Polk County restaurant inspections: Lukewarm cheese, cigarettes on counter
Bill PoehlerThe following is a snapshot of the inspections conducted by the Polk County Health Department.
Twice annually, licensed restaurants receive unannounced inspections that focus on food temperatures, food preparation practices, worker hygiene, dishwashing and sanitizing, and equipment and facility cleanliness.
Violations: Scores are based on a 100-point scale. Priority violations deduct 5 points, and priority foundation violations deduct 3 points. Violations recorded on consecutive inspections result in point deductions being doubled.
Scoring: Scores of 70 or higher are considered compliant. Restaurants scoring below 70 must be reinspected within 30 days or face closure or other administrative action. Restaurants display a placard by the entrance to indicate whether they have passed their last inspection.
The most recent inspections are here.
Semiannual restaurant inspections from March 4 through March 31.
Polk County restaurant inspections
Subway (Wallace Road)
Location: 560 Wallace Road NW, Salem
Date: March 31
Score: 100
No priority violations
Burger King (6946)
Location: 1120 Wallace Road NW, Salem
Date: March 31
Score: 100
No priority violations
The Donut Bar
Location: 191 N Monmouth Ave., Monmouth
Date: March 28
Score: 90
Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Several items in glass reach in fridge are 57 degrees Fahrenheit (icing, lemon juice, marshmallow cream). Fridge is off. Operator states fridge was turned off by mistake 45 minutes ago. Point deduction: 5
Medicines are improperly stored or labeled, specifically: Operator bottle of prescription antibiotics are stored on top of fridge. Point deduction: 5
Dallas Cinema
Location: 166 SE Mill St., Dallas
Date: March 28
Score: 100
No priority violations
West Valley Hospital
Location: 525 SE Washington St., Dallas
Date: March 28
Score: 100
No priority violations
Independence Cinema
Location: 450 S Second St., Independence
Date: March 27
Score: 100
No priority violations
Silk Thai Cuisine
Location: 268 S Main St., Independence
Date: March 26
Score: 92
Priority violations: Food employees eat, drink or use tobacco in unapproved areas or use an inappropriate beverage container for drinking, specifically: Operator is observed eating in the kitchen. Another operator has two containers of personal food sitting out while cooking at the stove. Point deduction: 3
Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Whole raw egg is sitting out next to stove in container of sweet radish which is 70 degrees. Operator states it was taken out of the prep unit in the last hour. Whole raw egg is sitting out next to stove in container of sweet radish which is 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Operator states it was taken out of the prep unit in the last hour. Point deduction: 5
Jack’s Pub and Lotto
Location: 423 Main St. E., Monmouth
Date: March 26
Score: 92
Priority violations: Handwashing sinks are not conveniently located in the food preparation area or provided in or adjacent to toilet rooms, specifically: Facility restrooms are out of service. A portable toilet has been provided outside for customers and operators. Hand sanitizer is available, but no temporary handwashing sink is setup. Point deduction: 3
Poisonous or toxic materials are not properly separated or located, specifically: Box of cigarettes is sitting on prep counter in kitchen. Point deduction: 5
Gilgamesh The River
Location: 370 S Main St., Independence
Date: March 25
Score: 95
Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Container of fresh garlic in oil and container of chopped basil in pizza area are sitting out at 58 degrees Fahrenheit. The operator states these were brought out 10-15 minutes ago. Containers of boiled eggs, chopped tomato and chopped cucumber are sitting out at 63 degrees Fahrenheit in the kitchen. Operator states these were brought out 20 minutes ago. Containers of buttermilk are sitting out at 67 degrees Fahrenheit. Operator states these were brought out 20 minutes ago. Point deduction: 5
