Rat problem continues at downtown Modesto restaurant. More health violations in Stanislaus County

In our Reality Check stories The Modesto Bee’s journalists provide fast facts on the issues that matter to local residents to hold officials and institutions accountable. Read more. Story idea? [email protected].

In early August, health inspectors discovered a dead rat and rodent droppings at a downtown Modesto restaurant. The establishment had been observing violations of this kind for two years.

These were not the only violations Stanislaus County officials noticed during the last round of inspections.

The majority of the county’s 2,400 licensed food establishments undergo unannounced routine food safety inspections twice a year, according to the Department of Environmental Resources. The website says inspection reports are scanned weekly.

Food trucks operating under a permit from the Stanislaus County Health Department are also inspected by the county, but these inspections are scheduled and conducted at the department’s office.

Dirty conditions at a Stanislaus County restaurant? How to report health code violations

Of the 59 restaurant inspection reports sent to The Modesto Bee on Wednesday, five had not been updated on the website as of Thursday morning.

If any of the inspections listed below require clarification, business owners can email Modesto Bee reporter Dominique Williams at [email protected].

Rat problem is one of the most serious health violations

Violations were discovered during routine inspections of the following food establishments in Stanislaus County during the week of August 5-11. Only the dates of the violations are listed.

The report details do not indicate whether a restaurant passed or failed the inspection. The business may have already taken corrective action by the time of publication.

The reports are linked. Current information on individual restaurants can be found on the DER website.

7-Elevens, At 2101 Standiford Ave., Suite A, in Modesto, four violations occurred on August 5 – two of them serious. The temperature in the condiment refrigeration case was measured at 58 degrees (41 degrees or less). A toilet paper roll was found outside the dispenser and a paper towel dispenser was missing from the handwashing station. The three-compartment sink faucet was leaking.

Village market, 3800 Patterson Road in Riverbank, experienced four violations on August 5 – one of them major. No mop sink was installed – a violation that has been repeated since June 2022. Employees were dumping mop water in the bathroom. Scented bleach disinfectant was used to wash equipment (must be fragrance-free). Coffee splatters were found under the dispensing nozzles and the inside of the cappuccino machine was covered in coffee grounds. Various carbon dioxide tanks were freestanding and not supported by a rigid structure.

Taqueria El Maguey, At 3801 Yosemite Blvd., Suite N, in Modesto, nine violations occurred on August 6, one of them serious. The hot water from the three-compartment sink was 42 degrees (minimum 49 degrees) and the faucet would not shut off, so only hot water came out. The inside walls of the ice machine were black-brown in color and a panel for the air filter was missing. The outside surface of the dry food containers was caked with flour. A floor tile was missing in the back room. Paper towels were missing from the front hand sink. Some employees were missing food IDs and there was no proof of a valid food safety certificate.

AK Food, At 710 Sutter Ave. in Modesto, three violations occurred on August 7. Expired sandwiches and cream cheese were found on a shelf in the refrigerator. There was no hot water throughout the facility. A can of gasoline and a small can of motor oil were discovered on the ice cream machine.

A further inspection on August 15 revealed that the facility was still lacking hot water.

M & S Corner Market, 4885 Washington St. in Salida, there were three violations on August 8. Dark dirt had accumulated on the inside of the ice machine. A small portion of the ceiling was damaged above wrapped silverware. A portion of the hallway wall was damaged and insulation was visible.

Church key, At 910 12th St. in Modesto, there were seven violations — two of them major — on Aug. 8. Inspectors discovered a dead rat on the floor of an abandoned bathroom in the establishment and rodent droppings were in the corner of a hallway. The ceiling in the abandoned restroom had a large rodent access area. Another access point was identified at the wall/floor junction under a drink mixer and droppings were found on the floor of that area. A January 2023 inspection report showed that the restaurant’s owners had observed rodents in the establishment since the summer of 2022. Rodents, their feces and traps have continued to be noted by inspectors since then.

The rubber holder for the drink gun on the bar was dirty. The soap dispenser was missing from the hand basin and the hot water tap on the three-chamber sink in the bar area did not work.

Japanese Restaurant Akitaca, At 1800 Prescott Road, Suite C, in Modesto, five violations occurred on August 9 – one of them serious. An open container of hard-boiled eggs was found in the walk-in refrigerator next to open containers of raw seafood. Several large containers of food stored in the walk-in refrigerator were found without lids and labels. Accumulations of food particles, grease and dirt were found in several locations in the kitchen and the range hood louvers were dirty with grease. The dishwasher’s chlorine level was less than 50 ppm.

Chong’s Kitchen, 1801 Countryside Drive in Turlock, was issued seven violations on August 9 – one of them major. Uncovered rice in a metal colander under a food preparation table was observed at room temperature (23 degrees). According to the operator, the rice was left over from the previous evening and should be discarded. Several food equipment and utensils were stored directly on the floor throughout the food facility. The sandwich refrigerator door was broken. When the inspector went to open the door, it came off its hinges and fell to the floor.

At this facility, it was observed that disposable containers were being used to store opened food. Food containers were not labeled. The walk-in refrigerator was missing a freestanding thermometer. Disinfectant concentrations in the buckets were over 200 ppm.

Other food establishments with three or more or serious violations at the time of their inspections include:

• Bottoms Up Espresso, 1800 Prescott Road, Modesto

• Corn’d (Three of four violations fixed by August 13)

• Donut basket

• Hot Rod Diner, 1515 Herndon Road, Ceres

• Jamba Juice, 2300 W. Main St., Turlock (opening inspection, corrected to August 20)

• Larsa Banquet Hall (Three of four corrected until August 8)

• Manny’s Touchdown Pizza & Grill

• Texas Roadhouse, 1665 Countryside Drive, Turlock

• Togo’s, 2900 Standiford Ave. Suite 24, Modesto

Two or fewer minor violations

According to Stanislaus County, the following food establishments had one or two violations, none of them serious:

• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill, 3900 Sisk Road, Modesto

• Arby’s, 2100 Standiford Ave. Suite F, Modesto

• Camp 4

• Florence Restaurant

• Pizza Plus, 12705 Bentley St. Suite F, Waterford

• Round Table Pizza, 3601 Pelandale Ave., Suite 101, Modesto (Corrected through August 14)

• Round Table Pizza, 2650 Geer Road, Turlock

• Round Table Pizza, 102 Ward Ave. Suite A, Patterson

• Salida Club

• Stop N Save Liquors, 3701 Atchison St., Riverbank

• Taco Bell, 2700 Geer Road, Turlock (Corrected August 14)

• Tresset World Café

• Wingstop, 1515 Mitchell Road Suite 11, Ceres

There were no violations at these Stanislaus County facilities

According to the district, there were no violations in these food establishments:

• Ampm, 2033 Standiford Ave., Modesto

• Beverage house spirits

• Carl’s Jr., 65 Rogers Road, Patterson

• Carnivore’s BBQ Sandwich Shop (inspector denied entry)

• Chipotle Mexican Grill, 975 Sperry Ave., Patterson

• Crooked Spur

• Edward’s Cake and Candy Supplies

• El Vista School Cafeteria

• James C. Enochs High School

• The Meat Shop

• La Reyna Market

• Liquor cabinet

• Lula’s

• Morelia’s

• Nothing Bundt cake

• Oakdale Cheese & Specialties

• Pizza Factory, 1865 Countryside Drive, Turlock

• River Road General Store

• Round Table Pizza, 1515 Mitchell Road Suites 2 & 3, Ceres

• Starbucks, 110 Ward Ave., Patterson

• The Taco Shop

• Walgreens, 995 Sperry Ave., Patterson