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SALT LAKE CITY — Three restaurants in Salt Lake County were temporarily closed over the past week due to health code violations.
Salt Lake County health officials estimate that about 50 restaurants, approximately one per week, have their permits suspended each year, often leading to closures. The most common violations include not cleaning thoroughly; eating, drinking or using tobacco; and not keeping foods below 41 degrees.
Here are the three restaurants that were temporarily shut down this week in Salt Lake County.
Salt Lake Community College Food Court
1575 S. State St., Salt Lake City
Closed July 26, reopened July 27
The food court at Salt Lake Community College was closed last week due to six violations, including sewage overflowing from a floor drain in a food preparation area. The sewage overflowed when a hand-washing sink was in use in the area, according to a health department report.
Health officials also reported that there was dust inside the pizza oven and a ventilation hood in the pizza area was dusty.
Stella Grill
4291 S. 900 East, Salt Lake City
Closed July 26, reopened July 27
Stella Grill was closed due to 40 violations, including the person in charge not having knowledge about safe food cooking and holding temperatures, according to a health department report.
Health officials also saw “numerous flies” in the restaurant facility, according to the report.
Raw hamburger, raw chicken and several other foods also were held at temperatures warmer than appropriate, the report states.
Several items in the restaurant were damaged or dirty, including several floors and doors.
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111 E. 2700 South, South Salt Lake
Closed Aug. 1, opened Aug. 2
Greek restaurant Best Chicken was closed this week after health officials found 37 violations at the facility, according to a report.
An employee washed their hands while still wearing gloves, as if to reuse the gloves, the report states. An employee also failed to wash their hands between dirty and clean tasks.
The facility also did not have enough hot or cold holding capacity for food, according to the report.
Cooked chicken, which should be held at 135 degrees or higher, was found at temperatures between 78 and 104 degrees at the restaurant, according to the report. Various other foods were found in walk-in and reach-in coolers at temperatures between 47 and 53 degrees, the report states.
