Health Department Shuts Down Five Restaurants

DOH Chronicles covers restaurant inspections by the Southern Nevada Health District that earn 39 or more demerits. More than 40 demerits or an imminent health hazard calls for the immediate closure of a restaurant.

Five restaurants found themselves in the cross hairs of the Southern Nevada Health District after inspectors discovered imminent health hazards, all of which shut these restaurants down recently.

Flock & Fowl, the Hainan chicken restaurant at 380 W. Sahara Ave., earned a 39-demerit C grade along with three imminent health hazards during a routine inspection on May 24. Inadequate refrigeration, no hot water, and a rat infestation caused the shutdown, according to KTNV. Inspectors found recent rat droppings and fecal matter, along with containers of food in the walk-in cooler held at unsafe temperatures due to a broken refrigerator, and more. As of June 12, the restaurant has not been re-inspected.

The health department shut down El Burrito at 8508 Del Webb Blvd. after a routine inspection revealed a multi-generational cockroach infestation on May 21. The restaurant owner tells KTNV that the health inspector “exaggerated” the number of cockroaches, but the TV station reports photos from the inspection showed many. The health department issued additional demerits for dirty dishes and utensils that were stored as clean, an open container of pork on the floor, mold in the ice machine, and food debris. The restaurant re-opened on May 23 with a zero-demerit A grade.

The health department closed Havana Express, the Cuban restaurant at 2590 E. Tropicana Ave., after a re-inspection on May 23 revealed “repeat critical and major violations and excessive demerits.” KTNV reports that demerits included dried food debris on equipment and food held at an unsafe temperature. Havana Express originally earned a 25-demerit C grade in December. A re-inspection on May 30 brought the restaurant back up to a six-demerit A grade.

India Palace at 505 E. Twain St. also found itself shut down by the health department after a routine inspection discovered inadequate refrigeration on May 23. The refrigerator apparently shorted out overnight, but the restaurant was back to a zero-demerit A grade the next day.

The owner said the fridge shorted out overnight and they had it fixed immediately. Inspectors also found containers of uncovered food stored on the floor.

Herbalife outpost Bienestar Total at 4425 Stewart Ave. found itself shut down by the health department on May 25 after inspectors found no water. The nutritional store owned again on May 26 with a zero-demerit A grade.

The health district conducts unannounced inspections at least once a year. Inspections are posted online about five days after the inspection. The Southern Nevada Health District routinely shuts down restaurants that receive more than 40 demerits. Restaurants have the option of requesting a re-inspection before the next scheduled inspection.

• Dirty Dining: Imminent health hazard closures at 4 restaurants [KTNV]

• Dirty Dining: Flock & Fowl and Plate Bar & Grill [KTNV]

• All DOH Chronicles [ELV]