MILWAUKEE - A downtown restaurant and bar with some food temperature issues.

Kathie's Restaurant and Bar on 6th and Michigan in the Ramada Milwaukee City Centre.  Watermelon was sitting out at 65 degrees. The safe cold temperature for potentially hazardous food is 41.  On the breakfast buffet cut melons were also too warm, and blue cheese in the cooler was at 45 degrees.

The owner wasn't there when we stopped by. He told me by phone when things get busy the cooler is opened and closed constantly, causing the temperature to fluctuate.

An employee was seen cutting tomatoes for the salad bar, with his bare hands. That's a big cross contamination risk.

There were no expiration dates on cooked food like meat and gravy. A pan of angel hair pasta did have a date on it that showed it had been sitting around for 13 days. That's nearly double the shelf life of seven days.

Fruit flies were around the salad bar. Kathie's was also ordered to clean the containers that keep salad dressing cold. They were full of debris and likely the source of those flies.

The health inspector also ordered the folks at Kathie's to do some serious clean-up work in the kitchen. The owner tells me his place is clean and is concerned by the violations. Something he will be taking up with the health inspector.

For the most recent update on this restaurant, you can search the City of Milwaukee inspection site.