Restaurant Roundup: Colorado Springs spot caught with flies, taco shop credits teamwork for top score

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - Both the lowest- and highest-scoring restaurants this week serve tacos.

Rudy's Little Hideaway fails routine inspection, improves on re-inspection

Rudy's Little Hideaway on South Eighth Street failed its recent routine health inspection after inspectors documented 11 violations.

According to the inspection report, inspectors found several food safety concerns, including:

• Raw chicken stored above raw pork, creating a risk of cross-contamination
• An employee reportedly handled dirty dishes before preparing food without changing gloves
• Glue traps placed above a food preparation area
• Several live and dead flies observed during the inspection

After reviewing the inspection findings, we visited the restaurant to ask about the violations and what had changed.

Employees said the issues identified during the inspection have been addressed. They pointed to the restaurant's follow-up inspection, during which inspectors documented just two violations.

"We passed and everything is okay right now," one employee said.

Staff also disputed the original finding that glue traps were positioned directly above the food preparation area. Regardless, they said the traps have since been relocated well away from food prep spaces.

This week's top inspection scores

Several restaurants earned top marks during recent inspections, including:

• Good Neighbors Meeting House on Columbia Street
• Tortilleria Delicias on South Circle Drive
• Por Favor Tacos and Tragos on Voyager Parkway

At Por Favor Tacos and Tragos, employees credited a team-focused approach for helping maintain a clean kitchen.

"Everybody helps each other. No one lets anyone get behind," one employee said.

This spot also features unique, tasty tacos, colorful décor and a lively atmosphere!

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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