40-Year-Old Restaurant Fails 2nd Health Inspection In A Row

A long-time restaurant continues to fail health inspections.Photo byMikael SeegenonUnsplash

Established restaurants are not immune from health inspections. These eateries receive annual visits like every other restaurant around Tucson. If the restaurant performs poorly those numbers only increase. For one local business, which has been operating in the Old Pueblo for about forty years, one might assume they are accustomed to the inspections and know how to keep a kitchen in exceptional order. That proved not to be the case, as the restaurant has now failed two health inspections in as many months after first being placed on probation. 

Dolce Vita Italian Bistro was first visited by a health inspector (this year) on June 6. The restaurant, located at 1800 East Fort Lowell Road (Suite 168) performed about as poorly as a restaurant can perform without being instantly shut down, as the inspector noted 17 violations over the course of the inspection. 

Many of these violations were especially basic, including the Person In Charge (PIC) being unable to demonstrate a basic understanding of food handling, food contact surfaces, and time and temperature safety. When, right out of the gate, the PIC was unable to answer basic questions, the inspector scheduled a follow-up inspection in 10 days. 

Other issues during the initial inspection included employees handling bread with unwashed hands prior to serving it to customers, items stacked in the handwashing sink that had no place in the sink (the handwashing sink must remain free of items at all times), not to mention mold was found growing on food within the walk-in cooler. Needless to say, from mold to workers not washing themselves to managers not being able to answer elementary food safety questions, it was a disaster from start to finish. 

Dolce Vita Italian Bistro was initially placed on probation. Probation simply means the health score is to be determined at a later date. Depending on the establishment and the violation(s), some restaurants are given 30 days to make the necessary corrections, others are given 10. 

A follow-up inspection was performed on Jun 19. Dolce Vita failed this inspection as it had not made the necessary corrections pointed out during the original visit by the health inspector. Again, another follow-up inspection was scheduled, this time giving the eatery two full weeks to make all the needed corrections (including educating the staff). 

On July 3, the health inspector made their third visit to the restaurant in as many months. For the second time in as many weeks, the restaurant failed its inspection. For a restaurant of forty years, it is truly struggling with its health inspections. Another follow-up visit by the health inspector will occur in the coming weeks. Dolce Vita remains open for business.