RivCo Restaurant Health Inspections: Cardenas Market, Starbucks Cited

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — More than 20 restaurants in Riverside County were closed temporarily over the last two months as they dealt with cockroaches, fly infestations, and a lack of cleaning supplies. Any one of those could result in "a public health issue if not addressed immediately," according to Riverside County Department of Environmental Health Program Chief Kristin Lorge.

Restaurants are inspected by the agency unannounced and are either awarded or dinged with inspection grades ranging from "A" to "C." If you see your favorite eatery on the list, it means the county health department closed the restaurant until it cleaned up its act. In most cases, it doesn't take more than a few days to get into compliance.

"The public has the right to know what happened during the closure and how long it took to fix," Lorge said.

Here are the Riverside County food establishments that were closed temporarily due to minor and major violations since March 2023:

Banning:
Rio Ranch Market and Deli, located at 3317 West Ramsey Street:

• Shut down three times for having "insufficient hot or cold running water." That problem was rectified on March 24.

Cabazon:
Ensenada Baja Tacos, located at 48400 Seminole Drive #438

• Shut down on March 15 for having "insufficient hot or cold running water." That problem was rectified, and the shop reopened on March 17.

Cathedral City:
Cardenas Market, 31655 Date Palm Drive

• They were closed on March 10 on a "voluntary condemnation" due to food "unfit for human consumption," according to the Department of Health inspector Darrel Balancier's report. The facility had no hot water; food was improperly handled and was discarded during the inspection, according to the report. All issues were rectified the same day, and the market was allowed to reopen by 4 p.m.

El Portal, 32235 Date Palm Drive, #101

• Closed on March 15 due to "vermin infestation." Reoepend on March 30.

Tacos Del Valley, 68467 E. Palm Canyon Drive

• Closed on March 17 due to "insufficient hot or cold running water." Reopened March 20.

T's On The Green, LLC, 36200 Date Palm Drive

• Shut down on April 26 due to "cockroach infestation." Due to repeated failed inspections within two years, an administrative hearing was held on Wednesday. As of May 4, there was no word about a rescheduled inspection, and a call to the restaurant went unanswered.

Corona:
Manila Grill Restaurant and Bake Shop: 3848 McKinley Street

• Closed March 8 due to cockroach infestation. Allowed to reopen on March 10.

Boba Friend Tea House: 2276 Griffin Way #105

• Closed April 19 due to "insufficient hot or cold running water." Reopened April 20.

Desert Hot Springs:
Little Ceasars Pizza: 13313 Palm Drive #L

• Closed March 22 due to "active vermin infestation" observed by the inspector. The facility was treated for pests and was approved to reopen for operation on March 30.

Indian Wells:
Del Taco #132: 2552 Hamner Avenue

• Closed April 12 due to "insufficient refrigeration and/or inadequate means to maintain potentially hazardous food hot." Approved to reopen for operation on April 13.

Palm Desert:
Marriott's Desert Springs Resort and Spa Starbucks: 74855 Country Club Drive

• Closed March 8 due to "plumbing back-up/improper wastewater disposal." Reopened after adequate handwashing facilities were supplied and accessible. Plumbing was properly installed with a repair on March 10.

Palm Springs:
Mizell Senior Center: 480 S. Sunrise Way

• Closed March 14 due to "cockroach, rodent or fly infestation."

Santorini Gyro Palm Springs: 190 Palm Canyon Drive

• Closed on March 21 after a facility downgrade when the food management certificate was not on the premises. Passed with a 100-A and was approved to reopen on March 23.

Perris:
Fish Taco Express: 1675 N. Perris Boulevard, #A14

• Closed on May 1 for an immediate health hazard due to "cockroach infestation." The facility will remain closed until proof of compliance is shown.

Riverside:
TGI Fridays: located at 3487 Tyler Street

• Closed March 10 due to "floors, walls, ceilings issue." It was allowed to reopen on March 12.

India Sweets & Grocery: 779 W Blaine Street

• Closed March 16 due to "cockroach, rodent or fly infestation." Allowed to reopen on March 23

Marito Fitness Studio: located at 8351 Arlington Avenue.

• Closed on March 22 due to "no sanitizer available and/or improper cleaning of food contact surfaces." Allowed to reopen the same day.

Ray's Ranch Cafe: located at 10459 Arlington Avenue, Ste. G

• Closed on March 28 due to "Insufficient hot or cold running water." Allowed to reopen for business on March 29.

7 Leaves University LLC: located at 1201 University Avenue, #101

• Closed on March 30 due to "Insufficient hot or cold running water." Allowed to reopen for business on March 31.

Craving Crab Haus LLC: located at 1201 University Avenue #117

• Closed on March 30 due to "insufficient hot or cold running water." Allowed to reopen on March 31.

Los Altos Meat Market Inc.: located at 2906 Madison Street

• Closed on April 14 due to "plumbing back-up/improper wastewater disposal." Allowed to reopen on April 18.

Jack in the Box #3581: located at 3886 Chicago Avenue

• Closed on April 25 due to "plumbing back-up/improper wastewater disposal water." Allowed to reopen the same day after rectifying the problem.

Temecula:

Nekter Juice Bar: located at 32068 Temecula Parkway #100.

• Closed on March 14 due to "insufficient hot or cold running water." Allowed to reopen the same day after rectifying the problem.

According to the county, an "A" grade from the County of Riverside symbolizes the hard work and efforts of the food establishment. Restaurants that fail to meet standards receive lower grades of "B" or "C" and can close temporarily before being re-inspected.