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Diner Overly Greasy Spoon: Bob's Surf 'N Turf, 2400 Monterey Road,San Jose By Will Harper SANTA CLARA COUNTY Fair-goers who chowed down at this nearby greasy spoon last month may have had second thoughts about their dining choice had they seen some of the restaurant's inspection results from earlier this year. During his Jan. 20 visit, for instance, environmental health inspector Chris Card found baby and adult cockroaches scurrying about and insects floating in bottles of Bacardi Dark, Bacardi 151, Korbel Brandy and AR Morrow Brandy. By the by, those bar items were mercifully destroyed. Card concluded, "Facility found to be in a complete state of disrepair." After Card finished his inspection, owner Bob Povey agreed to close the place down for three days "for major cleaning and sanitizing." Even after re-opening, vermin still plagued Bob's. Following a complaint, on a March 7 surprise inspection Card lamented, "Facility still has a heavy insect & rodent infestation. Three live adult roaches were observed in the 3 door reach-in refrigerator. Rodent droppings were observed on top of the dishwasher." The following month, Card checked out another complaint by a customer who claimed to have seen rat turds on a table, but the inspector found no evidence of that. But just two weeks ago, health officials got another complaint: this time a customer allegedly found a cockroach in an ice cube. Card, who must be a familar face at Bob's by now, wound up seeing "several" dead adult roaches on the floor under the sink. Feeling a little more daring, on May 26 the environmental health department sent owner Bob Povey a notice to appear for "an informal office hearing," where officials will "discuss the serious nature of the violations." In other words, they plan to give Povey a verbal lashing for not keeping his restaurant clean and vermin-free. Povey did not respond to messages left for him by Metro at his restaurant. OK, now that we have dispensed with Bob's rat sheet, what about the food and ambiance of the place? Bob's, which opened in 1983, has what realtors would euphemistically describe as a "rustic" feel. The carpet is worn, the chairs have tears in the upholstery, and the walls are faux wood. I decided to eschew the turf and go surf by ordering poached salmon with salad and rice. I found no insects floating in my 7-Up. The salmon, which came with a side of tartar sauce, was tender and tasty. Not exactly gourmet, but great for the price ($8.95). The butter-laden garlic bread was tasty, but could have used more spice. RATING: Introduction: Bottom Feeders. Making The List: The methodology and ratings. Not on the Menu: Gruesome complaints and bizarre things allegedly found in food. Wok on the Wild Side: Asian restaurants still get disproportionately high rate of poor inspection reports. Chew Fly, Don't Bother Me: Tory's Restaurant in Cupertino. A Fowl Feeling: Mai Garden Restaurant in San Jose. Fast Food Frightmare: Mr. Chau's Chinese Fast Food in Palo Alto. Not Cool Enough: Gordon Biersch in Palo Alto. Pastor Its Prime: El Mexicano Taqueria in San Jose. How Fresh? Fresh N Healthy Vegetarian in San Jose. Chill Is Gone: Nola in Palo Alto. How Now Stale Bao? Thanh Mai in San Jose. Coffee To Go, Please: My My Coffee and Sandwiches in San Jose. Vermin in the Vermicelli: Florentine Restaurant in Mountain View. Off-Screen Horror Show: Century Capitol 16 Theaters in San Jose. [ San Jose | Metroactive Central | Archives ]