RivCo Restaurant Closures, Reopening: Buffet, Juice Bar, Mexican Grill

WILDOMAR, CA — One Riverside County restaurant reopened after a lengthy closure in December, while nine other restaurants across the county were temporarily closed, according to the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health Department's latest Food Facility Closure report, dated Friday, Dec. 22.(null);p>

Inspectors reinstated one Cathedral City restaurant and downgraded multiple kitchens in Coachella Valley, the Pass Area, and in Southwest Riverside County for potential health hazards related to rodent and insect infestations, failing water heaters and plumbing backups.
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Each week, Riverside County food facility inspectors inspect restaurants, bakeries, delis, and bars across the county. Following rigorous checks, both regular and unannounced, restaurants are issued grades ranging from "A" to "C."

For anything under an "A" grade, restaurant owners can attempt to repair the issues before inspectors leave the premises. Still, some problems take longer to fix, leading to a downgrade or even a lengthy closure.

Previously closed Santorini Greek Cafe at 68375 E. Palm Canyon Drive has reopened in December after failing health re-inspections in October and November. The Cathedral City restaurant has suffered reoccurring issues related to insufficient hot and cold running water. Inspectors who visited on a routine inspection on Dec. 5 gave that eatery an "A" grade.

The restaurants below reopened with "A" grades after being closed between Dec. 1 and Dec. 22 for issues related to running safe and sanitary kitchens, according to the department's most recent Food Facility Closures Report.

Two Coachella restaurants were briefly closed this month due to insufficient hot or cold running water, according to inspection reports.

Eastern Buffet, located at 49211 Grapefruit Boulevard, #7, was closed on Dec. 14 due to insufficient hot or cold running water. It was allowed to reopen after the issue was repaired on Wednesday, Dec. 20, according to inspector reports.

Another Coachella restaurant, Club Vida Saludable, located at 50057 Cesar Chaves Street, was temporarily closed for one day on Monday due to a malfunctioning water heater. That issue was repaired immediately, and the restaurant was allowed to continue business the same day.

The restaurant inside the Indian Palms Country Club, located at 48630 Monroe Street, was closed due Friday, Dec. 15, due to a plumbing backup issue and improper wastewater disposal, according to inspector reports. That restaurant has not yet reopened as of the most recent report from the Department of Environmental Health.

In Jurupa Valley, health inspectors temporarily closed the food preparation area inside the Gas N Go, located at 8790 Mission Boulevard, on December 7 due to a cockroach, rodent, or fly infestation inside the business. The business was allowed to reopen after the problem was resolved on Dec. 11, according to reports.

Mariscos Fransisco, located at 91280 2nd Street in the city of Mecca, was closed on Wednesday, Dec. 20, due to insufficient hot or cold running water. As of the most recent environmental health report on Friday, Dec. 22, the restaurant remained closed.

Two Palm Springs restaurants were shuttered for various reasons this month.

A broken water heater led to the temporary closure of Loco Charlies Mexican Grill, located at 1751 N. Sunrise Way, #F5, according to inspector reports. The restaurant was closed on Dec. 12 and allowed to reopen on Dec. 13 with an "A" grade, after the water heater was repaired.

The Kaiser Grill Palm Springs was closed after inspectors noticed a cockroach, rodent, or fly infestation on Dec. 14, according to the most recent environmental health report. The restaurant was allowed to reopen with an "A" grade on Tuesday, Dec. 19, after it was re-inspected.

In the city of Riverside, Taiyo's Sushi, located at 11120 Magnolia Avenue, was temporarily closed Dec. 14 due to a plumbing backup and improper wastewater disposal, according to inspectors. That restaurant reopened with an "A" grade one day later, on Dec. 15, when the issue was resolved.

Wildomar's Robek's juice shop was closed for a few days after inspectors noted insufficient hot or cold running water inside the facility, according to the most recent inspection report. The shop was closed temporarily on Dec. 12 and reopened with an "A" grade on Dec. 14, inspectors said.

See previous restaurant closures in Riverside County in 2023:

• May 4: RivCo Restaurant Health Inspections: Cardenas Market, Starbucks Cited
• May 11: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Boba Fiend, Del Taco, Jack In The Box
• May 18: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Wienerschnitzel, 7-Eleven
• May 25: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Panda Express, Domino's Pizza, Wingstop
• Jun. 1: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Flies in Food; Street Vendors Shut Down
• Jun. 29: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Jamba Juice, Lucky Wok, Pizza Chains
• Jul. 20: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Subway, Sbarro, Spa Food
• Sept. 2: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Tom's Jr. Burgers, Mr. You, Shogun
• Sept. 21: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures, Reopenings: Panda Express, Crusty's
• Sept. 28: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Del Taco, Santorini Gyro, Mr. Taco
• Oct. 17: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: La Michocana, Jade China, Dickey's
• Nov. 2: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Buffet, High School Kitchen, Donuts
• Nov. 31: RivCo Restaurant Closures: Little Caesar's, Sandfish, Rubidoux Market