The latest round of routine restaurant inspections in the Colorado Springs area produced sharp contrasts, with one newly opened bar drawing a failed result and two other establishments earning top marks. All scores are drawn from inspections carried out by the El Paso County Health Department.
A bar on North Tejon Street, Stoney's Bar and Grill, did not pass its debut health inspection, which turned up seven separate violations — among them concerns about how gloves were being used and how food was being stored. Inspectors additionally flagged queso sauce that had exceeded its permissible seven-day shelf life.
Following the failed inspection, a chef at Stoney's told a reporter that the establishment had moved to correct the problems. According to the chef, staff members are now changing gloves and washing their hands on a more consistent basis. The chef further indicated that all food is being maintained at the correct temperatures and that nothing on hand is past its prime. The bar has not yet undergone a follow-up inspection.
At the other end of this week's results, two area restaurants achieved spotless scores. Both In-N-Out Burger and Eim Thai came away with perfect inspection marks. Eim Thai's owner, Pong, credited staff longevity for the kitchen's strong performance, saying that roughly nine in ten kitchen workers have been on board since the restaurant first opened. Pong said the restaurant aims to keep its menu both affordable and wholesome enough that diners can make it a regular habit. She also described the restaurant as feeling like a second home, given how much of her time is spent there.
The results of Stoney's re-inspection, once completed, will indicate whether the bar has resolved the violations identified during its first review.