Clint’s Carmel Restaurant Shot Down by Inspectors

Dirty Harry’s restaurant was a little too dirty, according to health inspectors who have closed the kitchen at Clint Eastwood’s Hog’s Breath Inn.

Walter Wong, Monterey County environmental health director, said his inspectors found violations “too numerous to list” when they visited the popular eatery on Thursday.

The bar remains open.

Wong said inspectors found inadequate refrigeration, unsanitary conditions, improper food storage, structural problems that made it difficult to clean the restaurant and an “extremely dirty” kitchen.

“The dangerous part was the refrigeration was not working,” Wong said. “Food is supposed to be kept at 40 degrees. This was at 68 degrees.”

The restaurant’s manager was in a meeting and was not available for comment on Friday. Eastwood, who is part owner, was not available for comment, according to a woman who answered the phone at the restaurant.

Eastwood, best known as the tough-talking “Dirty Harry” of the movies, served as mayor of Carmel for two years. His term ended last April.

Wong said his department usually does not close a kitchen “over a few violations.”

“But if it gets to the point where we think food poisoning is possible or there are excessive violations, then we close it immediately,” he said.

“I really couldn’t justify letting them remain open when I felt there was a potential for people getting sick,” Wong said. “I think they pretty much agreed with us.”