'Hazardous Food,' Slime & Other Health Code Violations: Inside 20 Celebrity-Owned Restaurants
Oct. 17 2013, Published 6:25 a.m. ET
From a Desperate Housewife to a Real Housewife, many celeb restaurateurs have faced the wrath of inspectors.
Pete Wentz
Pete Wentz has several outposts of his Angels & Kings Bar, but the Chicago version recently got cited for a few health code violations. During an inspection on March 12, investigators noted "a slimy surface on the interior contact surfaces of the ice machine," a "leak at the exposed hand sink," broken sink stopper, "food not protected during storage display and service," and a lack of a sneeze guard on the buffet, according to a report obtained by RadarOnline.com. Management corrected the violations as they were able, and the bar/restaurant was allowed a passing grade, with conditions.
Eva Longoria
Eva Longoria's L.A. hotspot Beso scored a respectable 91 out of 100 points during a recent investigation. The Latin restaurant was marked down for minor problems with food temperature, minor problems with the presence of hazardous chemicals, and the existence of ready-to-eat food exposed to possible contamination
Ryan Gosling
Add restaurant owner to the list of Ryan Gosling's dreamiest qualities. He owns a Mediterranean restaurant, Tagine, in Beverly Hills. They most recently scored a 95/100 from health investigators, getting marked down for general disrepair, non-food-contact surfaces that were not clean, improper temperatures and a dirty hood.
Lisa Vanderpump
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Lisa Vanderpump's L.A. restaurant Villa Blanca has certainly seen its share of drama, and that extends to the kitchen as well. In a recent report, the restaurant was cited for issues with employees hair restraints, outer garments, nails and rings. It also lost points for general disrepair, dirty wiping cloths, deterioration, a drain line issue, dirty lighting, and non-food-contact surfaces that were not clean. Despite those issues, it passed with a grade of 90/100.
Bill and Giuliana Rancic
Bill and Giuliana Rancic's Chicago restaurant RPM Italian barely passed during a September 19 investigation. The restaurant was cited for having inoperable thermometers in several coolers, inadequate food protection, dirty soda gun dispensers, inadequate food protection and an unauthorized vacuum-packing machine. They promised to fix the issues and were let off the hook.
Mike Ditka
Football legend Mike Ditka's Chicago steakhouse (creatively named Ditka's), was cited for several violations during an inspection in February, when investigators found potentially hazardous food at improper temperatures. Crab bisque soup was sitting at roughly 50 degrees Fahrenheit, the investigator found, and there were oysters at more than 44 degrees, salad dressings at 45 degrees, eggs at 46 degrees, sour cream at 46 degrees and cut tomatoes at 46 degrees. Management vowed to change the storage temps, and they were let off as "passing with violations."
Joe Mantegna
Criminal Minds star Joe Mantegna isn't up to any dirty business at his L.A. restaurant, Taste Chicago. The Italian eatery scored 98/100 during a recent inspection, and was cited only for general disrepair and dirty sink fixtures.
Dan Akroyd
Dan Akroyd's house is clean. The soul man's House of Blues - Porch in L.A. most recently earned a 97/100 from health inspectors, racking up violations only for general disrepair, dirty sink fixtures, and storage issues.
Gloria Estefan
The health inspector's gonna get you! Gloria Estefan's Bongo's Express was recently cited for having insufficient hand washing supplies.
Jay Z and Bono
Jay Z and Bono's NYC gastropub The Spotted Pig just squeaked by with an A grade. They were only two points off from getting a dreaded "B" thanks to several violations during a March 6 inspection.
Robert DeNiro
Robert DeNiro's Nobu sushi joints walk a thin line when it comes to their health department ratings. Nobu Downtown, Nobu 57, and Nobu Next Door were all right on the verge of getting slapped with a "B," which starts at 86 points. They earned 87 points, 88 points, and 88 points, respectively
Justin Timberlake
The "dirty south" is one thing, but this might make you lose your appetite: Justin Timberlake's NYC restaurant and bar, Southern Hospitality, scored just 78/100 points during an inspection on June 9. That means, they're slapped with a "B" grade, which only around 30% of NYC restaurants earn. More than 50% get an "A."
Ted Turner
Is Ted Turner the perfect man? Maybe according to health inspectors. The media mogul's restaurant, Ted's Montana Grill in Columbus, Ohio, was found to have zero violations in its last inspection.
Robert DeNiro
In L.A., Robert DeNiro's restaurant AGO fared better, earning a 98/100, with citations for only dispenser disrepair and improper concentration/temperature.
Brad Womack
Bachelor Brad Womack is 0 for 2 when it comes to finding love on TV, but how do his Austin restaurants score? The Dogwood restaurant has a concerning grade of 72/100, while his Dizzy Rooster does better with 87, and the Molotov Lounge is tops at 94 points.
Sandra Bullock
Sandra Bullock's Austin hideaway, Bess Bistro, was catapulted into the spotlight in 2011 when she spent New Year's Eve there with then-single Ryan Reynolds. More recently, the restaurant earned a mediocre 80/100 points from health inspectors.
Gavin Degraw'
Gavin Degraw's NYC dive bar National Underground earned a perfectly respectable 92/100 during a recent investigation.
Yao Ming
Basketball star Yao Ming doesn't score as well off the court as he does on. During a June 19 inspection, his Yao Restaurant & Bar in Houston was cited for insufficient paper towels near the hand washing station, and an insufficiently clean dishwashing machine.
Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight's Chicken & Waffles was not a hit with Atlanta health inspectors. She earned 86/100 points, or a B grade during a recent inspection, thanks to several violations: food contact surfaces were not clean, proper dates were not marked, food was not properly labeled, non-food-contact surfaces were not clean, physical facilities were not clean, and there was not adequate ventilation and lighting, according to the health inspector's report.
Michael Ovitz
Super-agent Michael Ovitz's Hamasaku restaurant earned a super grade of 92/100 during a recent inspection. The L.A. sushi joint lost points for having general disrepair, a light issue, improperly covered food, and other violations.