Restaurant inspections for Feb. 15
Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County inspection reports, which are available at each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website at co.thurston.wa.us/health/ehfood. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.
Report restaurant complaints, including violations related to COVID-19 restrictions, online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.
Reading inspection scores:
- Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the restaurant has a history of red violations or repeat violations.
- Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.
- Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.
- Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.
Starbucks
5300 Capitol Blvd. SE, Tumwater
Jan. 10: 10 red; 5 blue.
Comments: A dish tray obstructed the hand wash sink. The in-use sanitizer was not properly strong enough.
McMenamin’s Spar Café and Bar
114 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
Jan. 10: 15 red; 3 blue.
Comments: Five eggs were pooled together in a cold hold unit, which is one more than is allowed. Multiple items in an upper cold hold unit were over 41 degrees rather than at or below that temperature. Vacuum sealed fish were thawed under refrigeration without being removed from packaging. Potatoes were thawing at room temperature rather than under refrigeration as required.
Quality Food Centers
4775 Whitman Lane SE, Lacey
Bakery
Jan. 11: 0 red; 5 blue.
Comments: Sanitizer was not prepared during inspection.
Food Establishment Service
Jan. 23: 5 red; 0 blue.
Comments: An inadequate thermometer was used during inspection.
Olive Garden Restaurant
2400 Capital Mall Drive SW, Olympia
Jan. 12: 5 red; 0 blue.
Comments: Some food worker cards were missing and/or expired.
Taco Bell
3815 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey
Jan. 18: 25 red; 0 blue.
Comments: A food worker did not wash their hands after handling in-use sanitizer as required.
Taylor Rays Café
414 Fifth Ave. SW, Olympia
Jan. 25: 30 red; 10 blue.
Comments: Cooked potatoes were observed cooling in greater than 4-inch amounts and covered in a cold hold unit. Such foods must be cooled in 2 inches or less depth, uncovered and in a reach in refrigerator. Cooked potatoes were on ice were between 41 and 45 degrees rather than at or below 41 as required. Ice used to control temperature did not fully surround products. The in-use sanitizer solution was not strong enough.
5th on 4th Sandwich Shop
926 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
Jan. 25: 35 red; 10 blue.
Comments: Potato salad and tomatoes were being cooled improperly. A log sheet was not maintained for dishwasher sanitizer in accordance with a waiver. Merchandiser was being used to store open TCS foods rather than prepackaged non-TCS foods only. A meat slicer used for deli meats and produce was not properly cleaned.
Oyster House
320 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia
Jan. 26: 25 red; 10 blue.
Comments: Lemons and limes in the bar area were not rinsed prior to use. Shellfish tags were not properly dated. TCS coleslaw was measured at 50-60 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees. Sanitizer solutions for wiping cloths and warewashing were not strong enough.
Ralph’s Thriftway
1908 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia
Deli/Subways/Burrito Bar
Jan. 30: 0 red; 10 blue.
Comments: A sanitizer solution was too weak. A certain plumbing backflow was last serviced in 2000 rather than annually as required.
Espresso
Jan. 30: 0 red; 5 blue.
Comments: A sanitizer solution was too weak
Happy Teriyaki III
1107 College St. SE, Lacey
Jan. 31: 25 red; 10 blue.
Comments: A sauce was observed improperly cooling in large amounts. A back merchandiser had visible mold and contained uncovered open food. Raw chicken was being cut and trimmed on a cutting board sitting on a trash can. Mop wastewater was reportedly dumped outside the facility rather than in an approved service sink.
Safeway
4700 Yelm Highway SE, Lacey
Bakery
Feb. 2: 0 red; 5 blue.
Comments: In-use utensils were stored below a soap dispenser at the front of a handwash sink.
Deli
Feb. 2: 35 red; 0 blue.
Comments: Chick was observed cooling in greater than 2-inch amounts. The temperature in the walk-in cold hold was between 42 and 44 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees. The thermometer for the walk-in was broken.
New Market Deli
7299 New Market St. SW, Tumwater
Feb. 2: 10 red; 0 blue.
Comments: Mushrooms on ice were at 50 degrees rather than at or below 41 degrees as required.
San Francisco Street Bakery
1320 San Francisco Ave. NE, Olympia
Bakery
Feb. 6: 0 red; 10 blue.
Comments: The sanitizer solution was too weak. Warewash facilities only reached a maximum temperature of 155 degrees.
Food service establishment
Feb. 6: 40 red; 15 blue.
Comments: The person in charge did not know where food worker cards were being kept. An employee making a sandwich did not wash their hands when switching tasks. Raw eggs were stored above cream cheese rather than below and away. The front merchandizer lacked a thermometer. A sanitizer solution was too weak. An ice machine had visible mold like build up. Warewash facilities only reached a maximum temperature of 155 degrees.
No violation
- Ralph’s Thriftway, Meat Market, Grocery. Jan. 30. Bakery. Feb. 6. (1908 Fourth Ave. W., Olympia).
- Safeway, Meat Markey, Grocery, Produce Cutting Area, Espresso. Feb. 2. (4700 Yelm Highway SE, Lacey).
