THE CONTINENTAL

407 E 5th ST, Des Moines, IA, 50309

10 cited findings

Most recent inspection

Date: July 10, 2026
Type: Routine
Result: Not reported
Risk category: Not reported
Cited findings: 10
Jurisdiction: Polk County (Des Moines)
Source risk checklist count: 5
Good Retail Practices findings: 5

Published report comment

Items to review for the follow-up physical recheck: Item #3: Person in charge stated they would implement a verifiable manner in which employees are being trained on illness reporting. Item #5: Firm stated they would have written procedures available for review regarding responding to bodily fluid clean-up incidents. Item #48: Repeat violation - For long term corrective action, the person in charge stated he would acquire a new test kit to measure the sanitizer concentration. Additionally, staff would be re-trained to notify if/when test strips are missing or when the lot has been exhausted. Item #56: Repeat violation - For long term corrective action, the person in charge stated they would re-organize the dry storage area to separate/segregate food, single use articles and personal belongings. Follow-up will be completed on or after 7/20/2026 by Physical Recheck.

Violations (10)

3-302.11(A)(1)CriticalCorrected on site
Iowa food code item 15 (Risk Factors)
Observation: Raw ground beef stored over ready-to-eat cheese in a reach-in cooler on the cook line. Corrected by: Person in charge moved the ground beef, to the bottom shelf of the cooler, below any ready-to-eat foods.
Risk Factors | P | Item 15
4-302.14, 4-501.116Critical
Iowa food code item 48 (Good Retail Practices)
Observation: Test strips not available to measure the sanitizer concentration.
Good Retail Practices | PF | Item 48
3-501.16(A)(2)CriticalCorrected on site
Iowa food code item 22 (Risk Factors)
Observation: Container of queso dip left out at room temperature during service. Corrected by: Person in charge voluntarily discarded the identified food item.
Risk Factors | P | Item 22
2-103.11(O)Critical
Iowa food code item 3 (Risk Factors)
Observation: Establishment could not provide a verifiable manner in which employees are being trained on illness reporting.
Risk Factors | PF | Item 3
7-204.11CriticalCorrected on site
Iowa food code item 28 (Risk Factors)
Observation: Sanitizer in the 3 compartment manual warewashing sink measuring at 0PPM. Corrected by: Person in charge drained the sink, refilled with water/sanitizer and the solution was then measured at the manufacturers recommended concentration.
Risk Factors | P | Item 28
2-501.11Critical
Iowa food code item 5 (Risk Factors)
Observation: Facility can not provide written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
Risk Factors | PF | Item 5
6-403.11, 6-501.110
Iowa food code item 56 (Good Retail Practices)
Observation: Employee personal belongings stored among clean equipment, food and single-use articles in the kitchen.
Good Retail Practices | C | Item 56
3-304.12Corrected on site
Iowa food code item 43 (Good Retail Practices)
Observation: Ice scoop in the bar stored with the handle in direct contact with the ice. Corrected by: Person in charge moved the ice scoop to a seperate storage container, outside of the food storage bin.
Good Retail Practices | C | Item 43
4-903.11(A)(C )Corrected on site
Iowa food code item 45 (Good Retail Practices)
Observation: Case of single use articles stored directly on the floor in the kitchen. Corrected by: Person in charge moved the single use articles to a dedicated storage space.
Good Retail Practices | C | Item 45
4-601.11(B)(C ), 4-602.13Corrected on site
Iowa food code item 49 (Good Retail Practices)
Observation: Firm had a build-up of debris on the the interior of the reach-in cooler on the cook line. Corrected by: Person in charge cleaned/sanitized the cooler interior.
Good Retail Practices | C | Item 49

Source: Polk County (Des Moines) health department. Data refreshed October 16, 2026. Results are shown in the health department's own wording. This record is provided for general information; confirm current status with the health department before relying on it.