Restaurant inspections: Mice shut down diner, meat thawed wrong, sign issue in Wichita KS

Oct. 31—Five Wichita-area restaurants and other businesses were deemed out of compliance during Kansas Department of Agriculture food safety and lodging inspections conducted Oct. 16-22.

Information about the Sedgwick County businesses and their violations, compiled Oct. 28, appears below with a summary of the problems inspectors noted on their reports. More details are posted in The Eagle's searchable database of non-compliant restaurant and hotel inspections at www.kansas.com/databases.

Business owners who want to clarify or comment on out-of-compliance inspection results can contact Eagle reporter Amy Renee Leiker at 316-268-6644 or aleiker@wichitaeagle.com. Comments will be added to online stories. Businesses are listed alphabetically at the end of this article.

More than 20 businesses surveyed Oct. 16-22 passed their inspections with few or no violations. You can see those at www.foodsafety.kda.ks.gov/FoodSafety/Web/Inspection/PublicInspectionSearch.aspx.

Failing an inspection doesn't necessarily mean a business has to close; that's rare. Most violations are minor and are corrected immediately during an inspection.

Businesses fall out of compliance with state rules when they have too many violations or certain types of problems that can increase the risk of a customer contracting a food-borne illness and also when a problem can't be fixed right away, such as pest and plumbing issues.

When a business fails, it's usually inspected again within 10 days.

To complain about conditions anywhere that serves or sells food to the public, email kda.fsl@ks.gov or call 785-564-6767.

Recent out-of-compliance inspections

Auto Motel, 1230 N. Broadway in Wichita — An inspector noted on an Oct. 20 follow-up inspection report that rooms were still closed following a pest problem. Light bulbs in one of the rooms have to be replaced when it is open. Next inspection: Oct. 30.

Backyard Kitchen Barbecue, 1201 S. Water in Wichita — Three violations during an Oct. 21 follow-up inspection. Cited for storing raw pork above cole slaw in cooler, beef stew in refrigerator wasn't cooling off quickly enough, foods in cooler including cooked greens and baked beans weren't cold enough. A build-up of ice at the bottom of the cooler fan may have contributed to the excessive temperatures. Next inspection: Dec. 21.

Denny's, 4024 E. Harry in Wichita — Three violations during an Oct. 21 modified complaint inspection. Cited over holes in ceiling and walls that could let mice in, live mouse found in bait station along with around 100 mouse droppings under cooler, mouse droppings in other areas including near refrigerator, food debris throughout restaurant and trash piled under and behind cooler "creates harborage for pests and an ideal environment for them to live in." The inspector noted that the mouse problem "seems to be systemic" and created an imminent health hazard. The restaurant was closed voluntarily pending a follow-up inspection. It was deemed out of compliance again during an Oct. 24 reopening inspection.

Ninza Sushi Bar, 8428 W. 13th St. in Wichita — Five violations during an Oct. 20 follow-up inspection. Cited for thawing raw chicken at room temperature, rice that was supposed to be discarded at a certain time was kept out for too long, improper signage regarding raw and undercooked menu items, thawing imitation crab meat in sink dedicated for hand-washing, cleaning solution stored next to soda mix. Next inspection: Dec. 20.

Spangles, 612 N. Tyler in Wichita — Three violations during an Oct. 21 inspection prompted by a complaint. Cited over refrigerated foods including turkey and gravy that weren't kept cold enough, food logs weren't up to date, no paper towels at kitchen hand-washing sink. Next inspection: Oct. 31.

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