Prominent Tucson Pizza Restaurant Fails 2nd Heath Inspection in a Month

A local pizza restaurant continues to fail its inspections.Photo byMikael SeegenonUnsplash

Restaurants are given a surprising number of chances to pass health inspections. Even if they perform poorly during an initial annual visit, they are given as many opportunities to pass as necessary. Outside of extreme conditions, where visitors are in imminent danger of ingesting dangerous ingredients, a restaurant will remain open. One local pizza and Italian restaurant here in Tucson has now had its inspection twice in less than one month. Despite this, the restaurant continued to remain open and did nothing to address the repetitive problems. 

Health inspectors visiting Scordato’s Pizzeria has become a regular occurrence at the restaurant, as four inspections have taken place over the last month, and that number will only continue. Back on August 12, the restaurant at 4911 North Stone Avenue was visited for its standard frequency inspection. This inspection is typically performed once a year, although at times a second inspection might be performed over the course of twelve months. In general, though, restaurants are left up to their own devices. Especially if they have a proven track record of excellent inspection performances. 

Scordato’s Pizzeria would not fall under the category of “excellent inspection performances” though. During the August 12 inspection, a total of 20 violations were identified. This included everything from not having a Certified Food Protection Manager and certification on hand to finding both pest droppings and dead roaches (finding signs of both rodents and roaches at the same restaurant is rare). 

The restaurant was given a “Needs Improvement” grade and instructed to fix the issues within 10 days. However, on August 22, the restaurant did not have all the necessary improvements performed. The health department did not need all 20 violations corrected, but only major issues that increase the chance of foodborne illness and injury. At this point, Scordato’s Pizzeria failed its first inspection. 

A third inspection was performed on September 3, which resulted in the restaurant being placed on probation. Following another 10-day period to address the lingering problems, an inspector returned on September 13. The total number of violations dropped to 5, but some of the specific issues in question were still not addressed. So, despite an entire month’s time to make the needed improvements, Scordato’s Pizzeria continued to not address the violations, and in return was given its second Fail grade. 

A fifth inspection is taking place on Monday, September 23, though those results will not be made available for at least another week. Despite all of the roaches, rodent droppings, and failed inspections, Scordato’s Pizzeria continues serving customers.