Tucson's Kettle Restaurant Placed on Probation For 3rd Time after Mold, Rodent Droppings Discovered

A local restaurant was hit with over a dozen violations.Photo byNikolett EmmertonUnsplash

Some restaurants simply can’t get out of their own way. That or the restaurants don’t want to make reasonable improvements when mandated. For most eateries in Tucson, an annual inspection is performed to ensure both food and facility are up to snuff. Even those restaurants that do falter typically make the needed corrections and learn from the issues. However, there are a handful of locations around the Old Pueblo that not only refrain from making improvements, but the violation numbers increase. One location restaurant is an example of this, as it has been placed on probation for the third time in the last year after 16 violations were discovered.

Kettle Restaurant has been up and running since 1968. It is a classic greasy spoon eatery. Unfortunately, it takes that literally, as there is no shortage of cleanliness issues with the most recent (and previous) inspections.

Since 2020, the restaurant at 748 West Starr Pass Blvd has been visited 14 times. A well-performing restaurant would see a health inspector once, typically, per year, so averaging three visits per calendar year isn’t a great sign. It’s also not a great sign when the restaurant has been placed on probation three times in less than a year.

The first probation occurred on October 18, 2023, when 10 violations were identified. The restaurant was visited two more times that month and, eventually, received a passing grade. However, the improvements did not last. On May 22, 2024, a total of 12 violations were identified, and once again the restaurant was placed on probation. The Kettle Restaurant would fail another inspection before receiving a passing grade.

And now, during the most recent inspection, which took place on September 26, the violations list grew to 16. The violations ranged all over the place, including everything from not having paper towel for handwashing sinks to storing raw peppers on the floor. The raw papers were deteriorating and leaking onto the floor with mold growing. Egg shells were being stored in a walk-in cooler next to cartons of eggs where at least half of the eggs were cracked or perforated. This wasn’t the first time such an issue was documented, and in fact, Kettle Restaurant was written up for being a repeat offender.

Additionally, mouse droppings were found in a hole above the sink. Once again, this was a repeat violation as mouse droppings had been discovered during previous inspections. A follow up inspection was scheduled for October 8, though paperwork for that visit will not be made available for at least another week.