LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — The Southern Nevada Health District is working with its health care and community partners to ensure there are strong public health measures in place to respond to COVID-19 in the community.
Part of those ongoing efforts are happening during restaurant inspections at places open for take-out, curbside pick up and delivery.
Mom's Teriyaki dodged a C grade by one point but had the highest demerits for the week's batch of inspections.
The restaurant on Jones Boulevard and Sahara Avenue got a 20-demerit B grade on its April 23 inspection after the health inspector documented concerns about a potential pest infestation due to unsanitary conditions in the kitchen.
13 Action News | Dirty Dining coverage
The place was described as "very dirty and greasy" with old food debris found throughout. There was heavy grease and dirt on shelves, cooler handles, hinges, gaskets, the stove and fryer, plus pipes and fixtures behind appliances, according to the report.
There was greasy, dirty black build-up on hood filters and floors throughout the facility, and oil and other food items spilled and left to dry on the floor in the dry storage room. Floors in the walk-in cooler were dirty too.
Cooked cabbage had to be thrown out due to unsafe temperatures, and there was dried food debris on knives.
The person in charge wasn't knowledgeable about basic food safety.
The inspector wrote, "Significant cleaning efforts must begin immediately as they provide harborage conditions and possible pest infestation."
The inspector told Mom's Teriyaki she would return in one week to verify deep, detailed cleaning.
Mom's Teriyaki was back to a zero-demerit A grade on May 4.
Manager Jay Jang says they've had to let most of their employees go due to the shutdown, so it's just him and his mother running the place, and they're working 14-15 hours a day to make ends meet.
He said he's a big fan of Dirty Dining and was really disappointed in the downgrade, but takes full responsibility, noting the restaurant has had only A grades for the past four years.
Recently, he says business has been picking up, so he's optimistic that he'll be able to re-hire at least some of his staff and stay on top of the cleaning process.
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The snack bar at Ed's AM/PM on Charleston Boulevard and 4th Street got a 16-demerit C grade on April 22. That's usually not enough demerits for a C, but in this case, the C downgrade was due to a failed inspection with critical/major repeat violations.
AM/PM was given 15 business days to schedule a re-inspection with a warning that failed re-inspection will result in the snack bar's closure.
Major violations included a sewage back up, and multiple flies were seen directly on customer ice in the ice machine and in a container of brown sugar.
Inspectors reported they saw approximately 65 flies flying around and landing on walls and surfaces in the back storage area and the self-service lobby.
The facility's last pest control report from March 30 noted excess flies within drains, so it's not a new problem and clearly hasn't been resolved.
There were leaks on floors behind the ice machine; soda syrup spills on walls and drains were soiled with black debris.
The freezer was dirty with old food and exposed disintegrating copper piping sat above the sink and food contact surfaces.
According to the health district's website, Ed's AM/PM still has a C grade.
Phone calls to the AM/PM seeking comment were not immediately answered.
Click here to see the health report for Mom's Teriyaki.
Click here to see the health report for Ed's AM PM - Snack Bar.
