Mold, live roaches, spiders, and faulty hand-washing stations were among the problems Orange County Health Inspector James Scales found at restaurants and food businesses.
The Star and Crescent Moon Cafe in Shangri La Gardens was one of six getting perfect scores.
And an ice cream truck could be traveling through the county. Scales made a pre-opening inspection for Terrell’s Ice Cream mobile unit. The Orange City Council recently adjusted ordinances to allow ice cream trucks for the first time in decades.
Scales went to 39 establishments during the first two weeks of October. The lowest score was an 81 at the Seafood Shack on Texas Avenue in Bridge City. There, Scales reported raw fish and shrimp fried rice at improper temperatures plus he found live roaches in the storeroom.
The perfect scores, besides the Shangri La cafe, went to Fresh Prep on West Roundbunch Road in Bridge City, Taco Bell on Texas Avenue in Bridge City, LaQuinta Inn on Highway 62 South in Orange, Hamburger Depot on Texas Avenue in Bridge City, and Econo Lodge Inn on Texas Avenue in Bridge City.
Besides the ice cream truck, Scales also made pre-opening inspections for Red Apron Kitchen on White Oak Road in Mauriceville and Cajun Works Texas inside the Vidor Super Wal-Mart on North Main Street.
Scores and demerits were:
Seafood Shack, 715 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 81. Inspector found raw fish, cut onions, cut mushrooms, and shrimp fried rice at improper temperatures. A bottle of whipping cream was defrosting inside a sink with defrosting fish. An employee was not sanitizing dishes. Dates were needed on products inside coolers and freezers. Inspector found several live roaches in the back storage area. Boxes of raw shrimp were stored on the floor of the walk-in freezer. Fish was defrosting inside prep sinks. Vents at the Vent-a-Hodd needed to be cleaned of old grease. Broken and unused equipment needed to be discarded.
Donut Palace, 5603 16th Street in Orange: 85. Sausage and boudain were at improper temperatures. Records of time were not kept on holding sausage and boudain and room temperature. Mold was growing on the wall near the walk-in cooler. Shop did not have sanitizer. No food handler certificates were on site. Employee had improper jewelry. Employee was wearing sleeveless shirt while cooking. Shop was using the same pan liner multiple times to bake kolaches. Vent’a’Hood needed to be cleaned of old grease . Hand-washing signs were needed at the hand-washing station.
Casa Ole, 1716 16th Street in Orange: 90. Mold was inside ice machines. Floors inside the walk-in cooler were damaged and holding water. Dates were needed on products inside coolers and freezers. Chicken was defrosting inside a pot of water. The outside of storage shelves and containers, along with floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old food and grease. Floor grout throughout restaurant was missing. Bottom of back door needed resealing.
Sammy’s Stop, 2016 Pine Bark Boulevard in Orange: 91. Inspector pulled several expired foods from shelves. Slime was inside ice machine. Store name and address were needed on bags of ice being sold. Drinks were stored on the floor.
Mauriceville Fuel Stop, 11845 Highway 62 in Mauriceville: 98. Drinks were stored on the floor inside the walk-in cooler and on the sales floor. Ceiling tiles were damaged.
Holiday Inn Express, 20691 Interstate 10 West in Vidor: 92. Employee was not sanitizing dishes inside the three-compartment sink. No certified food manager was on staff. Paper towels were needed at the hand-washing station instead of cloth towels. Current food service permit, food manager certificates and health inspection report were not posted.
Family Dollar, 3695 North Main Street in Vidor: 97. Inspector pulled several expired foods from shelves. Paper towels were needed inside the employee restroom.
Happy Donuts, 495 South Main Street in Vidor: 88. Boudain and sausage were at improper temperatures. Records were not kept on time holding boudain and sausage at room temperatures. Dates were needed on products inside reach-in coolers. Employee drinks were stored improperly. Shop was using the same pan line multiple times to bake kolaches. Light shields were needed. Current food service permit, certified food manager certificate, and health inspection report were not posted.
Mi Casa Mexican Grill, 110 Strickland Drive in Orange: 90. Tamales were at improper temperatures. No certified food manager was on staff. Reach-in coolers were not keeping proper temperatures. Dates were needed on products inside reach-in coolers. Floor tiles were broken. Walls were damaged. Broken and unused equipment needed to be discarded.
Waffle House, 4212 27th Street in Orange: 91. Mold was inside ice machine. Ice scoop was on top of ice inside machine. Dates were needed on products inside coolers. Inspector found “lots of flies.” Employee drinks were stored improperly inside reach-in coolers. Vent-a-Hood, inside storage containers, and inside reach-in coolers needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease. Current food service permits and certified food manager certificates were not posted. Discarded old lettuce was inside reach-in coolers.
“Wienerschnitzel, 2420 MacArthur Drive in Pinehurst: 90. Box of corn dogs was at improper temperature. Water was coming from the base of the faucet at the three-compartment sink. Dates were needed on products inside coolers and freezers. Vents at fryer Vent-a-Hood needed to be cleaned of old grease. Current health inspection was not posted in front.
Burger King, 2302 Highway 62 in Orange: 97. Dates were needed on products. Inspector found flies and spiders throughout.
