Cockroaches shut down Tri-Cities restaurant. 5 other establishments fail inspections

The Benton Franklin Health District gave six failing grades in food safety inspections of restaurants and other establishments selling food in the Tri-Cities area Nov. 9-15.

A Pasco restaurant, Los Pinos, was shut down due to cockroaches, but cleared the infestation and has been allowed to reopen.

The health district’s food safety team gave passing grades on 40 inspections, with 20 of those earning perfect scores.

In the district’s routine inspections, businesses or organizations that receive at least 35 points for the more serious red violations are required to have additional inspections and must meet a tougher standard on those.

To pass followup inspections, they must have fewer than 25 red points and fewer than 10 repeat red points for previous issues.

Scores of 85 or more red points result in establishments remaining on probation until they pass two follow-up inspections, the first one within 72 hours.

Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illnesses, such as not keeping hot food hot enough or cold food cold enough, inadequate handwashing or bare-hand contact with foods.

Blue violations are low risk factors related to the cleanliness and physical condition of an establishment.

No notice is given before the inspections.

Businesses may have separate inspections of business lines with different health safety risks, such as grocery sales and a deli that prepares food.

Inspection results are posted online so residents can look up the status and the details of any violations of individual restaurants or check other businesses.

Go to bit.ly/BFHDinspections. Click on the business name and then on the date of the inspection on the right half of the next page. Look for the “Violations” tab.

For questions or complaints about food safety in Benton or Franklin counties, email contactusfoodsafety@BFHD.WA.GOV.

To participate in the health district’s food safety topics survey, go to bit.ly/BFHDfoodsafetysurvey.

Failed inspections

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up Nov. 14 (10 Red, 5 Blue)

Notes: Inadequate handwashing facilities (item stored in one sink blocking use).

Cardamom Indian Grill & Bar, 1312 Lee Blvd., Richland, Follow-up Nov. 15 (30 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: No certified food protection manager on staff, improper cooling procedures (lamb discarded).

Carniceria La Carreta, 1305 W. Fourth Ave., Kennewick, Routine Nov. 14 (80 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Lack of active managerial control (too many red points), food worker cards not 100%, inadequate handwashing facilities (cilantro in one sink), improper hot holding (<130°F — chicharones voluntarily discarded), room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, lack of conformance with approved procedures.

Javi’s Chicken and Churros, 1520 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, Routine Nov. 14 (40 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Inadequate handwashing facilities (two sinks lacked soap or paper towels), improper cooling procedures (beans voluntarily discarded), lacking a proper consumer advisory (on menu for foods served raw or undercooked)

Los Pinos, 1504 W. Lewis St., Pasco, Follow-up Nov. 13 (40 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: Lack of active managerial control, room temperature storage or improper use of time as a control, lack of conformance with approved procedures (cockroaches seen). The restaurant was required to shut down until the infestation was gone and was allowed to reopen Nov. 18.

Moonshot Brewing Pub at the Park, 94 Lee Blvd., Richland, Routine Nov. 13 (50 Red, 0 Blue)

Notes: No certified food protection manager on staff (it has been an issue previously and must be fixed by Dec. 13), improper produce washing (vegetable sliced without washing), improper cooling procedures, lack of conformance with approved procedures.

Passed inspections

Amon Eatz, 702 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 13 (25 Red, 10 Blue)

Aub’s Lounge, 710 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 13 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Brush Creek Creamery, Demonstrator, Kennewick, Routine Nov. 9 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Candy Land Shop, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up Nov. 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Caterpillar Cafe, 227 Symons St., Richland, Follow-up Nov. 15 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

City Market, 415 S. Rainier St., Kennewick, Routine Nov. 14 (Food service 25 Red, 0 Blue) (Store 0 Red, 0 Blue)

Delicias Raspados, 2019 W. Court St., Pasco, Routine Nov. 15 (30 Red, 0 Blue)

Donitas Tacos Pasco, 316 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, Routine Nov. 15 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Friends Corner (Food service), 111 N. Steptoe St., Kennewick, Routine Nov. 15 (30 Red, 0 Blue)

Fuerza Elementary School, 6011 W. 10th Place Kennewick, Routine Nov. 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Gangnam BBQ, 1275 Lee Blvd., Richland, Follow-up Nov. 15 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Golden Taco (Mobile), 272 Wellsian Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Juanitos Foods, 1620 W. Clark St., Pasco, Follow-up Nov. 13 (0 Red, 5 Blue)

Kitchen & Spice Market, 1440 W. Jadwin Ave., Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (30 Red, 5 Blue)

La Bella Vita Kitchen and Bar, 1515 George Washington Way, Richland, Follow-up Nov. 12 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

La Cocina, 720 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, Follow-up Nov. 13 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

La Posada Mexican Grill, 3150 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up Nov. 12 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Lifeline Coffee, 111 N. Steptoe St., Kennewick, Routine Nov. 15 (0 Red, 8 Blue)

Maverik, 4306 W. Clearwater Ave., Kennewick, Follow-up Nov. 12 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

McDonald’s, 2751 Queensgate Drive, Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Mexa Mexamerican Kitchen, 404 W. Lewis St., Pasco, Routine Nov. 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Mid-Columbia Partnership (Kennewick School District), 5980 W. 12th Ave., Kennewick, Routine Nov. 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue) (Vending machine 0 Red, 0 Blue)

MOD Pizza, 2801 Queensgate Drive, Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Neighbor’s Conoco, 780 Stevens Drive, Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (15 Red, 5 Blue)

On The Hook Fish and Chips, 1415 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 12 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Panda Express, 2885 Duportail St., Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (25 Red, 0 Blue)

Pearl Tea, 1321 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up Nov. 14 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Real Fudge (Demonstrator), 6412 Eagle Crest Drive, Pasco, Routine Nov. 9 (10 Red, 0 Blue)

Red Robin, 1021 N. Columbia Center Blvd., Kennewick, Follow-up Nov. 12 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Rite Aid, 1308 N. 20th Ave., Pasco, Routine Nov. 15 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Rite Aid, 1549 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 12 (0 Red, 5 Blue)

Stick & Stone, 3027 Duportail St., Richland, Routine Nov. 14 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

Sun River Vintners, 9312 W. 10th Ave., Kennewick, Routine Nov. 15 (0 Red, 2 Blue)

Tacos El Jefe (Mobile), 1424 N. Fourth Ave., Pasco, Routine Nov. 14 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

The Amethyst Creamery, 700 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 13 (0 Red, 10 Blue)

Walgreens, 2005 W. Court St., Pasco, Routine Nov. 15 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Walgreens, 1601 George Washington Way, Richland, Routine Nov. 12 (0 Red, 0 Blue)

Zip’s, 1123 Lee Blvd., Richland, Follow-up Nov. 15 (5 Red, 0 Blue)

This story was originally published November 21, 2024 at 5:00 AM.