Moldy pesto, ‘gray sludge’: Latest Kansas City-area restaurant inspections
From dishes washed without soap to “black slime,” 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 and Independence, each 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 County that received seven or more priority and priority foundation violations from Jan. 19 to 31. During this time, no Wyandotte County restaurants reached this threshold.
Lucky Wok
- 15129 W. 87th St., Lenexa
- 10 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 27 routine inspection
After frying, cooked chicken was returned to the raw chicken box at this Overland Park Chinese restaurant. There was grease and food buildup near the woks where cooking utensils were stored. Employees washed dishes without soap, only water and sanitizer.
The results of the follow-up inspection have not yet been published. Read the full report for Lucky Wok by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Bo Lings Chinese Restaurant
- 8973 Metcalf Ave., Overland Park
- 8 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 30 routine inspection
The inspector found “dried sauce residue” inside seven gravy boats at this Overland Park Chinese restaurant. A hand sink was out of soap and a rice storage container’s lid was cracked.
The restaurant did not need a follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Bo Lings by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
The Social Bar and Grill
- 13410 W. 62nd Terrace, Shawnee
- 8 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 27 routine inspection
In the part of the ice machine where cubes are dispensed, the inspector found “black slime mold build-up” inside this Shawnee bar and grill. Mold grew on sun-dried tomato pesto, and 13 food items had expired in the fridge.
The results of the follow-up inspection have not yet been published. Read the full report for The Social by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Penny’s in the Village
- 4160 W. 71st St., Prairie Village
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 21 complaint inspection
The hot water in the kitchen and bathroom hand sinks only reached 66 degrees, instead of the required 100 degrees, inside this Prairie Village Thai restaurant. Three onions had “white/green growth” and the dishwasher was out of sanitizer.
The restaurant still had four violations after the Feb. 3 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Penny’s by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
BRGR Kitchen and Bar
- 4038 W. 83rd St., Prairie Village
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 22 complaint inspection
“Gray sludge” covered the dishwashing trays inside this Corinth Square burger restaurant. Small flying insects concentrated in the dish washing room, and three types of sauce had expired.
The restaurant corrected all violations, according to a Feb. 3 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for BRGR by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Green River Chinese
- 2120 E. 12th St.
- 7 critical violations for a Jan. 30 inspection
It is unclear what violations inspectors found at this Chinese restaurant near 18th and Vine. This is because the restaurant’s detailed inspection did not show up on the Kansas City inspection portal, and the health department did not respond to The Star prior to publication.
Harp Barbecue
- 12094 W. 135th St, Overland Park
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 28 routine inspection
The inspector found tongs, a spatula and a sheet pan stored with bits of food debris inside this barbecue restaurant off of Quivira. A can of beans had expired in the fridge.
The restaurant did not need a follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Harp Barbecue by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
Craft Putt
- 11440 W. 135th St, Overland Park
- 7 priority and priority foundation violations for a Jan. 26 routine inspection
Inside this Overland Park mini golf bar, the six bathroom sinks did not have hot water. A squeeze bottle of bacon jam was expired, and four items had incorrect date markings.
The restaurant corrected all violations, according to a Feb. 5 follow-up inspection. Read the full report for Craft Putt by searching for the restaurant on the Kansas inspection lookup.
The Blue Line
- 529 Walnut St.
- Suspended Jan. 27
The River Market hockey bar was suspended because the kitchen vent system was in disrepair. The bar reopened Jan. 30 after a follow-up inspection found no violations.
