RivCo Restaurant Health Closures, Reopenings: Panda Express, Crusty's

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — In September, three formerly shuttered Riverside County restaurants reopened with "A" grades after temporary shutdowns, according to the most recent Riverside County Environmental Health Department report. Six other Riverside County restaurants were downgraded to "B" or "C" grades and closed between Sept. 3 and Sept. 19 for issues related to running safe and sanitary kitchens, according to the most recent Food Facility Closures Report.

Each month, food facility inspectors make regular and unannounced inspections at restaurants, bakeries, delis, and bars across the county. Following rigorous checks, 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.

Riverside County Restaurant Reopenings:

In September, the following three Riverside County restaurants resolved flagged problems that led to long-term closures:

Daniel's Table, a Cathedral City restaurant located at 68327 East Palm Canyon Drive, reopened after closing July 25 due to operating with expired permits. According to the Department of Environmental Health, the restaurant resolved the issues and reopened with an "A" grade on Sept. 8.

Kathy's Cookies, located on Lyon Avenue in Hemet, a cottage food operation, reopened after being closed in mid-August due to water heater and temperature control issues, according to investigator reports. On Sept. 5, inspectors reported the owner had resolved all problems, and the kitchen's permit was reinstated with an "A" grade.

The closed Mr. You Express in Perris, located at 2560 N. Perris Boulevard, #F13, was shuttered after a kitchen fire damaged the kitchen area's ventilation hood, wall, and ceiling on Aug. 28. According to inspectors, owners fully repaired all fire damage, and the restaurant received its "A" grade, allowing the full reopening on Sept. 8.

Riverside County Restaurant Temporary Closures:

This month, a barrage of vermin issues, refrigeration problems, and malfunctioning water heaters plagued restaurants that were forced to close to resolve their problems. Here are Riverside County restaurants that were closed temporarily due to minor and major violations from Wednesday's 'Food Facility Closures' Report:

On Sept. 14, inspectors arrived at Cathedral City's El Tarasco, located at 34481 Date Palm Drive, Suite #2-D, to find multiple cockroaches inside the kitchen and back counter areas, according to reports. Inspectors saw both live adult and nymph cockroaches and numerous smashed cockroaches in various places in the restaurant. As of Sept. 19, the restaurant had a"Facility Closed" sign that would remain in the window until the owners could resolve the infestation.

Santorini Greek Cafe in Cathedral City, located at 68375 East Palm Canyon Drive, was closed temporarily on Monday, Sept. 18, due to insufficient hot or cold running water, according to the latest closure report. The restaurant was downgraded to a "C" grade and closed until the water temperature could be appropriately regulated for proper dish and handwashing. According to the most recent reports, the restaurant had not reopened as of Sept. 19.

Inspectors closed Hemet-based Samurai Sushi and Grill at 2200 West Florida Avenue, Suite D1, on Sept. 12 due to a cockroach and fly infestation. The vermin created an immediate health hazard, investigators reported. The restaurant received a "B" grade, which must remain posted until removed by the department. No reopening date was provided as of the most recent report.

Reyes Tamales of Indio, located at 83711 Peach Street, was closed temporarily on Sept. 10 due to insufficient hot and cold running water. The restaurant was re-inspected and allowed to reopen on Sept. 12 and granted an "A" grade, according to inspector reports.

The Norco restaurant Crusty's Pizza, located at 2395 Hamner Avenue, was closed on Sept. 13 due to a malfunctioning walk-in refrigerator, inspector reports show. The report stated that the restaurant discarded too-warm ham, chicken wings, and cheeses, potentially hazardous to customers. The refrigerator was repaired, and the facility reopened on Monday, Sept. 18, with an "A" grade.

Panda Express #909 in Palm Springs, located at 425 South Sunrise Way Suite H-1, was closed on Sept. 8 when an inspector discovered a vermin infestation, according to reports. No further information was immediately available, and no reopening date had not yet been announced.

See previous restaurant closures in Riverside County:

• 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
• Aug. 17 RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: McDonald's, Fatburger, Hawaiian BBQ
• Sept. 2: RivCo Restaurant Health Closures: Tom's Jr. Burgers, Mr. You, Shogun