Hesperia's food establishments get cleaner

(Originally published May 30, 2006.)

Hesperians eating out have more information than ever about how clean the San Bernardino County of Public Health has rated local restaurants and other businesses that serve food. In the year since the information first became easily accessible to the public, the percentage of Hesperia businesses receiving the top grade for health code compliance has jumped 18 percent points, from 58 to 76 percent of Hesperia restaurants receiving an A rating.

The restaurant letter grade ratings first were posted online 13 months ago, and posting them has been a requirement for Hesperia restaurants since October 2005.

Of the 166 food establishments rated and listed in the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Division of Environmental Ratings Web site, five received perfect scores, although consumers would likely only consider one to be a normal restaurant. Blockbuster Video, Main Street Shell, Junny's Mini Market, Wendy's Place (on G Avenue) and Little Sister's Truck Wash all received a perfect 100 grade.

Eight businesses received 99 percent scores, including the Sav-on Drug Store (on Bear Valley Road), Pancho Pollo, Country Cake & Candy Supply, Hesperia Liquor, K-Mart, Go Bangkok Thai Cuisine, Applejack Market and Wienerschnitzel.

Of the 166 food establishments listed, 126 of them received an A rating, up from 87 out of 148 last April, soon after the Web site went online.

Hesperia Mart was the lowest-rated food establishment on the site as of May 26, with a score of 77, and the only Hesperia establishment to receive a C grade. Also in the bottom nine were Los Domingos Restaurant, the McDonald's restaurant at Main Street and Maple Avenue, Olympic Flame, the Del Taco Restaurant and Main Street and 8th Avenue, Bob's Big Boy, Thai-Lotus Restaurant, Delgarcia's Restaurant and La Casita Mexican Cafe. La Casita, Thai-Lotus Restaurant and Los Domingos were also among the lowest-scoring restaurants in April 2005.

Businesses are allowed to appeal their ratings and request follow-up inspections.

For more information on the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health's restaurant inspection ratings, see http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/dehs/ Details on what each restaurant lost points for during the inspection are available on the site.

Beau Yarbrough can be reached at beau@hesperiastar.com or by telephone at 956-7108.