City Cellars

2850 Riverby Rd, Houston, TX 77020
American
Last inspected: Nov 3, 2025
47
Score
High Risk

City Cellars has been inspected six times since 2025. The newest entry in the record is dated Nov 3, 2025. High risk usually means inspectors flagged either critical violations or a stack of smaller ones.

The last inspection found nine violations, up from three the time before.

Compared to other Houston restaurants (averaging 87), there's room to close the gap. Taken together, the history suggests a facility that has struggled with consistency.

6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
15
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 3, 2025
Reinspection (002)
15 minor violations. 5 corrected on site.
View 15 violations
Applicability of article; compliance; penalty for violation; variances, etc. permit holder / person in charge of the food establishment / mobile food unit not in compliance in accordance with provisions of article ii concerning food storage / food preparation / food display / training of employees in basic food safety principles including allergy awareness / not ensuring that food and conditional employees are informed of their responsibility to report information regarding health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food / not ensuring written procedures and plans are developed by the food establishment are maintained / implemented. (corrected on site)
20-19(d)
General. time without temperature control. except as specified under subitem d of this item, when time without temperature control is used as the public health control for a working supply of time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food before cooking, or for ready to eat time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food that is displayed or held for service written procedures not prepared in advance, maintained in the food establishment / not made available to the regulatory authority upon request. these written procedures shall specify methods of compliance with subitems b[01]-[03] or c[01]-[05] of this item; and methods of compliance with section 20-21.03(b)(02) of this code for food that is prepared, cooked, and refrigerated before time is used as a public health control.
20-21.02(a)(02)a
General. container of food not stored a minimum of 6 inches above the floor. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(a)(02)
Time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food. except when time is used as a public health control as specified in section 20-21.02(a)(02) of this code, time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food shall be kept at an internal temperature of 41°f (05°c) or below or at a temperature of 135°f (57°c) or above during display and service, except that roasts cooked to a temperature and for a time specified in table 20-21.04-3 of this code or reheated as specified in table 20-21.04-01 of this code may be held for service at a temperature of 130°f (54°c) or above (corrected on site)
20-21.05(a)
General. food employees not using the following cleaning procedures to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms, including surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms. vigorous friction on the surfaces of the lathered fingers, finger tips, areas between the fingers, hands and arms (or by vigorous rubbing the surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms) for at least ten-15 seconds, followed by; thorough rinsing under clean, running warm water; followed immediately by thorough drying of cleaned hands and arms (or surrogate prosthetic devices) using a method specified in section 20-21.19(c) of this code. (corrected on site)
20-21.08(a)
Plumbing fixture installation. plumbing fixtures, including compartment type utensil-and-food sinks, hand-washing sinks and mop or utility sinks, not installed to preclude splashes from running down mounting surfaces behind and adjacent to the fixture. acceptable installation methods include a liquid tight seal between fixture and mounting surface, insertion into a precut counter, table or cabinet with a perimeter seal or any other effective method. all materials used shall be safe, smooth, impervious and easily cleanable.
20-21.10(m)
Using chemicals for sanitization. when using chemicals for sanitization, a test kit or other device that accurately measures the concentration of the solution in parts per million or milligrams per liter not provided and used.
20-21.12(g)
Hand-washing sink maintenance. hand-washing sink / soap dispenser / hand-drying device/ related fixtures not kept clean / not in good repair.
20-21.19(d)
Hand-washing sink installation. hand-washing sink used for purpose other than hand-washing as specified in section 20-21.08(b) of this code. (corrected on site)
20-21.19(a)
Hand-washing sink supplies. supply of hand-cleansing liquid / powder / bar soap not available at each hand-washing sink or group of two adjacent hand-washing sinks.
20-21.19(c)
Controlling pests, generally. effective measures intended to eliminate the presence of rodents, flies, cockroaches, and other insects on the premises not utilized.
20-21.21(a)
Openings. outside openings not protected against the entrance of insects by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors / walls / ceilings / tight-fitting, self-closing doors, kept closed / closed windows / screening / properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects / other means.
20-21.21(b)
Maintenance. walls / ceilings, including doors, windows, skylights, and similar closures, not kept clean.
20-21.23(a)
Food establishment failed to maintain on premises a certificate of completion of the food handler course for each food employee.
20-53(g)
Signs clearly stating that smoking is prohibited within not conspicuously posted at every entrance to a public place.
21-244(b)
47
Jul 17, 2025
Complaint (003)
12 minor violations. 5 corrected on site.
View 12 violations
General. time without temperature control. except as specified under subitem d of this item, when time without temperature control is used as the public health control for a working supply of time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food before cooking, or for ready to eat time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food that is displayed or held for service written procedures not prepared in advance, maintained in the food establishment / not made available to the regulatory authority upon request. these written procedures shall specify methods of compliance with subitems b[01]-[03] or c[01]-[05] of this item; and methods of compliance with section 20-21.03(b)(02) of this code for food that is prepared, cooked, and refrigerated before time is used as a public health control.
20-21.02(a)(02)a
Hot storage. time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food in hot storage not being held at 135°f (57°c) or above. (corrected on site)
20-21.03(c)(02)
