Italian spot in Palm Springs earns ‘C’ during health inspection
While most Coachella Valley restaurants passed their health inspections this past week, a Palm Springs spot that blends Californian and Italian bites received a “C” grade, according to reports conducted Jan. 19 through Jan. 25.
Sammy G’s Tuscan Grill in downtown Palm Springs was cited for two major violations, including improper hot and cold holding temperatures and cooling methods. There were several other minor violations noted during the inspection, resulting in a score of 70 out of 100, or a “C” grade.
Major violations pose an imminent risk to public health and warrant the immediate closure of a food facility or immediate correction, while minor violations do not pose a public health risk, but do warrant correction.
2 major violations, 30 points deducted
Sammy G’s Tuscan Grill, 265 S. Palm Canyon Drive, Palm Springs
Improper hot and cold holding temperatures: Tuna salad, ham and heavy cream measuring 45-48 degrees for more than four hours; whipped cream, half and half and perishable citrus juices measuring 44-55 degrees for more than four hours; cooked minestrone soup measuring 156 degrees; cooked vegetables measuring 43-45 degrees for more than 4 hours. | Items were discarded or relocated to reach proper temperature
Improper cooling methods: Arrabbiata sauce measuring 45 degrees and three containers of cooked marinara sauce measuring 55-66 degrees after cooling over night. | Items were discarded
Other violations include: Food manager certificate missing from the facility; soap and paper towels to be missing at handwashing sinks or restrooms; lack of hot water at prep sink; multiple flies in the bar area; air curtain not functioning in the delivery door, gaps around doors and a fly light placed above food prep area; frozen shellfish thawing in its box; raw chicken and beef stored near ready-to-eat foods in refrigerators; multiple towels used to line the bottom of boards and shelves, gaskets missing or deteriorating, accumulation of water in refrigerators, cutting boards heavily scored, heavy ice build up in two freezers and rusted ice cream freezer shelves; chlorine test strips missing for the dish machine; utensils and equipment need cleaning and proper storage; light shield missing from multiple lights within the facility; probe thermometers missing from the facility; personal items stored throughout the facility; cracked and missing floor and base coving tiles; three food handler cards to be expired
“C” card posted and a reinspection date of Jan. 26 has been set
Grade A restaurants
An “A” grade, or a score of 90 to 100 points, means a restaurant passed an inspection and met minimum health standards.
Cathedral City
E & E Pels Italian Ice, 36-365 Cathedral Canyon
Cherry’s Famous Rugelach, 27-800 Landau Blvd., Suite B102
Coachella
Panda Express, 50-120 Cesar Chavez St.
Taco Bell, 50-060 Harrison St. Todo Fresco Market, 52-051 Highway 111
Desert Hot Springs
Comfort Food Inn (food truck, no definitive address provided)
Del Taco, 14-290 Palm Drive Pho Na 92, 14-220 Palm Drive Subway, 14-212 Palm Drive, Suite
A3
Indio
McDonald’s, 42-295 Jefferson St. Camden Cellars Wine Bar, 49-990 Jefferson St., Suite 110
Palm Desert
Pier 88 Seafood & Bar, 72-363 Highway 111, Suite A
Porta Via Palm Desert, 73-100 El Paseo
Goody’s Cafe, 40-205 Washington
St.
McDonald’s, 78-365 Varner Road Monsoon Indian Cuisine, 72-221 Highway 111, Suite 109
Palm Springs
Fisherman’s Market and Grill, 235 S. Indian Ave.
Farm, 6 La Plaza
The Front Porch at Farm, 117 La Plaza
Wilma & Frieda’s, 155 S. Palm Canyon Drive
Rancho Mirage
Apong’s Philly Steak, 71-800 Highway 111, Suite A122
Cinemark Century at the River and XD, 71-800 Highway 111, Suite A137
Rocky Mountain Chocolate, 71-800 Highway 111, Suite A142
Panda Express, 34-151 Monterey Ave., Suite 105
Subway, 34-151 Monterey Suite 102
Note: No restaurant inspections were reported for the week of Jan. 19 through 25 in Indian Wells and La Quinta.
This weekly report was compiled using restaurant grading reports from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health, accessible at restaurantgrading.rivcoeh.org/Default.aspx
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at ema.sasic@desertsun.com or on Twitter @ema_sasic
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