Sonic Drive In, 3103 North 16th Street in Orange: 93. No air gap was at the three-compartment sink to the floor drain. Mold was throughout on walls and ceiling. Inspector contacted district manager to start immediate repairs and cleaning. Vents at Vent-a-Hood, outside of fryers, floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease. Floor grout was missing and floor tiles were damaged. Follow-up visit is required. (Mold had been cleaned and proper repairs were made.)
Old Orange Cafe, 914 West Division in Orange: 98. Dates were needed on products.
Popeye’s Chicken, 1604 West Link Avenue in Orange: 92. Water was dripping from the base of the faucet at the service sink. The front reach-in cooler was not keeping proper temperatures. Live roach was in the back storage room. Hair restraints were needed. Walls needed to be repaired. Floors needed to be cleaned. Old walk-in cooler doors stored outside the back door needed to be discarded.
Market Basket Deli, 2005 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 95. Deli meat cooler doors were damaged. Vent-a-Hood and cooking equipment needed to be cleaned of old grease build-up. Ceiling tiles were damaged. Current health inspection report was not posted in front.
Market Basket, 2005 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 91. Inspector pulled several dented cans and expired foods from shelves. Hot water at the hand-washing station inside the meat department needed to be repaired.Floors inside produce and dairy walk-in coolers needed to be cleaned of old foods. Several gnats were found on onions in produce department. Molded ceiling tiles were found throughout the store. Current health inspection report was not posted in front.
Dollar General, 1390 North Main Street in Vidor: 92. Inspector pulled several expired foods and dented cans from shelves. Paper towels were needed in the employee restroom. Shelves inside the egg and milk coolers needed to be cleaned of old foods. Current health inspection report was not posted in front. Ceiling tiles were damaged.
Best Western Orange Inn, 2245 Highway 62 in Orange: 90. Eggs were at improper temperature. Dishes were not sanitized in the three-compartment sink. Employee was found without a food handler certificate. Hot water at the three-compartment sink registered only 107.4 degrees.
Subway, 10383 Highway 12 in Mauriceville: 98. Inside walk-in freezer had ice build-up.
Panthers Den-Mauriceville Fuel Stop, 11845 Highway 62 North in Mauriceville: 97. Meat was defrosting on top of prep table. Dining room ceiling tiles were damaged. Hand-washing sign was needed at hand-washing station.
Hampton Inn of Orange, 2080 Interstate 10 West in Orange: 94. Shelled eggs were at improper temperature. Current food service permit, certified food manager certificates, and current health inspection report were not posted. Kitchen employee did not have food handler certification.
The Donut Shop, 1125 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 91. Sausage, boudain, and eggs were at improper temperatures. Records were not kept on time for holding sausage, boudain, and eggs at room temperature. Dates were needed on products inside coolers and freezers. Floors under and around equipment needed to be cleaned.
Whataburger, 7241 Interstate 10 East in Orange: 88. Foods inside reach-in freezer needed to be covered. Sanitizing bucked was on top of prep table. Floors inside the walk-in cooler were coming apart. Several gnats were throughout restaurant. Vents at Vent-a-Hood needed to be cleaned of old grease. Storage shelves were rusted. Floors, especially around fixed equipment, needed to be cleaned. Employee restroom needed paper towels.
Wal-Mart Deli, 3115 Edgar Brown Drive in West Orange: 88. Entire front reach-in cooler of foods were not at proper temperatures. Back hand-washing station was stopped up. Doors to the walk-in cooler did not close completely. “Lots of standing water” was inside the walk-in cooler. “Lots of missing floor tiles” were at the fryers. Floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease. Current health inspection report and certified food manager certificates were not posted.
Chicken Express, 2250 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 96. Several flies were found. Employee drinks were not stored properly with a lid and straw. Lights were needed inside the walk-in cooler. Light shields were needed in the back storage area. Floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods and dirt. Mold was on walls, ceiling tiles and air vents.
Pakco, 3031 Highway 12 in Vidor: 90. Inspector pulled several expired foods from shelves. Store name and address were needed on bags of ice being sold. Dates were needed on all products, including sandwiches, inside coolers and freezers. Drinks were stored on the flood. Ceiling tiles were damaged. Current health inspection was not posted in front.
Dollar Tree, 850 North Main Street in Vidor: 96. Inspector pulled several dented cans from shelves. Back storage area needed to be cleaned and organized.
Raceway, 500 Texas Avenue in Bridge City: 90. Hot was was 10 degrees to cold and needed immediate repair. Dates were needed on products inside coolers. Drinks were stored on the floor inside the walk-in cooler. Vents at Vent-a-Hood, floors and walls needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease . Light shield was needed above fryers. Restrooms needed to be cleaned and sanitized. Hand-washing signs were needed at hand-washing stations. Current health inspection was not posted. Bottom of back doors needed to be resealed.
Schnitzel, 950 South Main Street in Vidor: 94. Plumbing at hand-washing station was leaking. Storage shelves near fryers, along with floors throughout, needed to be cleaned of old foods and grease. Current food service permit, certified food manager certificates and current health inspection report not posted in front.
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