‘Severe' cockroach infestation briefly shuts down SLO County burger joint
Those were some of the notable conditions San Luis Obispo County health inspectors found in July 2025 during dozens of surprise visits to eating and drinking establishments.
Many food and beverage sellers passed with flying colors, while others needed to make serious improvements.
Every month, The Tribune prints the lowest- and highest-ranked eateries to give diners more information about the places where they buy food and drinks.
Inspectors visit restaurants, bars, coffee shops, grocery stores, mini-marts and more on a monthly basis. They score eateries on a 0-point scale and make deductions based on the severity of the violations they find. Negative scores represent businesses with violations while a restaurant with a score of 0 received a perfect score.
This is a change from the agency's previous scoring system which ranked eateries on a 100-point scale.
To check out the safety and cleanliness of your favorite restaurants around the county, visit www.EatSafeSLO.org and use the interactive map to view full inspection reports.
Here are the highs and lows of the 131 inspections Environmental Health employees conducted in July.
Lowest-rated restaurants
Mediterranean Spice, 1401 Park St., Paso Robles
Points lost: -73
Notes: A routine inspection revealed significant violations at Mediterranean Spice in Paso Robles in July, with an inspector noting that staff were unable to demonstrate food safety knowledge practices and principles. Some of those included not properly using sanitizer to clean equipment and food contact surfaces, dishes not being washed properly, no sanitizer in the dishwasher and several pieces of dirty equipment — including a dough machine, large can opener and fry cutter. According to inspection notes, an inspector meanwhile observed rice and sauces being held below advised temperatures and raw meats being stored above ready-to-eat foods. The restaurant also had two unusual items at its prep line: household bug spray, which is not allowed, and a 'small pillow' that was being used for bread preparation, according to the inspection notes. Because of the violations found, Mediterranean Spice was ordered to have a reinspection later in July.
Orcutt Burgers, 1771 W. Grand Ave., Grover Beach
Points lost: -63
Notes: Orcutt Burger in Grover Beach was temporarily closed due to an 'imminent health hazard' after inspectors found a 'severe and active cockroach infestation' at the fast-food joint. According to inspection notes, cockroaches in 'all life stages (dead and alive)' were found on sticky traps below the cookline. Because of the violations, the restaurant was ordered to close until it contacted professional pest control services and did 'a full treatment and assessed the severity of the problem.' The restaurant also lost points during the July inspection because it had no designated person in charge at the time of inspection, a hand sink in the restroom was disconnected from the water supply and had no warm or cold water available, and 'excessive litter and debris' was found around the outdoor grease container and dumpsters. The vermin issue was addressed by an Aug. 1 reinspection, and the restaurant was allowed to reopen — with the caveat that pest control continue to do 'aggressive follow-up treatments over the next couple of weeks.'
Agave Grill, 671 Tefft St., Nipomo
Points lost: -53
Notes: A number of significant violations were found during Agave Grill's routine inspection in July. Those included no warm water at the hand wash sink in the kitchen, grime on soda nozzle gaskets and 'pink grime' on the ice chute, meat being thawed in stagnant water and a build-up of food debris in the floor sinks. According to inspection notes, restaurant workers were also using a frying pan to scoop raw foods. The restaurant was ordered to stop doing that and only use scoops with handles.
Rer Oil Inc. (aka Mobil), 525 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande
Points lost: -52
Notes: The Arroyo Grande gas station was temporarily ordered to only serve prepackaged items after a July 8 inspection revealed evidence of rodent droppings and a live mouse in the station's market. According to inspection notes, no open food was allowed at the facility until the rodent issue was abated. It was given 24 hours to contact pest control or risk closure. The order was lifted after a follow-up inspection the next day revealed the facility had addressed the vermin infestation and thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. According to inspection notes, pest management at the gas station placed traps and plans for future visits to ensure the issue was fully addressed. The facility also began sanitizing surfaces with bleach, according to inspection notes.
These businesses also lost 30 or more points due to violations:
Ramen @ 805, 807 13th St., Paso Robles
Subway #41287, 2425 Golden Hill Road, Paso Robles
Bill's Place, 112 E. Branch St., Arroyo Grande
Hoagies Sandwiches & Grill, 580 Cypress St., Pismo Beach
Highest-rated restaurants
These stores and restaurants received scores of 0, with no violations.
San Luis Obispo
12 Nineteen Tattoo, 1075 Court St., Suite 209
Apothecary Tattoo, 578 Marsh St.
Bodys & Jewelry, 785 Marsh St.
