Mojitos Bar and Grill on the south side of Marshalltown has “voluntarily closed” after being cited for 11 total violations during a recent state inspection.

During a Nov. 14 visit, the inspector noted that cooked chicken, chorizo, and carnitas that were placed on a flat-top stove for reheating had only reached a temperature of 89 to 119 degrees – not hot enough to ensure food safety. Also, rice inside a walk-in cooler was measured at 50 degrees and buckets of cut lettuce were measured 46 degrees – both of which were above the 41-degree maximum.

The inspector also noted that the ice machine was adulterated by a “heavy buildup” of brown slime on the interior edges, and the food dicer was crusted with dried food and debris.

The inspector reported that not all of the workers designated as “in charge” were certified food protection managers, and that the handwashing sink in the kitchen was out of service with no hot- or cold-water supply.

“Flying insects are noted throughout the establishment, food storage and equipment-storage areas,” the inspector reported. “Rodent droppings are observed on shelving in the food-storage areas. Insects were observed in the spice-salt mix used for mixed drinks at the bar.”

The inspector also reported observing a rolling cart, with open containers of raw chicken on it, sitting in “water pooled on the floor from backed-up floor drains.”

Clean equipment and utensils were being stored in an area where they were exposed to splashing from the standing water that had pooled on the floor, the inspector said.

In addition, some of the kitchen walls were in poor repair and ceiling tiles were missing. Some of the holes in the wall had been repaired with tape that was peeling, and the floors, equipment and shelving each had a “large amount of spilled food, debris, and buildup” on them.

“Light bulbs in the ventilation hood systems are not shielded and have a large amount of dripping grease and residue,” the inspector reported.

The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint regarding pest control, which was substantiated by the inspector. Due to the plumbing issues, the owner agreed to voluntarily close the establishment “until repairs could be made and basic requirements can be met to ensure safe food production and handling,” the inspector reported.

The inspector returned on Nov. 17 and reported finding live and dead insects inside containers of dried spices, bouillon powder and sugar, and made note of the “heavy presence of live cockroaches” in the kitchen’s food-preparation area and storage areas.

“Due to the heavy presence of cockroach-like insects in the kitchen area, the person in charge stated that the establishment would remain voluntarily closed until pest-control applications could be completed,” the inspector reported.

Restaurant inspection update: Rodents in the oven, mystery meat and insects