14 restaurants fail health inspections in June and July

These are the 14 restaurants that failed health inspections in June and July, according to Champaign-Urbana Public Health District inspection reports for June and July obtained by CU-CitizenAccess through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Restaurants with adjusted scores between 0 and 35 points can  remain open and an unannounced re-inspection is required within 30 days. Restaurants scoring below 0 are automatically closed down.

On the health department’s new online report system restaurant health permits labeled “good standing” have received a passing 36 points or higher. Restaurant health permits labeled “re-inspection” received scores below 36 points. Restaurant health permits labeled “suspended” were automatically shut down for scores below 0. Restaurant health permits labeled “inactive” means that the restaurant owner voluntarily closed down the restaurant. (See related story

Health department officials note that restaurant inspections are a “snap-shot” in time of the condition of a restaurant at the time the inspection is conducted. They say looking at several inspection scores over time gives diners a more complete picture of the health conditions of a restaurant.

Violations range in severity – “Critical violations” are violations that can pose a health hazard to the public and require immediate correction, whereas “non-critical violations” do not pose immediate health hazards.

The summary of restaurant inspections below is listed in order from lowest score to highest score.

Tang Dynasty

140 Lincoln Sq., Urbana

Inspected on July 9, 2012 with a score of -29 points. Health permit was suspended and the restaurant was closed immediately.

Reinspected on July 20, 2012 with a passing score. Health permit was restored to good standing and the restaurant was allowed to reopen.

Inspectors found eight critical violations, including multiple live cockroaches crawling on the counters, spoiled lettuce and food products in the cooler at  48  degrees. The food safety rules say that potentially hazardous food should be kept at 41 degrees or below or 135 degrees or higher.  The facility also lacked an onsite certified food sanitation manager at the time of inspection.

Upon re-inspection, inspectors found one critical violation – a dish machine that was not working.

Ryan’s Family Steakhouse

1004 W. Anthony Dr., Champaign

Inspected on June 26, 2012 with a score of  8 points.

Reinspected Aug. 1, 2012 with a passing score. 

Inspectors found seven critical violations, including several cream pies and desserts on buffet line with temperatures ranging from 49  to 65 degrees. Burgers, chicken and meatballs on the buffet line were at temperatures ranging from 102  to 118 degrees. They were discarded.

Road Ranger No. 132

4910 N. Market, Champaign

Inspected on June 8, 2012 with an initial score of 13 points.

Reinspected on July 10, 2012 with a score of 39 points.

Inspectors found six critical violations, including pizza left out on the counter, an undated open package of hot dogs in the refrigerator and employees who did not wash hands before putting on gloves.

Upon re-inspection, inspectors found three critical violations including Italian beef and cheese sandwiches in a microwave stored at 87 degrees. They were discarded.

Super Wok

1737 W. Kirby Ave., Chamapign

Inspected on July 16, 2012 with a score of 21 points.

Reinspected on Aug. 22, 2102 with a passing score. 

Inspectors found four critical violations including potentially hazardous food (chicken, beef) stored at 47 degrees while food in the upright reach-in cooler was at 50 degrees. Coolers were condemned for use since they had an ambient air temperature of 50 degrees.  

First Wok

1815 S. Philo Rd., Urbana

First inspected on July 23, 2012 with a score of 25. The restaurant’s health permit was suspended and the restaurant shut down because of previous failing scores.

Reinspected on July 24, 2012 with a score of 83 and allowed to reopen.

Inspectors found three critical violations, including a bucket of chicken in a walk-in cooler at 50 degrees. It was discarded immediately. Inspectors also found numerous gnats.

Upon re-inspection, inspectors found no critical violations and a “significant improvement on pest control – due to clean facility almost no gnats were observed.”

Big JJ Fish & Chicken

1114 N. Market, Champaign

Inspected on June 19, 2012 with an initial score of 26 points

Reinspected with a score of 36 one month later.

Inspectors found six critical violations, including live cockroaches and no pest management system.

Inspectors also found a Pepsi cooler that had coleslaw and ranch dressing and was at a temperature of 52 degrees. The coleslaw and ranch dressing were discarded and the cooler used for only bottled, shelf-drinks.