Brow Ink, 1075 Court St.
CAPSLO Homeless Services Center, 40 Prado Road
CJ's BBQ Smokehouse, 1005 Monterey St.
Condesa, 1491 Monterey St.
Cost Plus World Market, 325 Madonna Road
Efren's Mexican Restaurant, 892 Marsh St.
Farmhouse Corner Market, 1025 Farmhouse Lane, 1G
Five Below, 271 Madonna Road, Suite B
Gino's Pizza, 1761 Monterey St.
Gold Land BBQ, 570 Higuera St., Suite 101
Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc #935R, 313 Madonna Road, Suite C
Hotel Cerro, 1125 Garden St.
Kiko Restaurant, 746 Higuera St., Suites 4 & 6
Michael's Store #5140, 273 Madonna Road, Suite B
Nomo Domo, 848 Monterey St.
Palo Mesa Pizza, 811 Froom Ranch Way, Suite 160
Pine Apartments, 885 Leff St.
Rancho San Luis Mobile Estates, 3395 S Higuera St.
Salty Bagel LLC, 153 Cross St. #100
San Luis Post Acute Center, 3033 Augusta St.
Skyline Tattoos, 1075 Court St., Unit 203
Vista Grande Apartments, 1415 Morro
North Coast
Dollar Tree #8847, 1066 Los Osos Valley Road, Los Osos
Los Osos Mexican Market, 2169 10th St., Los Osos
Stardust Grove, LLC, 6115 Santa Rosa Creek Road, Cambria
The Picford House Bed and Breakfast, 2555 Macleod Way, Cambria
South County
5 Cities Swim School LLC, 425 Traffic Way, Arroyo Grande
Agrarian Hotel, 325 E Branch St., Arroyo Grande
Avila Hot Springs, 250 Avila Beach Drive, San Luis Obispo
Avila Lighthouse Suites, 550 Front St., Avila Beach
Bolsa Chica Mobile Estates, 950 Huasna Road, Arroyo Grande
Camp Arroyo Grande, 250 Wesley St., Arroyo Grande
Chowa Bowl, 690 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach
Cienaga Seabreeze Park, 2300 Highway 1, Oceano
Honey I'm Home Pismo Cafe, 620-B Cypress St., Pismo Beach
Rancho del Arroyo MHP, 2700 Cienega St., Oceano
Ross Dress for Less #1012, 829 Oak Park Blvd., Pismo Beach
Sandcastle Hotel on the Beach, 100 Stimson Ave., Pismo Beach
Vitality Piercing Studio, 741 Dolliver St., Pismo Beach
North County
Ace Sushi @ ALB66314, 189 Niblick Road, Paso Robles
Allegreto Vineyard Resort, 2700 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles
Black Sheep Sourdough Micro-Bakery, 1306 Pine St. #D, Paso Robles
Gravesend Wine Merchant & Eatery, 1803 Spring St., Suite 15-16, Paso Robles
Granite Ridge, 4850 Coyote Creek Lane, Creston
Holiday Inn Express, 9010 W Front Road, Atascadero
La Pizza E'Bella, 1171 Creston Road, Suite 111, Paso Robles
La Quinta Inn & Suites, 2615 Buena Vista Drive, Paso Robles
Oxford Suites, 800 4th St., Paso Robles
Paleteria y Neveria Las Michoacanas, 2748 Spring St., Paso Robles
Paris Valley Road Winery, 5265 E Highway 46, Paso Robles
Paso Robles Inn, 1103 Spring St., Paso Robles
Paso Robles Swim & Tennis Club, 2975 Union Road, Paso Robles
Paso Terra Bistro, 1032 Pine St., Paso Robles
Renew Atascadero, 11205 Bilbao Court, Atascadero
San Miguel Market & Deli, 1285 Mission St., San Miguel
SloDoCo, 2110 Spring St., Paso Robles
The Third Degree, 1803 Spring St., Paso Robles
Twin Cities Hospital - Kitchen, 1100 Las Tablas Road, Templeton
Vineyard Hills Health Center, 290 Heather Court, Templeton
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
44 minutes ago
- Yahoo
KCSO Deputy Gets Help with Cancer and Home Repairs
Kern County Sheriff's Deputy Jasmine Francisco is currently battling cancer while also facing unexpected financial hardship after discovering black mold in the home she had just purchased for her daughters. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NFL reveals reasons why smelling salts are banned in 2025
The 2025 season will introduce some new rules and technology to the NFL, but one change in particular has upset one of the league's best tight ends. The San Francisco 49ers' George Kittle interrupted an interview on NFL Network to voice his displeasure over a new rule banning smelling salts. "I honestly just came up here to air a grievance," Kittle said during an episode of "Inside Training Camp Live" featuring teammate Fred Warner. "Our team got a memo today that smelling salts and ammonia packets were made illegal in the NFL. And I've been distraught all day." Kittle was especially upset because he uses smelling salts often during NFL games. "I'm an every drive guy," Kittle said. "I considered retirement. We got to figure out a middle ground here guys. Somebody help me out, somebody come up with a good idea... I miss those already." Jordan Addison suspension: Vikings WR gets three game ban, NFL announces Training camp scuffle: Baltimore Ravens and Indianapolis Colts get into joint practice brawl While the NFL did change its smelling salt policy, it did not result in them actually being banned. USA TODAY Sports obtained the league memo and here's what the NFL told