Cooking time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) foods. consumer advisory (disclosure). when animal food such as beef / eggs / fish / lamb / milk / pork / poultry / shellfish are served or sold raw / undercooked / without otherwise being processed to eliminate pathogens either in ready to eat form or as an ingredient in another ready to eat food (except as specified in items (03) and (08) of this subsection) not including a description of the animal-derived foods, such as \"oysters on the half shell (raw oysters)\", \"raw-egg caesar salad\", and \"hamburgers (can be cooked to order) / identification of the animal-derived foods in a menu or other listing by asterisking them to a footnote that states that the items are served raw or undercooked or contain (or may contain) raw or undercooked ingredients. (corrected on site)
20-21.04(c)(06)
Hair restraint. while handling food or utensils, food employees not wearing effective hair restraints and clothing that covers body hair to prevent the contamination of food or food-contact surfaces. an effective hair restraint means any cap / hat / hair net made of fabric / cord / plastic / paper that effectively covers and holds hair in place. the use of effective hair restraints also applies to any exposed scalp or facial hair where there is the potential for contamination of food or food-contact surfaces. an effective hair restraint shall also be used in the partial or complete absence of scalp hair to preclude touching of the scalp and returning to food handling without hand-washing. facial hair restraints are not be required when facial hair is well-groomed and trimmed. (corrected on site)
20-21.08(f)
Materials; general. canvas cloths. with the exception of approved easily cleanable belts on equipment used for the conveying or shaping and conveying of bakery products in the precooked stage and napkins used when serving bread and rolls, use of canvas cloths or other cloth materials as food-contact surfaces is prohibited. (corrected on site)
20-21.10(a)(06)
Cleaning frequency. kitchenware and food-contact surfaces of equipment not washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any interruption of operations during which time contamination may have occurred. (corrected on site)
20-21.11(a)(02)
Cleaning frequency. dry cleaning. surfaces of utensils and equipment contacting food that is not time/temperature controlled for safety (tcs) food not cleaned in equipment such as ice bins, beverage dispensing nozzles, enclosed components of equipment such as ice makers, cooking oil storage tanks and distribution lines, beverage and syrup dispensing lines or tubes, coffee bean grinders, and water vending equipment at a frequency specified by the manufacturer; or absent manufacturer specifications, at a frequency necessary to preclude accumulation of soil or mold. this subsection does not apply when dry cleaning methods are used as specified in subitems a and b of this item.
20-21.11(a)(08)c[04]
Cleaning frequency. nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment not cleaned as often as is necessary to keep the equipment free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles, and other debris.
20-21.11(a)(07)
Openings. outside openings not protected against the entrance of insects by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors / walls / ceilings / tight-fitting, self-closing doors, kept closed / closed windows / screening / properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects / other means.
20-21.21(b)
Floors. floors and floor coverings of all food preparation, food storage, utensil-washing areas, walk-in refrigerating units, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and toilet rooms shall be kept clean.
20-21.22(a)
Maintenance. walls / ceilings, including doors, windows, skylights, and similar closures, not maintained in good repair.
20-21.23(a)
Signs clearly stating that smoking is prohibited within not conspicuously posted at every entrance to a public place.
21-244(b)
55
Mar 3, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Openings. outside openings not protected against the entrance of insects by filling or closing holes and other gaps along floors / walls / ceilings / tight-fitting, self-closing doors, kept closed / closed windows / screening / properly designed and installed air curtains to control flying insects / other means.
20-21.21(b)
95
Feb 25, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Feb 14, 2025
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Sinks. compartment of sink required by this article less than 15 inches in length, 15 inches in width, and 12 inches in depth.
20-21.11(b)
95
Feb 13, 2025
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Applicability of article; compliance; penalty for violation; variances, etc. permit holder / person in charge of the food establishment / mobile food unit not in compliance in accordance with provisions of article ii concerning food storage / food preparation / food display / training of employees in basic food safety principles including allergy awareness / not ensuring that food and conditional employees are informed of their responsibility to report information regarding health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food / not ensuring written procedures and plans are developed by the food establishment are maintained / implemented.
20-19(d)
General. contamination event. food establishment without written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
20-21.07(a)(03)
Cleaning frequency. nonfood-contact surfaces of equipment not cleaned as often as is necessary to keep the equipment free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food particles, and other debris.
20-21.11(a)(07)
Floors. floors and floor coverings of all food preparation, food storage, utensil-washing areas, walk-in refrigerating units, dressing rooms, locker rooms, and toilet rooms shall be maintained in good repair.
20-21.22(a)
Maintenance. walls / ceilings, including doors, windows, skylights, and similar closures, not maintained in good repair.
20-21.23(a)
General. food establishment and all parts of the property used in connection with operations of the establishment not kept free of litter and items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment, such as equipment that is nonfunctional or no longer in use.
20-21.28(a)(01)
Changes made in proposed layout of facilities not shown / not reviewed on revised plans and specifications.
20-25(a)
70

Frequently Asked Questions

When was City Cellars last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at City Cellars on file is from Nov 3, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.

How does City Cellars compare to other restaurants in Houston?

City Cellars most recently scored 47 out of 100, which is lower than the Houston average of 87.

Has City Cellars's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at City Cellars have flagged more violations than earlier ones, ticking from about three per visit to around nine more recently.

What does a high risk rating mean?

A high risk rating at City Cellars means the most recent inspection flagged either critical violations or a substantial number of smaller ones. Diners may want to read the violation details before deciding to visit.