Gale’s Restaurant Fails Health Inspection, Given a Temporary “Conditional Pass”

Gale’s Restaurant at 452 S. Fair Oaks Avenue, which serves northern Italian cuisine, failed a health inspection conducted last week but will continue to operate with a Conditional Pass rating, after inspectors observed several instances of major violations to the City of Pasadena’s health and sanitation standards.

During the inspection, employees were observed handling soiled wiping cloths and then handling food without washing their hands. An employee was also seen using soiled wiping cloth to clean up an active food preparation table and a knife used for cutting food.

“These violations were repeated multiple times amongst the food handlers,” part of the inspection report said.

The inspectors also reported seeing up to 25 employees without current, valid food worker cards, which a restaurant representative acknowledged to the inspector. California Food Handler Cards are required in Pasadena for all restaurant employees for the duration of his or her employment as a food handler. The inspector wrote that employees were unable to demonstrate knowledge regarding how to calibrate food storage thermometers and that all the employees need a basic food handling refresher training session.

Inspectors also noted the restaurant was in violation of cold holding standards, where potentially hazardous food should be held at or below 41 degree temperatures or above 135 degrees. Pasta was observed holding at 61 degrees and tomatoes with mixed vegetables were holding at 62 degrees, the inspection report said.

Violations of the food holding temperature standards, non-washing of hands and use of soiled wiping cloth on active food preparation surfaces are considered major violations under the city’s health codes.

The inspectors also observed the restaurant had no paper towel dispensers at the handwashing station located in the kitchen.

Gale’s Restaurant was given a Conditional Pass rating of 81. Inspectors will be conducting a follow-up inspection in the near future to ensure its corrective recommendations have been complied with.

In a previous routine inspection about two years ago, the restaurant was given a 94 rating, a definite pass according to Pasadena Department of Public Health standards.