Health Inspectors Close Persian Restaurant

Originally posted at 1:15 p.m. April 1, 2014.

EDITOR'S NOTE: An earlier version of this article quoted the Orange County Health Care Agency as being unable to reopen Hatam restaurant in Mission Viejo on March 26 after health inspectors closed it down March 25. However, on a second visit on March 26, the restaurant was allowed to reopen. An agency representative said the website had a technical glitch and did not correctly post the permit reinstatement. The restaurant is now open for business. 

Health inspectors shut down last week a Persian restaurant in Mission Viejo, and allowed Hatam to reopen -- after two more visits to make sure health concerns were addressed.

Officials with the Orange County Health Care Agency first visited the restaurant, at 25800 Jeronimo Road, Suite 402, on March 3, and found numerous violations, including improper holding temperatures for the food, lack of hot water, improper food storage and a dishwasher that did not work fully.

“Upon arrival the water temperature was measured at a maximum temperature of 62F throughout the kitchen facility,” the inspector wrote. Water needs to reach 120 degrees for safety.

In addition, food was stacked in a way that could allow cross contamination with raw foods, the inspector noted.

The inspector returned March 25 and found that conditions had not improved, according to an online report. The restaurant was shut down for failing to comply with the March 3 requirements. 

In addition, the inspector found a number of new, minor violations, including improper hygiene (employees leaving their personal drinks around food prep and storage areas), improper food storage (a covered container of rice under a pan of raw chicken kabobs) and unsanitary equipment (an accumulation of debris in all reach-in coolers and walk-in cooler), among others.

A visit the next morning had similar results.

An inspector returned later in the day and re-issued a health permit.