Inspectors also found an ashtray and cigarette butts in the facility and employees admitted to tobacco use in the facility.

The facility scored a passing 36 points on re-inspection, but inspectors found five critical violations, including one cockroach in employee bathroom with the instructions “Please have Terminex contact us for further review”.

Additionally, an employee was observed putting on gloves after touching face without washing hands first.

Chinatown Buffet

713 Marketview Dr., Champaign

Inspected on June 28, 2012 with an initial score of 27 points

Reinspected on June 29, 2012 with a score of 84 points and no critical violations.

During the initial inspection, inspectors found five critical violations, including four tubs of cooked and cooled chicken in the walk-in cooler at temperatures between 45  and 55 degrees as well as ready-to-eat crab meat and mayonnaise with a temperature of 45 degrees. All food items were discarded.

Inspectors further observed an employee wipe his nose and then continue to restock food on the buffet.

Inspectors advised the restaurant owner to “voluntarily close all operation until issues are corrected”

Fiesta Ranchero

1805 S. Neil St., Champaign

Inspected on June 11, 2012 with an initial score of 27 points.

In July, Fiesta Ranchero’s permit became “inactive” , which means the restaurant owner closed the business.

Inspectors found five critical violations, including surface mold on the exterior of single-serving dressing packets, large quantities of gnats and flies in the facility at the time of inspection and employees who did not wash their hands who were performing multiple food preparation and non-food preparation tasks.  There was no certified food sanitation manager on site at the time of inspection.

Mandarin Wok

403 ½ E. Green St., Champaign

Inspected on July 30, 2012 with a score of 28 points.

Reinspected on Aug. 29, 2012 with a passing score.

Inspectors found six critical violations, including live cockroaches in the kitchen and prep room, employees were observed not washing hands and raw beef left out overnight. Also, there was no certified food sanitation manager on site at the time of inspection.

Steak and Shake

2009 N. Kenyon Rd., Urbana

Inspected on July 10, 2012 with a score of 28 points.

Reinspected on Aug. 14, 2012 with a passing score.

Inspectors found four critical violations, including food such as cheese and tomatoes with a temperature of 45  to 58 degrees. The food safety rules say that potentially hazardous food should be kept at 41 degrees or below or 135 degrees or higher. Also, an employee was observed wiping their face with their hands while wearing gloves and continued to touch food without washing hands and changing gloves. 

Office II

302 S. County Fair Dr., Champaign

Inspected on July 9, 2012 with a score of 29 points.

Reinspected on Aug. 9, 2012 with a passing score. 

Inspectors found four critical violations, including a door sweep on the back that was in poor repair as well as a wiping cloth bucket with concentrations of a cleaning chemical higher than the maximum permitted. 

Courier Café

111 N. Race St., Urbana

Inspected on July 20, 2012 with a score of 30 points.

Reinspected on Aug. 20, 2012 with a passing score.

Inspectors found three critical violations, including deli meat, cheese slices and tomatoes that were at temperatures ranging from 48 to 55 degrees. Additionally, 12 plastic tubs of food were being stored on ice, not in a mechanical refrigeration unit. Ice was not able to hold temperatures below 41degrees.  

Boneyard Bar and BBQ

25 E. Springfield, Champaign

Inspected on July 23, 2012 with a score of 34 points.

Reinspected on Aug. 28, 2012 with a passing score.

Inspectors found three critical violations, including a reach-in cooler with an air temperature of 53 degrees and wings, chicken and sauces with temperatures of 47 degrees.  The cooler was condemned from use and the food was discarded.

El Toro II

723 S. Neil St., Champaign

Inspected on June 6, 2012 with an initial score of 35 points.

Re-inspected on July 9, 2012 with a score of 44 points.

Inspectors found six critical violations, including food that was not date marked and food that was stored at warmer temperatures. Additionally, there was no certified food sanitation manager on site at the time of inspection.

Upon reinspection, inspectors found three critical violations , including potentially hazardous food that was left out overnight, such as enchilada sauce, salsa and fried poblanos.  The manager was registered in food sanitation course. 

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