Wichita inspections: Roaches, old meat, grimy workspace, bugs in booze, dirty hands
Thirteen local businesses including several restaurants, bakeries, a dollar store, a nutrition store and a university arena’s concession area failed their Kansas Department of Agriculture food and lodging safety inspections last week. They were cited for violations such as cockroach infestations, employees who didn’t wash their hands before touching customers’ food, missing records, bugs floating in liquor bottles, old meat and grimy work spaces, a check of Sedgwick County’s non-compliant inspections from Nov. 7-13 shows.
Information about the businesses and violations, compiled Nov. 15, appears below with a summary of the problems inspectors noted on their reports. There were also 21 businesses with non-compliant inspections between Oct. 17 and Nov. 6 that The Eagle hasn’t previously reported on. The results of those inspections are also noted below.
More details, including specific violation descriptions and survey dates, are posted in The Eagle’s searchable, non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspection database at www.kansas.com/databases. More than 200 businesses surveyed over the last four weeks passed their inspections with few or no violations. You can see those at www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.
Failing an inspection doesn’t necessarily mean a business has to close; that’s rare. Most violations are minor and are immediately corrected on site.
Businesses fall out of compliance with state rules when they have too many violations or certain types of problems that can increase the risk of a customer contracting a food-borne illness, or when a problem can’t be fixed right away, such as plumbing issues and pest infestations.
When a business fails, it’s usually inspected again within 10 days.
To complain about conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.
Last week’s out-of-compliance inspections
Arby’s, 4308 E. Harry in Wichita — One violation for food at unsafe temperature. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 20.
Audrey’s Daylight Donuts, 606 N. Baltimore Ave. in Derby — Three violations for storing raw eggs over open container of icing, kolaches stored at wrong temperature, no thermometer to check temperature of eggs and bacon. Follow-up inspection on Jan. 8.
Dollar General Store, 3445 N. Womer St. in Wichita — One violation over broken restroom sink. Follow-up inspection on Dec. 7.
Great Wall Chinese Restaurant, 2130 N. Tyler Rd. Ste. 60 in Wichita — Six violations for sauces and wontons not marked with opening or preparation dates, raw chicken stored above lettuce in cooler, sauce and chicken stored at wrong temperature, not sanitizing colander. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 20.
Haysville Nutrition and Energy, 243 E. Grand in Haysville — One violation for not having a dedicated hand-washing sink. Follow-up inspection on Dec. 8.
HomeGrown, 1900 N. Rock Rd. in Wichita — Twelve violations for employees not washing hands, employees leaving personal drinks throughout food preparation area, improper food storage, restaurant using sink with chemical dispensers for food preparation, food including potatoes and sour cream stored at unsafe temperatures, old sausage and roasted vegetables, dirty can opener, blocked hand-washing sink, no soap or paper towels at hand-washing sink. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 18.
Juarez Bakery, 1068 N. Waco in Wichita — One violation for not covering bakery items. Follow-up inspection on Dec. 4.
N & J Cafe & Bakery, 5600 E. Lincoln in Wichita — Inspected as both a food establishment and a food processor. Three violations tied to yogurt production procedures, missing logs and training records. Follow-up inspection on Dec. 9.
Picasso’s Pizzeria, 621 W. Douglas in Wichita — Five violations for bugs in whiskey bottle, garlic oil stored at wrong temperature, missing policy, beans and meats not marked with preparation dates, cockroaches, dust and food debris on floor. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 22.
Playa Azul, 111 N. Washington in Wichita — Ten violations for employee not washing hands, employee didn’t change gloves after handling raw chicken, employee washed hands in wrong sink, pork kept at wrong temperature, walk-in cooler not working properly, old pico, dirty pans and containers, no soap or paper towels at bathroom sink, unlabeled chemicals. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 22.
Regency Inn, 6125 W. Kellogg in Wichita — One violation for roach infestation in several rooms. No follow-up date listed, but rooms are supposed to stay closed until bugs are gone.
TJ’s Burger House, 1003 W. Douglas in Wichita — Violation tied to pest control. No follow-up inspection date provided.
WSU Charles Koch Arena, 1845 W. Fairmount St. in Wichita — Five violations for nacho cheese stored at wrong temperature, food build up on popcorn maker, water not hot enough at hand-washing sink, roaches, chemicals stored in wrong place. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 19.
Out-of-compliance inspections Oct. 17 to Nov. 6
Alexandra’s Cakes, 5355 N. Broadway in Wichita — Nine violations for storing raw eggs above milk, cakes not marked with preparation date, no probe-style food thermometer or equipment for testing sanitizer strength, dirty utensils and equipment, no soap or paper towels at bathroom sink, operating after license expired. Business agreed to close until it obtained a current, valid license.
