this place creeps me out. the shakes are delish (the only thing i would ever get there) but i cringe when i go in because of how nasty it looks. now i may just take my shake business elsewhere.. ick.

We went in for a shake a few weeks ago.We live across the street and my 8 year old begged--we haven't been in there since the news that they were the worst health coder offenders in Seattle.

They have a sign up by the register promising that no one has ever gotten ill from their food in the 50+ years they've been open. They claim the Times mis-reported the amount of red violations they received (I believe the sign claims zero). It made me chuckle because if you actually knew about the violations you probably wouldn't be eating there, and if you didn't they just educated you in the matter.

i can see the rotating sign now...

"Zeso's, you won't get sick from eating here".

"not safe and adulterated..."

Egadz!!

We're witnessing a fall from grace for a classic Ballard institution. Once a proud establishment. Now, an embarrassment.

Well, if your teenage stomach is still in high school, then you have nothing to worry about.

If you've already graduated from high school, better to hoof it up the hill to Red Mill 'cause yer too dang old to take chances like Zestos.

I've been going to Zesto's for upwards of 35 years and live one block away today. I have never ever EVER been made sick from eating there.

Does the place have the best looking kitchen in town? No. But try taking a look in the back rooms of some of your other favorite establishments in town and see how THEY look.

Geez you guys, the scored a TWELVE! A lower number is BETTER. Cut 'em some slack. This is local institution that almost closed but was saved by new ownership but a few years ago.

Gross. My innards are clenched just thinking about it. But Scooters is delicious - if you don't mind the aggravations of the QFC/condo construction!

Dang, never been and I don't think I ever will. Just hope I don't hear the same new from Ballard Brothers, Zaks, or Hamburger Harry's.

Hi fellow Ballardites. Your friendly neighborhood public health employee here. (I don't do the restaurant inspections, BTW.)

You can check on the status of your favorite King County restaurant's last inspection(s) anytime you want to at :

http://www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=skc

You're welcome.

check for yourself! http://www.decadeonline.com/main.phtml?agency=skc

fyi - i posted that while xteve was posting his - was not meant as a reply to xteve's post.

Ballard High School must be the life line for that place.

Grab your barf bags, looks like another Ballard institution in need of a make over!

Business Name:
ZESTO'S RESTAURANT, INC
6416 15TH AV NW
Seattle, WA 98107


-Food not protected from potential contamination during preparation, storage, display
-Food contact surfaces not maintained, clean, sanitized
-Physical facilities not properly installed, maintained, clean; unnecessary persons not excluded from establishment
-Inadequate hand washing facilities
-Raw meats, poultry, aquatic foods not stored away from ready-to-eat foods
-Food workers: poor hygiene, dirty clothes, no hair restraints
-Food workers eating, tasting, drinking, smoking in food preparation areas
-Food contact surfaces not maintained, clean, sanitized
-Ventilation, lighting not adequate; designated areas not used
-Food worker card not available or current, new food workers not trained
-Inadequate hand washing facilities
-Food in poor condition, not safe and adulterated; unapproved additives
-Improper hot holding temperatures (45° F)
-Wiping cloths improperly used, stored
-Food workers: poor hygiene, dirty clothes, no hair restraints
-Physical facilities not properly installed, maintained, clean; unnecessary persons not excluded from establishment
-Ventilation, lighting not adequate; designated areas not used
-In-use utensils improperly stored

A friend dragged me to Zesto's recently and being new in town, I didn't know its history. This explains the green object that was floating in my clam chowder. May I assume it was NOT a bay leaf?

Mary, forget about the bay leaf, it's the clam chowder I'd worry about!

That list! I took a tour of my own kitchen and Zestos has 5 fewer code violations. I work in Pioneer Square and have seen the same people eating out of dumpsters for over a decade. I guess you build up an immunity. I've eaten there a dozen or so times, but lucked out I guess.

I am curious about the car - whad happened to it? Did the old owners take it with them? And if so - any pix of it coming down?

jeez just what are the "unapproved additives " they are adding to the food. thats ominous

Linus, the '57 Chevy went with the previous owner a few years back. Actually, he was trying to sell it on craigslist...for about 20 grand if I remember correctly.

I never saw it come down though. It just disappeared.

i love this website. i check it out whenever i go out. the ID is notorious for higher scores it seems.

http://www.decadeonline.com/insp.phtml?agency=s...

there's a few of us that surf the KC inspection reports.....so sorry!

Paseo got a 12 last year and I've never heard anyone talk about the place being disgusting. A 12 really isn't bad.

Go to Ballard Brothers instead!

shelia-

you can judge but anything under 40 and made up of blue points seems suitable. 12 is nothing to sneeze at! and that's probably what happened. eeeeewwww!

I still go there, but I always half-expect to see Barth from "You Can't Do That On Television" in the back.

much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it.ThomasJeffersonThomas Jefferson, to Archibald Stuart, 1791

You guys have to eat here again! Give it one more chance! I fixed all the problems, and fired the girls with the bad service. I'm waiting for a Health Inspection follow up, which should be 100%, then I plan to take it to the PI.

I've upgrade a few things. I hired better cooks (with standards), friendly cashiers, added free Wi-Fi, beer and wine available when school is out. I had two Flat Screens installed, and I'm looking to add sport nights to the agenda! I added new items to the menu. If you never had a KOBE BURGER, YOU MUST EAT ONE HERE! KOBE IS SOOOOOOO GOOD!

I know where the car is!!! It's not on Craig's List by the way.....

And that is a bay leaf with dill weed in the clam chowder....so good!

if you go to the website, you will see that other resturants in Ballard, have some very scary violations..Volterra, Matador etc..so lets give Zesto's a chance

http://www.decadeonline.com/insp.phtml?agency=s...

Haven't been here in about two years, when I bought my then 2 year old a shake. Dining area so dirty wouldn't let my son sit in a booth, bathroom nearly made me gag. Swore I'd never go again. Always feel a bit guilt and slighty nostalgic when I drive by (doesn't matter the time of day) and see that it is always empty. How the heck can they stay open?! Back when I was a BHS student in the late 80s it was almost always crowded. Maybe, just maybe, I'll give it another shot if a see a chunk of good reviews here.

I hope they really pass the health inspection.. But who knows, If they really change now..

Look you epicurean challanged hypocrite's, if you have any pride in your community, you should be supporting businesses like this. Don't chuckup your fries over health code violations that have been corrected. Support small business......maybe your sons and daughters might need a job there some day......ya-sure you betcha! Now go out and order a double, double with extra goop! Bon appetite.