Restaurant Roundup: Burger joint cited for employee hygiene violations, decades-old sandwich shop earns perfect score
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - A popular fast-food restaurant in northern Colorado Springs is facing scrutiny after a recent health inspection found several employee hygiene violations, including improper handwashing and unsafe food handling practices.
Meanwhile, three local restaurants earned perfect inspection scores, highlighting strong food safety practices across the city.
Smashburger Cited for Handwashing and Food Safety Violations
The Smashburger near Voyager Parkway and Briargate Parkway failed its most recent routine health inspection with five violations. While the total number of violations was relatively low, inspectors noted several significant concerns involving employee hygiene and food safety.
According to the inspection report, employees were not washing their hands properly. The inspector observed workers rinsing their hands for less than the required 20 seconds and, in some cases, not using soap at all.
The report also noted that the restaurant's soap dispenser was malfunctioning. Although it contained soap, the dispenser was not dispensing it properly.
Inspectors also observed employees using the same gloves to handle raw meat and then cooked food, creating a risk of cross-contamination that could lead to foodborne illness.
When KRDO13 visited the restaurant, employees declined to speak on camera. However, staff said off camera that the soap dispenser has been repaired, employees have completed additional handwashing training, and the restaurant is prepared for a follow-up inspection.
Smashburger passed its re-inspection July 7th.
Three Restaurants Earn Perfect Scores!
This week's Restaurant Roundup also features an unprecedented three restaurants that received perfect health inspection scores:
- Taco Bell on North Academy Boulevard
- Colorado Sno Balls on Fontaine Boulevard
- Oliver's Deli on Delmonico Drive
At Oliver's Deli, customers will find more than just sandwiches. The deli's baked goods, including its chocolate chip banana bread served warm with butter, have become a customer favorite since it opened over 40 years ago.
"We chose to do something that we could do well," owner Betsy Oliver answered when asked how she and her husband decided on the wide variety of menu offerings.
Oliver also credits her staff for maintaining the restaurant's spotless kitchen. She says the workplace atmosphere, and what comes of it, is a product of mutual respect.
"I pay well. Everybody that works here cares about their job," Betsy explained. "They have the drive to work well."
Keep an eye out for the KRDO13 Restaurant Roundup awards at your favorite restaurant to know the kitchen inside is clean.
Reminder: all of our high and low-scoring restaurants 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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