The Boondocks
Location: 318 N Main St., Falls City
Date: March 21
Score: 100
No priority violations
The Shaka Brah
Location: 1105 Wallace Road NW, Salem
Date: March 20
Score: 100
No priority violations
New York Squares
Location: 240 Monmouth St., Independence
Date: March 19
Score: 92
Priority violations: Raw or ready-to eat food is not properly protected from cross-contamination, specifically: Packages of raw ground beef and ground pork are sitting above a container of raw eggs in walk-in fridge. Point deduction: 5
Ready-to-eat food is not properly date-marked, specifically: Opened container of whipping cream in prep unit is not dated. Operator is not sure when it was opened. Point deduction: 5
Rinconcito Sabroso
Location: 173 Pacific Highway W, Monmouth
Date: March 19
Score: 100
No priority violations
Domino’s (Monmouth)
Location: 310 E Main St., Monmouth
Date: March 19
Score: 100
No priority violations
New Morning Bakery (Dallas)
Location: 219 SW Second St., Dallas
Date: March 18
Score: 100
No priority violations
Mira Mar Mexican Restaurant
Location: 119 E Ellendale, Dallas
Date: March 18
Score: 95
Priority violations: Cooked, potentially hazardous food is improperly cooled, specifically: Large 4-inch pans of beans and ground beef are 94 degrees Fahrenheit and 124 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. Operator states they have been cooling for 3 hours. Point deduction: 5
Bangkok Street
Location: 608 Main St., Dallas
Date: March 18
Score: 100
No priority violations
Wingstop
Location: 525 Taggart Drive 120, Salem
Date: March 17
Score: 95
Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Cheese sauce in cheese warmer is 110-128 degrees Fahrenheit. The lid is ajar. Temp records from 3.5 hours ago state cheese sauce was 148 degrees Fahrenheit. Point deduction: 5
Dallas Aquatic Center Canteen
Location: 1005 S E. La Creole Drive, Dallas
Date: March 14
Score: 100
No priority violations
Figaro’s Pizza (Independence)
Location: 1321 Monmouth St., Independence
Date: March 13
Score: 100
No priority violations
Los Dos Amigos
Location: 1349 Monmouth St., Independence
Date: March 13
Score: 100
No priority violations
Mezcal Sports Bar
Location: 788 SW Birch St., Dallas
Date: March 12
Score: 100
No priority violations
Burger King (12397)
Location: 434 E Ellendale Ave., Dallas
Date: March 10
Score: 100
No priority violations
Starlite Lanes
Location: 394 Main St., Dallas
Date: March 10
Score: 100
No priority violations
Gardenia Thai Kitchen
Location: 1233 Riverbend Road NW, Salem
Date: March 6
Score: 100
No priority violations
The Golden Spice of India
Location: 1233 Riverbend Road NW, Salem
Date: March 6
Score: 95
Priority violations: Cooked potentially hazardous food is improperly cooled, specifically: Large pot of cooked meat in reach in the fridge is 74 degrees Fahrenheit. Operator states it has been cooling for just under four hours prior. Point deduction: 5
The Chicken Shack
Location: 1233 Riverbend Road NW Salem
Date: March 6
Score: 97
Priority violations: Hand towels or a hand drying device is not provided at the handwashing sink, specifically: No paper towels at the handwashing sink. Point deduction: 3
Roger That BBQ
Location: 1492 Brush College Road NW, Salem
Date: March 6
Score: 100
No priority violations
Annette’s
Location: 1311 Edgewater St. NW, Salem
Date: March 6
Score: 90
Priority violations: Potentially hazardous food is not maintained at proper hot or cold holding temperatures, specifically: Container of raw egg sitting on prep unit is 52 degrees Fahrenheit. A container of batter used to bread raw chicken is sitting out by the fryer at 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Operator states batter has been out for 30 minutes. Point deduction: 5
Ice used as a medium for cooling food or equipment is used as a food, specifically: At the bar, bottle of wine is submerged in ice used for customer drinks. Point deduction: 5
Bill Poehler covers Marion and Polk County for the Statesman Journal. Contact him at bpoehler@StatesmanJournal.com