All American Dave’s, 1551 N. Rock Rd. in Wichita — Fourteen violations for thawing salmon at room temperature, food stored at wrong temperatures, vacuum-packaged meals and dairy products not dated, old mango salsa and cilantro sauce, dirty containers and equipment, not enough sanitizer in dish water, no soap or paper towels at sink, grime at grill station and old rodent feces behind freezer and ice machine, chemicals stored by food utensils, missing records.
Allison Middle School, 221 S. Seneca in Wichita — One violation for water not getting hot enough at bathroom sinks.
Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar, 996 E. Connolly Ct. in Park City — Two violations for foods stored at wrong temperatures, leaky sink.
Audrey’s Daylight Donuts, 606 N. Baltimore Ave. in Derby — Four violations for raw meat and eggs stored above open container of icing in cooler, food stored at wrong temperatures, no food thermometer in restaurant, plumbing issue.
Big’s Bar and Grill, 7011 W. Central Ste. 135 in Wichita — Nine violations for employee not washing hands, bugs in liquor bottle, raw beef stored by cheese, wrong discard dates on vegetables and mozzarella cheese, dirty equipment, cleaner stored above bowls.
Brickyard, 125-129 N. Rock Island in Wichita — Twelve violations for employee washing hands in wrong sink, cooked pork shoulder and brisket didn’t cool off fast enough, bread and milk not marked with preparation or opening dates, old chicken and golden gravy, vacuum packing meat without permission, no sanitizer in dishwasher, not hot water, plumbing issue, unlabeled chemical bottle.
Dillons, 3707 N. Woodlawn in Wichita — Seven violations for selling dented and damaged products, storing raw meat and eggs by cooked items, old chicken, water too cool at bakery and deli sinks, dishwasher temperature wasn’t hot enough, no soap in deli dispenser.
Dollar General Store, 3445 N. Womer in Wichita — Two violations for water not getting hot enough at bathroom sink, detergent and bleach stored above plates.
Easy Egg, 5700 W. Kellogg Dr. in Wichita — Twelve violations for employees not washing hands, food stored at wrong temperatures, sauces and meat not marked with preparation or opening dates, consumer advisory items not marked on menu, broken ice scoop, dirty equipment, plumbing issue, gap under back door, sanitizer too strong in wash bucket.
El Ricardo’s Mexican Food, 503 N. West St. in Wichita — Six violations for employee not washing hands, food stored at wrong temperature, no preparation date on carnitas, no probe-style food thermometer, walk-in refrigerator door doesn’t latch, unlabeled chemicals. Follow-up inspection on Nov. 17.
Kwik Shop, 5410 Air Cap Drive in Wichita — One violation for not shutting down when there was no water in the building due to a water main break. Business closed voluntarily.
Lucky Market, 7100 E. Harry in Wichita — Nine violations for selling dented food cans, raw eggs and meat stored by cooked foods, foods stored at wrong temperatures, dirty knives, utensils and scrubbing pads stored in hand-washing sink, “electric bug device” installed over table and utensils, sanitizer stored over freezer and food preparation area, cleaner stored on instant coffee box.
Newman University, 3100 W. McCormick in Wichita — Seven violations for not using lids or sneeze guard to protect food from contamination, storing food at wrong temperatures, old milk and prosciutto, old horseradish and sauces, jalapenos stored in T-shirt style bag, plumbing issue.
Pizza John’s, 208 S. Baltimore in Derby — Two violations during two inspections, both for cockroaches.
Puerto Vallarta Mexican Restaurant, 602 N. Tyler Rd. in Wichita — Eleven violations for employee not washing hands, foods stored at wrong temperatures, foods missing opening or preparation dates, old sauces, rice and fish stored in plastic T-shirt bags, missing equipment, unlabeled chemicals.
Quick Pick, 3733 N. Arkansas in Wichita — One violation for rodent infestation. Follow-up inspection on Dec. 20.
Riverside Cafe West, 9125 W. Central in Wichita — Five violations for employee with hand brace handling fish without wearing gloves, foods stored at wrong temperatures, no paper towels at hand-washing sink, dirty floors.
Sky Palace Inn & Suites, 901 E. 53rd St. North in Wichita — Twenty-seven violations noted in two inspections. Problems included unlabeled chemicals, missing window screens, missing GFCI outlet and electrical covers, hallway emergency lights and smoke detectors in some rooms don’t work, cracked and missing windows, stained and water-damaged ceiling tiles, ripped and broken chairs, moldy handicap seat, hair and burn holes on bedding, stained box springs, housekeeping cart touching coffee and condiments, moldy ice chute, food left in refrigerator after guest checked out, dirty microwave, missing ice bucket liner, hair and crumbs on bed sheet. Follow-up inspection on Jan. 4.
Tom’s Lotus Garden, 822 S. Broadway in Wichita — Six violations for dirty equipment, rodents, gap under exterior door, basement storage area could harbor pests, grimy kitchen floors.
Trotbot, 1110 W. Harry in Wichita — One violation for rodent infestation. Follow-up inspection on Dec. 20.
This story was originally published November 19, 2021 at 4:37 AM.
