LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — With four out of five stars and more than 600 Yelp reviews, The Modern Vegan is gaining customers and attention.
But not all attention is good.
A complaint brought health inspectors to the restaurant on Naples near Swenson and Harmon. And though they couldn't substantiate the concerns, inspectors did document a lot of health code violations.
End result: The Modern Vegan got a 33-demerit C grade on its May 31 inspection.
There was a repeat violation for improper monitoring of food temperatures with cut greens, improper hand washing and multiple uncovered food items subject to contamination including olives, zucchini noodles and sugar.
The fresh cilantro, parsley and cut cabbage were not at all fresh anymore. The greens were turning yellow and brown and liquefying inside their bags, some of which were two weeks past the use-by date.
There was dirt and old food accumulated on floors, a margarita glass and a dirty rag on a cutting board, to-go food containers stored on top of the hot water heater and boxes of produce stored on the floor.
When we went to ask questions, they didn't want to talk. A manager came out and said, "You guys aren't allowed on the property. You guys have to leave. That's all."
Other issues health inspectors found included no hot water in restrooms and multiple boxes and bags of trash stored on the ground outside the open kitchen door with pigeons eating from an open trash bag.
Plant-based sausage and tofu were both thawing unattended in a sink and at room temperature, some fruits and vegetables weren't being washed before being cut and a plastic-wrapped block of wood used as a door stop was on a shelf intermingled with food.
Plant-based sausage and tofu were both thawing unattended in a sink and at room temperature, some ruits and vegetables weren't being washed before being cut and a plastic-wrapped block of wood used as a door stop was on a shelf intermingled with food.
The Modern Vegan was back to a zero-demerit A grade on June 3.
Inspectors responding to a complaint found the overflowing grease trap contaminating the back alley. A collapsed pipe caused the problem, but was fixed the same day.
The owner said he worked quickly and closely with the Health District and the City of Las Vegas to get the grease properly removed. He said it won't happen again and blamed the failure on his maintenance company.
China Garden re-opened with an A grade on June 3.
And finally, Lily Limited kiosk in the Fashion Show mall was shut down May 31 for the imminent health hazard of no hot water. The owner said they're newly opened with all new equipment and the sink stopped working properly but was under warranty. It was quickly replaced and they reopened June 1 with a zero-demerit A grade.
