The call is coming from inside the house: Journal cafeteria, Menaul restaurant, in the red this week

By Journal staff and wire reports Thursday, May 11th, 2023 at 2:27PM

The inspector comes for us all: the Albuquerque Publishing Company cafeteria was red tagged last week, following a new business inspection on May 1. The cafeteria had been closed since late April, pending a new vendor coming in. Among the violations, inspectors found a rodent infestation. Viet Taste was also in the red, following the discovery of several live and dead roaches throughout the facility.

GREEN

Golden Crown Panaderia, 1103 Mountain NW (May 4)Blake's Lotaburger, 777 Rio Grande NW (May 4)Costco, 9955 Coors Bypass NW (May 1)Waffle House, 2250 Yale SE (May 3)Taco Cabana, 10210 Central NW (May 2)Hyatt Place, 6901 Arvada NE (May 1)Papa Nachos, 7648 Louisiana NE (May 4)Le Bistro Vietnamese Restaurant, 1313 San Pedro NE (May 3)McDonald's, 11824 Lomas NE (May 1)Chuze Fitness, 7400 Indian School NE (May 5)Metro Subs Soup and Salad, 2300 Morris NE (May 4)Naples Drizzle, 5701 Gibson SE (May 3)Mimi's Cafe, 4316 the 25 NE (May 2)Quick Track, 10320 Candelaria NE (May 5)Cavita's Green Taco Machine, 520 Louisiana SE (May 5) – mobile food unitRed Taco Shop, 5701 Gibson SE (May 5) – mobile food unitIce Cream Man, 6320 Zuni (May 5) – mobile pre-packagedChicago Pizza Kitchen, 5305 Gibson SE (May 3)Stripes Burrito Co., 5211 Gibson SE (May 1)Dave's High Desert Grill, 5200 Eubank NE (May 3)Jersey Mike's Subs, 9500 Montgomery NE (May 5)Domino's Pizza, 1016 Juan Tabo NE (May 5)La Turquesa, 5701 Gibson SE (May 3) – mobile food unit

RED

Canteen Journal Center, 7777 Jefferson NE (May 1)Result: Immediate closure (Albuquerque Publishing Company cafeteria, which was inspected after being closed in April while awaiting new management)Observed shredded cheese and raw shell eggs in containers with minimal levels of ice bath surrounding product, inadequately holding temperature, temping above 41 degrees F, shredded cheese temping at 63 degrees F, and raw shell eggs temping at 60.5 F, observed multiple products with no date-marking in the walk-in cooler such as multiple containers of refried beans, shredded chicken in juice, and diced cooked potatoes, observed beef broth, exceeding shelf life of seven days stored in walk-in cooler labeled as 1/27, observed no ambient air thermometer inside the chest freezer, observed cafeteria room doors with gaps along the bottom, observed significant rodent droppings in cabinets under soda beverage station/drink station with mouse in glue trap, at the floor drain by the salad bar, and in the cabinets under the cold holding area where prepackaged chips and beverages are stored for sale, observed food handling employees with rings on, observed wooden counter tops in prep area with deep cuts and with grooves at areas where the wood is coming apart at the seams, observed floor drains with significant debris buildup at the three-compartment sink in the prep area and on the serving line, observed faucet leaking at prep sink in the kitchen area, observed no covered receptacle in the women's restroom, observed multiple holes in the walls around plumbing fixtures in the dish area and hand sink in the cooking line area, observed significant debris under oven and fryer area in the kitchen, observed evidence of rodent infestation, observed missing hand-washing sign from hand-washing station on the kitchen line.

Viet Taste, 5721 Menaul NE (May 3)Result: Immediate closureObserved person in charge was not knowledgeable or responsible due to multiple priority violations such as: hand-washing sinks stocked and available, food protected stored six inches above the floor, sanitizer availability, cleanliness, date marking, etc. Observed containers of noodles being stored in walk-in cooler with no cover to protect it from any contaminations, observed ware washing machine with no sanitizer solution, observed large gaps on both back doors entering the facility, observed phone on shelf above beverage station, observed improper water bottle (no lid or straw) drink stored on the prep table, observed several locations in the facility with substantial food buildup (reach-in cooler gaskets, dry storage shelves, under cold hold make stations, near and around fryers), observed no test strips in the facility, observed no sanitizer was made, observed two live cockroaches and three dead on prep table under toaster oven near service window, observed several dead cockroaches throughout the facility under dry storage shelves, under reach-in coolers on north wall of kitchen and under ice machine near walk-in cooler, observed several food containers being stored in hand-washing sink.

These are summaries of Albuquerque Environmental Health restaurant inspections. For more information, or to view a searchable database of city restaurant inspections, visit the Environmental Health's inspection results page here.

Inspection key:

GREEN: No violations, or minor violations corrected on-site.

RED: Major violations that presented an imminent hazard and required an immediate downgrade or closure.

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DOWNGRADE: The restaurant has not yet been required to immediately close, but the public should only eat there at their own risk.

CLOSURE: Immediate closure. A corrective action plan with a mandatory compliance timeline, and a reopening inspection will be required.

For questions or concerns, please contact business editor John Leacock at [email protected]