Inspection Report

Business Name
Cafe Rio Mexican Grill

Business Address
15768 N FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT BLVD SCOTTSDALE AZ 85260

Permit Number
FD-39604

Permit Type
Food Establishment - Eating & Drinking

Inspection Purpose
Food Routine Inspection

Inspection Date
2/13/2025

Grade
D

Priority Violation
3

Inspection Status
Completed

Violations

Violation #: 10

Description: Adequate Handwashing Sinks, Properly Supplied and Accessible

Comments:

6-301.11 - Priority Foundation: Handwashing Cleanser, Availability. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4573/AMC-Toolbox: Handwashing. Addl Notes: No handwashing soap at warewashing handwashing sink. Handwashing soap was provided at time of inspection. Maintain all handwashing sinks stocked with handwashing soap at all times. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 16

Description: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned and Sanitized

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-4-501.114 (A-E) - Priority: Manual and Mechanical Warewashing Equipment, Chemical Sanitization- Temperature, pH, Concentration and Hardness. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/4574/AMC-Toolbox---Food-Contact-Surfaces.

Addl Notes: At in use 3-compartment sink, at dishware surfaces, quat sanitizer with a concentration <150ppm. After sanitizer solution was emptied and refilled, quat sanitizer with a concentration of 150-400ppm. Recommended repairing leak in sink faucet. Discussed more frequent monitoring of sanitizer solution, especially at start of day and after periods of inactivity. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 22

Repeat Violation

Description: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-3-501.16(A)(2) and (B) - Priority: Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food, Cold Holding. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you.https://www.maricopa.gov/4576/AMC-Toolbox---Cold-Holding.

Addl Notes: Third Consecutive Violation. On back cook line, in small prep table cooler, corn salsa with temperatures of 45*F-52*F. Per manager, TCS foods were placed in reach in cooler >4 hours. Corn salsa was discarded. See embargo form. Ambient temperature of small reach in cooler was 52.7*F, taken with inspector min/max thermometer. Discontinue use of reach in cooler until able to maintain proper cold holding temperatures throughout the day. Maintain TCS (time/ temperature control for food safety) foods at a cold holding temperature of 41*F or less at all times. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Violation #: 29

Description: Compliance with Variance, Specialized Process, Reduced Oxygen Packaging Criteria or HACCP plan

Comments:

PRIORITY VIOLATION-8-103.12 (A) - Priority: Conformance with Approved Procedures; Compliance with HACCP Plan. For a permanent fix to this violation, check out these simple tools in our Active Managerial Control Toolbox, made especially for you. https://www.maricopa.gov/3978/Food-Variances.

Addl Notes: At time of inspection, establishment using bag/chill method for beef. Establishment did not note cook temperatures and bagged temperatures on tablet log sheet. Inspector reviewed multiple days without cook, bagged, and cooling times not noted on tablet log sheet. Per procedures, temperatures are to be noted during processes. All procedures in approved variance/HACCP plan must be conformed to at all times. Documentation for critical control points in approved variance/HACCP must be completed, available for review, and retained as required by approved variance/HACCP plan. Corrective Action: Corrected at time of inspection.

Comments/Details

Due to the violations noted on this inspection report, County legal action may result from this inspection.
Reviewed with manager: cooling methods.

Ensure all employees working with food obtain food worker certification from ANSI certified online site.

Inspection conducted with RS#874.

Routine inspection report was emailed to person in charge at establishment.

"A" for Food Safety

Through our grading system, Maricopa County Environmental Services Department provides at-a-glance indications of how food establishments perform during food safety inspections. This system is designed to grade food establishments in terms of food safety requirements and provide recognition to those who choose to participate.

How does it work?

The issuance of grade cards to food establishments is based on voluntary participation. The person in charge, who is present during the inspection, will be asked whether they would like to participate in the Grading System. This will be decided prior to each inspection. If an establishment does not participate in the Grading System, Not Participating or NP will appear on the inspection report, and the inspection will still occur. If an establishment does participate, a grade of A, B, C, or D will be determined at the conclusion of the inspection using the Grading System chart below. Participating establishments will then be provided with a grade card that can be posted in the establishment. The status of the establishment’s grade will also appear on the Restaurant Ratings page of the department’s website.

How can I determine the grade?

The Grading System chart can be used to determine grades earned for establishments that do not participate. Grades are determined by the number of Priority and Priority Foundation violations received at the time of inspection. Violation types are defined in general terms below.

Definitions

Priority Violation: Major violation that directly contributes to increasing the risk of foodborne illness or injury (e.g. Food employees do not properly wash hands when required).
Priority Foundation Violation: Minor violation that does not directly contribute to an increased risk of foodborne illness but failure to correct this violation may lead to the occurrence of a priority violation. For example, hand washing soap and paper towels not available at hand wash sink (may lead directly to food employees not properly washing hands when required).
Core Violation: Minor violation that relates to general maintenance and sanitation (e.g. No sign reminding employees to wash hands).
Cutting Edge Program: All county food-related establishments can partner with Maricopa County to implement a proactive approach to reducing foodborne illness risk factors by implementing food safety systems that include policies, training, and verification processes. Partners enrolled in the Cutting Edge Program receive an A+ when an A is earned.

Grading System The matrix below is used to grade food inspections under the voluntary grading system.
Violation Category	Grade A	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade B	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade C	Grade D	Grade D
Priority	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	1	0	1	1	2	2	2	more than 2	more than 3
Priority Foundation	0	1	2	3	4	0	1	2	5	3	4	0	1	2	more than 3	more than 0

Any legal action for a pattern of non-compliance or permit suspension results in a D.