Local Chicken Wing Restaurant Fails Health Inspection

A local chicken wing restaurant did not perform well during its health inspection.Photo byAni KolleshionUnsplash

It doesn’t take much for a restaurant to fail its health inspection. The quantity of problems found during an inspection doesn’t necessarily lead to a failing grade. While restaurants with well over a dozen issues can receive a low score, a “Fail” grade typically doesn’t come about unless there is a very specific problem that must be corrected within a short period of time. If the issue is not fixed during the set timeframe, the low grade turns into a fail grade. For one chicken wing restaurant here in Tucson, an initial visit resulted in only four violations, but it was the poor performance during a return visit that ultimately resulted in the eatery receiving its failing grade. 

Initially, a health inspector stopped by Native Grill and Wings on July 23. Located at 8225 North Courtney Page Way, the restaurant was found to have four violations. The first issue was when the inspector found a floor drain filter insert being stored inside of the bar handwashing sink. Handwashing sinks must remain open so employees can wash their hands at a moment’s notice. This problem was corrected at the time of the inspection. 

All other violations circled around issues with proper cold-holding temperatures. In the various make-top units (where an employee will prepare foods at the discretion of a customer), the stored foods must maintain a temperature of no greater than 41 degrees. Anything above this temperature threshold is susceptible to developing bacteria. Despite this, temperatures were tested at upwards of 60 degrees. Shredded cheese tested at 55 degrees, mayo at 52, blue cheese dressing at 54 degrees, chicken at 52 degrees, and diced tomatoes at 60 degrees. Even ambient temperatures registered at 53.1 degrees. 

The high ambient temperature indicated a problem with the cooling units themselves. The Person In Charge (PIC) was told to make repairs to the equipment within 10 days as the food could not continue to be stored at such warm temperatures. 

On August 2 the inspector returned. However, no repairs or improvements to the identified problems had been made, and as such Native Grill and Wings was given a Fail grade. While not indicated in the report, the health inspector will continue to visit the restaurant and will continue to issue Fail grades until the restaurant makes the needed improvements. However, this will not likely result in any forced closures.