Suspected foodborne illness, roaches: Recent KC area restaurant inspections
From weeks-old short ribs to mold in the ice machine, health inspectors in Missouri and Kansas found numerous violations at Kansas City area restaurants last week.
Dining establishments like sit-down restaurants, drive-thrus, gas stations and grocery stores are required to get food inspections, and governments have to release those inspections to the public.
In Kansas City, the city’s health department enforces the food code while in Kansas, the state’s Department of Agriculture handles inspections. The lower the number of violations, the better.
Most restaurants correct violations at the time of the original inspection or shortly after. The full inspections show how each establishment has corrected or is working to correct any remaining violations. They are available for Kansas City at inspectionsonline.us/foodsafety/mousakansascity/search.htm and Johnson and Wyandotte counties at agriculture.ks.gov.
Here are the restaurants in Kansas City and Johnson and Wyandotte counties that received seven or more critical violations or priority/priority foundation violations from Sept. 14 to 27. During that same time, five Kansas City eateries had their food licenses suspended.
Sushi Karma
- 5820 Johnson Drive, Mission
- 14 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 25 complaint inspection
The inspector found “a live roach in a soy sauce bucket” in the dishwashing area of the sushi restaurant on Johnson Drive. Raw chicken sat at room temperature for up to five hours. Dead cockroaches lay around the kitchen and a sleeping cot was set up in the storage area.
The results of the scheduled follow-up inspection have not been published. Read the full report for Sushi Karma by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Bonito Michoacan in Olathe
- 1231 E. Santa Fe, Olathe
- 12 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 25 routine inspection
The inspector found a layer of mold in the ice machine of this Mexican grocery store off of I-35. House-made pickled pig ears and hoofs were kept at room temperature on top of the meat counter, and staff had to throw them away.
The results of the scheduled follow-up inspection have not been published. Read the full report for Bonito Michoacan by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
The Fontaine Parker Restaurant (Parker at the Fontaine on Google)
- 901 W. 48th Place
- 11 critical violations for a Sept. 21 routine inspection
The inspector found three-week old short ribs in the kitchen of a Plaza hotel’s upscale restaurant. An employee’s phone sat on a cutting board and build-up collected on the hood vents.
The restaurant corrected all the violations, according to a Sept. 30 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Parker at the Fontaine.
Fronteras Restaurant
- 175 N. Moonlight Road, Gardner
- 10 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 23 routine inspection
The inspector recommended a deep clean at the Gardner Mexican restaurant after finding grease build up and food debris on the walls, floors under equipment and inside and outside of the microwave. Small winged insects had collected inside a bottle of whiskey.
The results of the scheduled follow-up inspection have not been published. Read the full report for Fronteras by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Taqueria Los Altos de Jalisco
- 3719 St. John Ave.
- 8 critical violations for a Sept. 26 routine and complaint inspection
A mouse had chewed on a package of peanuts at the Mexican restaurant in Northeast Kansas City. There were mouse droppings in the bar seating area, in the office and behind a fridge.
The restaurant still had a critical violation after the Oct. 3 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Taqueria Los Altos de Jalisco.
Artego Pizza
- 900 W. 39th St.
- 7 critical violations for a Sept. 26 routine
There was no soap at a kitchen handwashing sink at this pizzeria on 39th Street, and two coolers did not keep the food cold enough.
The restaurant corrected all violations, according to an Oct. 4 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Artego Pizza.
Bamboo Penny’s
- 5270 W 116th Place, Leawood
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 23 follow-up inspection
A live cockroach crawled on the wall next to the rice cooker at this Leawood Thai restaurant. An employee put cooked dumplings on a plate with her bare hands.
The scheduled follow-up inspection has not yet occurred. Read the full report for Bamboo Penny’s by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Suspended food licenses
Teocali Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
- 2512 Holmes Street
- Shut down Sept. 17 because of an ongoing foodborne illness outbreak investigation and multiple critical violations.
Someone reported an illness to the Kansas City Health Department after a Sept. 12 picnic with 70 attendees catered by the Hospital Hill Mexican restaurant, according to city spokesperson April Leonard.
The results of the inspection will not be released for weeks.
A subsequent inspection found 40 food code violations at Teocali, including 25 critical ones.
The restaurant corrected all violations, according to a Sept. 24 inspection, and reopened the next day.
Velvet Freeze Daiquiri
- 1827 Vine St.
- Suspended on Sept. 23 due to roof leaks and facilities issues.
The bar corrected all violations according to a Sept. 25 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Velvet Freeze Daiquiri.
Crown Center - Taste of Philly and More
- 2450 Grand Boulevard
- Suspended on Sept. 22 because of a three compartment sink backup.
The Crown Center restaurant corrected all violations according to a Sept. 23 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Taste of Philly and More.
Sauced
- 1881 Main Street
- Suspended on Sept. 17 because of inability to keep food cold.
On Saturday, Oct. 4, the Crossroads barbecue food truck’s Instagram account announced its closure.
Senorita Margarita
- 2000 Main Street
- Suspended Sept. 17 because of mouse droppings in the kitchen and a leak in the dishwashing sink.
The Crossroads Mexican restaurant corrected all violations, according to a Sept. 19 follow-up inspection.
Previous week of inspections
Dos Reales Xpress
- 3801-B Leavenworth Rd, Kansas City
- 22 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 15 routine inspection
- The restaurant still had 3 priority and priority foundation violations after an Oct. 2 follow-up inspection.
Hen House in Leawood
- 11721 Roe Ave., Leawood
- 10 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 15 complaint inspection
- The grocery store still had 2 priority and priority foundation violations after a Sept. 26 follow-up inspection.
Mi Pueblito Meat Market
- 7425 Quivira Road, Shawnee
- 9 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 17 routine inspection
- The grocery store still had 5 priority and priority foundation violations after a Sept. 30 follow-up inspection.
Jasmine Garden
- 8912 W. 95th St., Overland Park
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Sept. 17 complaint inspection
- The restaurant corrected all the violations, according to a Sept. 30 follow-up inspection.
