RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Wienerschnitzel, 7-Eleven

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Riverside County health inspectors temporarily closed five restaurants since May 5 after discovering rat and cockroach infestations, plumbing issues and refrigeration problems hampering proper storage and serving temperatures of food, according to the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health agency.

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, the county health department closed the restaurant until it cleaned up its act.

In most cases, restaurants return to compliance within a day or two. Still, others must prove that pest control and plumbing issues will not reoccur to remain open. As to the reporting of the closures, it's important for the public to know, Program Chief Kristin Lorge said.

"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 from the most recent "Food Facility Closures" report issued Wednesday, May 17:

Refrigeration and hot and cold running water are essential for health and food safety. Two locations violated those standards since our last report.

The Wienerschnitzel #817 in Jurupa Valley, located at 10207 San Sevaine Way, was closed this week due to non-functional refrigeration. It will remain shuttered until they could show the refrigeration was repaired and working properly, according to Jason Roy, Environmental Health Specialist. The expected date for re-inspection is Monday, May 22.

Palm Desert's Springhill Suites by Marriott, located at 72322 Highway 111, closed its food facilities temporarily on May 10 after it was found to have insufficient hot or cold running water. That issue was resolved while the inspector was on site and they reopened for business the same day, according to the Environmental Health website.

There's a short list of animals approved inside restaurants, such as service animals or decorative fish in aquariums, according to the health inspection code. Cockroach and rat sightings result in immediate shutdowns, as seen in these three restaurants cited since our last report.

The 7-Eleven on 28015 Scott Road in Murrieta was temporarily shut down due to "adulterated food" and an infestation of rats, according to Environmental Health Specialist Kristen Burnham's report on May 9. Rat droppings were found in various locations, as were chewed food wrappers. Then, the inspector found a "robust live rat" in the small storage cabinet of the pre-paid credit card display. The facility's food and beverage stations were closed until the rodent problem was resolved and those areas deep-cleaned. All violations were resolved by May 10, when food and beverage stations were allowed to reopen.

The Fish Taco Express in Perris, located at 1675 North Perris Boulevard, #A14, reopened after a weeklong closure on May 8. One week before, a surprise inspection revealed an immediate health hazard caused by a "cockroach infestation." It also failed to maintain "minimum sanitation requirements." However, the facility was allowed to reopen on May 8 and remained open after a follow-up inspection on May 16, ensuring those issues were resolved.

A cockroach infestation reported by a customer led to the temporary closure of the Royal Orchid Thai restaurant, located at 9791 Magnolia Avenue in Riverside, on May 11. Inspectors and the manager witnessed a live German cockroach near the rice maker and dishwasher, in a temporary facility closure, according to the inspector's report. After they closed the cracks and crevices and dispelled the vermin, the restaurant was allowed to reopen for business on May 15.

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.

SEE PREVIOUS:

• May 4: RivCo Restaurant Health Inspections: Cardenas Market, Starbucks Cited
• May 11: RivCo Restaurant Inspections: Boba Fiend, Del Taco, Jack In The Box