beneath the mechanical dishwasher were damaged. Water was pooling where the tiles were broken and fruit flies were observed in this area. The hot water at a sink in the back of the kitchen was noted at 110 degrees (must be a minimum of 120 degrees). The facility was temporarily using a smaller water heater while the regular water heater was out of service.

The facility remained closed until areas with rodent droppings were cleaned and sanitized and until the dishes and utensils were recleaned and sanitized. Repairs had been made at the recommendation of the inspector and at the recommendation of the facility’s pest control service company. Per the manager, the facility was working on additional repairs, including adding screening to prevent open access to vermin from the water heater room to the ceiling area over the rest of the restaurant.

The facility has previously closed to conduct a thorough deep cleaning when rodent droppings were found in February. All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection April 18.

House of Potsticker, 3318 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four violations April 14 — one of them major. A chlorine sanitizer bucket was set up, but staff had been testing the concentration of the chlorine sanitizer solution with quaternary ammonium test strips. The exterior of refrigerators, counter tops and touch point surfaces were soiled with grime, food staining and oil. There was grease and oil accumulation on the hood baffle filters along the main cooking line. An ice scoop was stored directly on top of the ice machine.

Turlock Junior High School cafeteria, 3951 N. Walnut Road in Turlock, had two violations April 14 — one of them major. The mechanical dishwasher was not dispensing sanitizer. A cold-holding unit in the kitchen was in disrepair. The potentially hazardous foods in the unit were temporarily held in an ice bath.

Chevron, 3300 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had two violations April 14 — one of them major. The hot-holding unit for sandwiches was at 120 degrees (must be a minimum of 135 degrees). Upon further observation, inspectors saw that several bulbs within the cabinet were out. There was not a wall-mounted paper towel dispenser at the hand-washing station near the sales register.

Jem Juicery, 200 North Ave. in Turlock, had nine violations April 15 — one of them major. Sanitizer was unavailable at the time of inspection. The person in charge said he was aware the facility was out of sanitizer and had notified the owner requesting a restock that morning. There was sticky residue on the porous surface of the storage cabinets shelves. A household freezer was directly next to the mop sink. An open paper bag of bulk sugar was in the kitchen on a rolling dolly.

The wall-mounted paper towel dispenser in both the employee bathroom and the kitchen area were inoperable. The wall-mounted soap dispenser in the kitchen was empty. Per the person in charge, it was in disrepair. An open display refrigerator was offline. Per the person in charge, the equipment had been in disrepair for a month. A home-style refrigeration unit storing “milk mixture,” raw shelled eggs and opened sea moss gel held food at an internal temperature between 43 and 45 degrees (must be a minimum of 41 degrees). Free-standing thermometers were lacking in several refrigeration units throughout the facility.

Palermo Restaurant, 310 H St. in Modesto, had nine violations April 15. Several containers of food were without covers in the walk-in refrigerator. Shelves in the walk-in refrigerator were soiled with food debris and accumulation. One part of the fan box in this refrigerator was not working. Several contact points were soiled with food debris. Cloth towels were being used to wipe down surfaces without sanitizer. Sanitizer was lacking in the dishwasher. Manual sanitizer was not prepared. Food handler cards were not available.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection April 29.

Old Mill Cafe, 600 Ninth St. in Modesto, had eight violations April 15. Several contact points were soiled with dried-on food debris and accumulation. The interiors of refrigeration units had food spillage and dried spills from liquids. The floor in the kitchen was soiled under equipment and along the coved base. Kitchen equipment was soiled with dried-on food debris accumulation. The wall behind the dishwasher was soiled and had black growth. Hand-washing sinks in the bathrooms and the kitchen had empty dispensers. Shatterproof covers were missing on some lights. A couple of food handler cards were expired.

One violation remained during a reinspection April 29.

Johnny’s Market, 229 H St. in Modesto, had six violations April 15. One bathroom was lacking a faucet at the hand-washing sink, a paper towel dispenser, a working hand-soap dispenser and a toilet paper roller for the dispenser. The other bathroom was lacking a self-closing device. The three-compartment sink was cluttered with trash and debris.

All violations were noted as corrected during a reinspection April 29.

Cocina Azteca Steakhouse, 3006 Fourth St. in Ceres, had seven violations April 15 — three of them major. A refrigerator had a data plate that stated the unit was approved for prepackaged or canned products only. The ambient temperature was noted at 43 degrees (must be 41 degrees or lower). A second refrigerator also had a data plate that stated the unit was approved for prepackaged or canned products only. The ambient temperature was noted at 45 degrees and salsa was noted at 48 degrees.

Both bathrooms were lacking warm water. Food was stored uncovered in all refrigeration units. The exit door at the front of the facility was open during the inspection. The indirect plumbing to both three-compartment sinks was lacking an appropriate air gap. The facility did not possess a current health permit.

Subway, 1203 McHenry Ave. in Modesto, had four major violations April 16. The refrigerator’s ambient air temperature was 74 degrees (must be 41 or lower). The facility mentioned that facility does not use the refrigerator. The hot water at the three-compartment sink was at 114 degrees (must be a minimum of 120). The paper towel dispenser was broken and empty. The facility lacked a valid Environmental Health permit to operate.

Alison’s Cafe House, 219 W. Canal Drive in Turlock, had four violations April 16. Inspectors saw an employee switching tasks without washing hands. A blender and a metal container with spoons was in the basin of the hand-washing sink. Multiple bulk containers were missing a label to indicate their contents. The facility did not have a current health permit.

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 or two violations, none of them major, are:

No violations

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

This story was originally published May 6, 2025 at 7:39 AM.

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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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