Weed and warm dairy: The worst restaurant inspections in January

For restaurant owners, a surprise visit from a health inspector may cause anxiety. But these unannounced visits are essential for preventing the causes of foodborne illnesses and employee injuries.

Inspectors from Maricopa County Environmental Services visit restaurants around the Valley, checking kitchens for cleanliness, working equipment and practices that keep us all safe. The inspectors rank restaurants on a letter-grade scale and note violations. Issues of imminent danger are labeled as priority violations. The inspection reports are then uploaded to an online database which is available to the public.

In January, many resolve to keep a tidier house or do some spring cleaning. At local restaurants, high standards must be maintained year-round. But not all Valley eateries started the year off right. Here are the worst restaurant inspections from the first month of 2025.

Black Rock Coffee Bar

2725 E. McKellips Road, Mesa On a Jan. 6 visit, a health inspector recorded five priority violations and scored this Mesa location of Black Rock Coffee Bar a D letter grade. Handwashing was a major issue – employees took orders at the cash register and then made drinks without washing their hands, and when an employee was asked to wash their hands, they did so for less than five seconds. These issues may stem from the hand washing sink being blocked by a trash can, and no available soap at that sink. The inspector noted in their report that “this is a common theme during Black Rock inspections at other locations.” The inspector also found almond, oat, soy, 2% and whole milk, plus half and half sitting out on the counter at room temperature. And, to top it off, the ice machine had “black matter build up” on its shoot. 

Bahama Buck’s Original Shave Ice Co.

2235 S. Power Road, #111, Mesa Bahama Buck’s was scheduled for a reinspection on Jan. 9, to follow up on issues found at a previous visit. However, the shave ice shop earned itself three priority violations, resulting in yet another scheduled reinspection. The inspector noted blenders used for yogurt smoothies were stored with food debris on them, and when asked, an employee explained that the blenders are rinsed between each use, but only sanitized once per week. Whipped topping was also found stored out on the countertop.

Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport

4300 E. Washington St. Health inspectors don’t just visit restaurants. They make their way to any place that prepares and serves food, including hotels. On Jan. 13, an inspector visited the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport hotel and found three priority violations. This was also a scheduled revisit made necessary by issues found on a prior inspection. In mid-January, an inspector noted staff touching food with bare hands, a trash can blocking the hand-washing sink and many foods without date markings. There was also “a heavy build up of grease and debris” behind the fryers and the door of the walk-in freezer was unable to properly close. Another reinspection was scheduled.

Ralph’s Snack Bar

3400 Sky Harbor Blvd. Ralph’s Snack Bar has a fleet of food trucks that park and serve food around the Valley. One of their trucks, which parks at Sky Harbor International Airport, earned four priority violations and a letter D grade on Jan. 16. The inspector found improperly heated chicken, cooked pasta salad stored at room temperature and bottles of Fabuloso and Windex, noted in the report as “toxic chemicals,” stored in a crate with cups and lids. The inspector also saw the food truck operator bring cooked mashed potatoes outside to store in an ice chest outside the truck – all food must be stored inside.

Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar

15205 N. Kierland Blvd., ScottsdaleOn Jan. 16, an inspector found three priority violations at Tommy Bahama Restaurant & Bar in Scottsdale. The visit was a reinspection, due to prior issues. More problems left the restaurant scheduling yet another reinspection. Raw tuna was stored above fruit and raw beef patties were stored above beef filets, creating possible cross-contamination. There was “an accumulation of dark and pink residue” on the interior of the ice machine. The upstairs bar dump sink had backflow when the hand washing sink was running. And, blue cheese-stuffed olives were stored at room temperature.

Bosa Donuts

3701 N. Central Ave. Proximity is everything in a kitchen, and that caused an issue for Bosa Donuts on Central Avenue. On a Jan. 21 visit, the inspector saw raw eggs stored at room temperature sitting on top of an open trash can. There was also a container of dough that overflowed from the container onto a bottom shelf next to a mop sink. The visit was a reinspection from previous issues, and earned the restaurant another scheduled reinspection.

Republic Ramen

1301 E. University Drive, #114, TempeOn Jan. 22, Republic Ramen had red bell peppers with “white fuzzy organic material” and “black spots and holes.” Spam was 10 days old and seaweed was undated. There were also rusty shelves in the washing area and a rusty prep table in the kitchen. The wall and sink were in “disrepair” in the men’s bathroom and in the boba area. Republic Ramen earned a total of four priority violations.

Mijana

1290 N. Scottsdale Road, TempeTempe restaurant Mijana earned four priority violations on a Jan. 23 inspection. The inspector saw a lack of handwashing, plus employees touching food with bare hands. Sauces were kept at improper temperatures and cleaning chemicals were stored among cooking equipment. The inspector also noted a number of issues with kitchen cleanliness. The base of the blender had “heavy soil accumulation” which staff explained is not cleaned every day. There was also “soil accumulation” underneath the reach in coolers, along the walls in prep areas and underneath sinks at the bar. The inspector noted that the dirty kitchen was a repeat violation.

Ollie Vaughn’s

1526 E. McDowell RoadA slightly unusual find led to a headache for Phoenix cafe Ollie Vaughn’s on a Jan. 28 inspection. There were minor issues such as butter out on the counter, but the inspector docked the restaurant for a “used roll of marijuana and lighter” found on top of a box of Tabasco sauce in the dry storage area. “Medicines,” the report noted, must be stored outside of the kitchen.

Pigtails

1 E. Washington St., #128The downtown location of Pigtails cocktail bar was visited on Jan. 30 for a reinspection, following previous issues. However, the inspector was left scheduling yet another reinspection. The bar received three priority violations as the inspector found several moldy tomatoes, boxes of raw chicken and beef stored directly above ready-to-eat raw oysters in the refrigerator and purple cabbage coleslaw and bechamel sauce that were past their date of use.

ChargeNGo

6262 E. Main St., MesaMesa gas station store ChargeNGo was reinspected on Jan. 30 and didn’t pass. Another reinspection was scheduled after the inspector found 11 total violations. The walk-in was nearly 10 degrees too warm and hot dogs, burritos, gallons of milk, raw eggs and sandwiches were all found at improper temperatures. The staff couldn’t test the temperatures because there was no thermometer, another violation. The hand sink was blocked and raw eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods. The inspector found a spray can of Raid ant and roach spray by the ice machine, and there were “dozens” of fruit flies buzzing throughout the kitchen, primarily by the sink.