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A favorite bar and grill for Springfield foodies was found to have multiple health code violations from the Sangamon County Department of Public Health in July, according to latest data.
Top Cats Chill & Grill on East Sangamon Avenue received 20 violations in a July 18 inspection of the facility, with 12 of those violations a risk factor for safe food consumption.
According to notes left by the Sangamon County health inspector, there was food debris as well as a dead insect on the internal surface of the beer glass cooler that is in direct contact with the mouth contact surface. A fridge holding whipped cream and fruit was temperature verified at 60 degrees Fahrenheit, while the left prep cooler in the kitchen was observed to not be holding adequate cold holding temperature, causing food to spoil.
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In the inspection, the bar was not found in compliance with food handler law, and in a July 24 reinspection with the same inspector, all issues were brought to compliance, save for a broken pizza prep cooler with drip water.
Food establishments are inspected by the Sangamon County Department of Public Health on an annual schedule that is determined by assigned risk type. The risk types are high, medium, or low risk, as defined by the Illinois Food Service Sanitation Code. These are determined by the complexity of food preparation taking place at the facility. Routine inspections are conducted unannounced. Follow up and complaint inspections are conducted as needed.
Critical violations concern hygiene, food temperatures, sanitizing procedures, and cross contamination. Non-critical violations concern the maintenance and cleanliness of a facility.
Here are the Sangamon County restaurants that received more than 10 violations from the health department during the month of July.
Main Gate Bar and Grill
Location: 2143 N. 11th St., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 24, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 20 violations, 10 risk factors
Notes from inspection: The inspection found there are multiple food-contact surfaces in the facility that are in need of a cleaning, including the microwave in the kitchen, the ice machine and prep coolers in the kitchen. No thermometers were found in the kitchen: prep coolers, probe thermometers for food and hot storage units were all missing the requirement. Raw eggs were stored on the top shelf of the walk-in cooler above ready-to-eat food items, making the items stored beneath no longer safe to eat due to cross contamination.
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Travelers Kitchen
Location: 1731 S. MacArthur Blvd., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 25, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 22 violations, 10 risk factors
Notes from inspection: The health inspector found cleaning was needed throughout the restaurant as mouse droppings were found along the walls and in corners. There was no other evidence of mice nesting throughout the restaurant, however.
The situation was discussed with the owner of the restaurant, and they indicated that they did have a mouse issue a couple months ago that they believe has been resolved. The owner was instructed to clean the facility thoroughly to determine if new droppings are still being produced for reinspection.
The inspector also found multiple containers used for storing utensils and lids on the shelves in the kitchen are heavily soiled with food debris; other storage containers made of Styrofoam were observed throughout the kitchen without packaging and with the food contact surface facing up/exposed.
Ritz’s Lil Fryer
Location: 2148 E. North Grand Ave., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 24, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 15 violations, 1 risk factor
Notes from inspection: The restaurant was unable to verify all employees’ food handler certifications and was not in compliance with food handler’s law. The location in total needs a thorough cleaning, according to the inspection.
The following locations are observed to have an accumulation of food debris that are in need of being cleaned: shelving in the walk-in cooler, cages over the fans in the walk-in cooler, the main kitchen sink, the floor of dry storage, the walk-in freezer, residue along the walls of the ice machine.
D’arcy’s Pint
Location: 661 W. Stanford Ave., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 31, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 14 violations, 4 risk factors
Notes from inspection: Following a July 17 routine inspection, the location had four repeat violations from the previous check including dirty ceiling vents, solid/debris present along the bar on the floor near the ice machine and the hand sink and a piece of building trim next to the frying station that had been falling into a state of disrepair.
The building is in need of upgrades of gaskets replaced or repaired in the coolers that house milk, and double freezer.
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Marco’s Pizza on W. Iles
Location: 3211 W. Iles Ave., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 2, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 14 violations, 4 risk factors
Notes from inspection: Debris accumulation was observed in the interiors of both prep coolers, on shelving in the walk-in cooler, and on the shelf under the back prep counter. An issue with the person in charge present not having their food allergen certification was brought up by the inspector, and that food handler certificates were not available for employees present during this inspection.
A reinspection of the restaurant on July 5 found all but 1 risk factor violation mitigated and corrected.
Papo’s Cafe
Location: 3290 W. Iles Ave., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 9, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 13 violations, 8 risk factor.
Notes from inspection: The deflector shield of the ice machine was observed with several black spots, believed to be mold, observable during this inspection, and multiple ladles are observed stored in the dish area as clean, with food debris remaining on them. An issue with the cleaning was that there were no paper towels at handwashing sinks, chemical sanitizer sanitation buckers showed to have any sanitizing chemical, and a soap dispenser with dead batteries would not dispense soap.
A reinspection the next day on July 10 by the same inspector found all violations corrected.
Clock Tower Cafe
Location: 751 S. Durkin Dr., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 15, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 11 violations, 4 risk factors
Notes from inspection: A container of cooled rice was observed without date-marking in the front under-counter cooler, while raw shell eggs were observed stored on top of ready-to-eat foods in the top of the prep cooler.
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Applebee’s on Sunrise Drive
Location: 2554 Sunrise Drive, Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 3, inspection made from complaint
What: Inspection found 11 violations, with 4 risk factor
Notes from inspection: Mouse droppings and mold were both found at the popular chain food establishment. It was observed that there was an accumulation of mouse droppings on the oil storage system in the back of the facility. The manager informed the inspector the facility has been dealing with a mice issue for a couple of months. Pest control was switched to Ecolab, and they are currently coming out weekly to treat them.
It was observed that there was an accumulation of mold on the roof of the ice machine, along with the inside of the ice machine; a thorough cleaning of the restaurant’s kitchen was called for, due to the dirty floor drain, spills in the walk-in cooler and wall behind the drink station.
The inspection called for two follow up inspections through July.
Illini Country Club
Location: 1601 Illini Rd., Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 18, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 11 violations, 7 risk factors
Notes from inspection: Multiple items in different coolers were observed to be held past the seven-day maximum or not labeled. There was also a block of cheese and shredded cheese containing mold. A container of half and half in the downstairs bar was also observed to be not date marked.
Drain flies were observed in the downstairs bar, making the facility infestation prone and possible contamination of food.
Otherwise, regular maintenance around the restaurant was needed in regards to sanitation buckets needing more cleaning liquid, and food warmers fifty degrees below required heat.
A follow-up reinspection on July 30 found all violations fixed.
Mr. Gyros
Location: 1100 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, Springfield
Date/inspection type: July 8, routine inspection
What: Inspection found 11 violations, 5 risk factors
Notes from inspection: The inspector observed raw marinated chicken and beef stored above onions and potatoes in the walk-in cooler, which did not have thermometers. Roaches were seen around the restaurant at the grease storage unit, mop sink, triple sink, within boxes of packaged food, and in the front service area and a dead mouse was found trapped in the furnace room.
Two follow up inspections were performed over the rest of July, where the inspector wrote overall, the facility has made drastic improvements since the last routine inspection. Most surfaces are observed clean, however, areas under the cooking equipment were still showing signs of grease buildup.
Claire Grant writes about business, growth and development and other news topics for The State Journal-Register. She can be reached at CLGrant@gannett.com; and on X (Formerly known as Twitter): @Claire_Granted