EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — A Chinese restaurant in Colorado Springs failed its recent routine health inspection after inspectors documented a dozen violations, while several other local eateries earned high marks for food safety and cleanliness.
New Panda II, located on North Union Boulevard, received 12 violations during its recent inspection.
According to the inspection report, an employee was observed handling raw shrimp before touching utensils and plates, creating a potential risk for cross-contamination.
Inspectors also reported grease and grime buildup on the restaurant’s wok filter and noted that food items were not dated.
KRDO13 stopped by New Panda II to ask what the restaurant is doing to address the violations.
The manager told us she's retrained her employees and started putting dates on every food item.
"I make sure my kitchen people do everything right," she said.
New Panda II is still awaiting its re-inspection as of this article.
Wing It! and Smoothie Paradise, both located at the Citadel Mall, were among the businesses recognized for their inspection results.
Red Dog Coffee & Cafe in Manitou Springs also passed its inspection with flying colors, demonstrating a focus on consistent cleaning and food safety practices.
Ahead of a busy weekend in Manitou Springs, when crowds are expected for the annual Emma Crawford Coffin Races, Red Dog Coffee & Cafe is keeping cleanliness a priority.
Manager Lindsey Cole said the cafe uses a series of checklists to help employees stay on top of cleaning responsibilities throughout the day.
“We have a morning, a midday and an evening checklist. We have lots of cleaning tasks. We also have a weekly checklist and a monthly checklist,” Cole explained.
The cafe offers an eclectic atmosphere, with handmade mugs, plants and local art decorating the space. Customers can also enjoy a variety of baked goods and sandwiches.
Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup Awards at your favorite restaurant as a sign that its kitchen has met the inspection standards. A high score means the kitchen has passed its routine health inspection.
Reminder: All high and low scores in this roundup are based on routine health inspections conducted by the El Paso County Health Department.
Click here for a look at all the most recent health inspection scores.
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The post Restaurant Roundup: New Panda Two Fails Health Inspection, Manitou Springs Cafe Earns High Marks appeared first on KRDO.