teams. NFL statement on smelling salts A league official confirmed to USA TODAY Sports that the teams are now prohibited from providing players smelling salts during games. The official declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. The memo that the NFL sent to teams today read: "In 2024, the FDA issued a warning to companies that produce commercially available ammonia inhalants (AIs), as well as to consumers about the purchase and use of AIs, regarding the lack of evidence supporting the safety or efficacy of AIs marketed for improving mental alertness or boosting energy. The FDA noted potential negative effects from AI use. AIs also have the potential to mask certain neurologic signs and symptoms, including some potential signs of concussion. As a result, the NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee recommended prohibiting the use of AIs for any purpose during play in the NFL. In light of this information, effective for the 2025 NFL season, clubs are prohibited from providing or supplying ammonia in any form at NFL games. For clarity, 'ammonia' refers to ammonia capsules, inhalers, ammonia in a cup, and any form of 'smelling salts.' This prohibition applies to all club personnel (including but not limited to team physicians, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches and coaches or other personnel). The prohibition applies through the entirety of all NFL games, including during all pregame activities, and halftime, and applies on the sideline and in stadium locker rooms." However, while NFL teams are no longer allowed to distribute smelling salts, their players are still allowed to use them, as the NFLPA clarified Wednesday. "We were not notified of this club policy change before the memo was sent out," the NFLPA wrote in a message to its players, per ESPN. "To clarify, this policy does not prohibit player use of these substances, but rather it restricts clubs from providing or supplying them in any form. The NFL has confirmed this to us." Why do NFL players use smelling salts? NFL players have used smelling salts for years. Some players claim it provides them with a pick-me-up or makes them more alert. "The ammonia wakes you up, opens your eyes," DeMarcus Lawrence explained to ESPN in 2017. "You'll be on the bench, you start to get a little tired and you got to wake your body up, and that's what that little ammonia does for you." However, medical opinions vary about whether smelling salts provide those effects or are simply a placebo. Concerns also exist about the ammonia capsules masking severe injuries. That's why many boxing organizations have banned smelling salts and also why the NFL has elected to outlaw its clubs from distributing them ahead of its 2025 season. USA TODAY Sports' Jacob Camenker also contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why the NFL is banning smelling salts for 2025 season
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Atlanta police officer dies after shooting near CDC headquarters
A police officer has died from injuries sustained while responding to a shooting outside the headquarters of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta. The incident, which took place on Friday near Emory University, involved a "single shooter" who is now dead, the Atlanta police department said. It said the officer, David Rose, had been taken to hospital and later died from his injuries. No civilian was wounded in the incident. The motive is unclear, but US media, citing an unnamed law-enforcement official, reported a theory that the gunman believed he was sick as a result of a coronavirus vaccine. Media reports also suggested the man's father had called police on the day of the shooting believing his son was suicidal. CDC Director Susan Monarez said the centre was "heartbroken" by the attack. "DeKalb County police, CDC security, and Emory University responded immediately and decisively, helping to prevent further harm to our staff and community," she wrote in a post on X. In a press briefing on Friday, police said they became aware of a report of an active shooter at around 16:50 local time (21:50 BST) near the CDC campus. Officers from multiple agencies responded. Emory University posted at the time on social media: "Active shooter on Emory Atlanta Campus at Emory Point CVS. RUN, HIDE, FIGHT." The CDC campus received multiple rounds of gunfire into buildings. Police said they found the shooter "struck by gunfire" - but could not specify whether that was from law enforcement or self-inflicted. Media outlets have reported that CDC employees have been asked to work remotely on Monday.
