Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Dead Insects In Multiple Areas
Every wonder how clean your local restaurants are? City of Alexandria restaurants regularly undergo health inspections, with the frequency depending on the type of food served and how it is prepared. While violations like malfunctioning refrigerators and food that's not warm or cold enough often pop up, health inspectors sometimes note more critical violations.
"In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," notes the Virginia Department of Health.
Here are full results for Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria area restaurants so far this year, which includes restaurants that passed with no violations. Among these violations were dead insects found in multiple places around Don Taco. This was a repeat violation.
Click on the violations to see each restaurant's results. Full reports are usually available five to seven days after the inspection on the health department's website.
Violations
Catch on the Ave: 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, Virginia 22301, last inspection: Jan. 7
violations: Observed ice cream scoop in water, observed ice scoop stored on top of ice machine (area which is not regularly cleaned and sanitized), foods were not cooled from 135°F to 41°F within a total of 6 hours: cooked french fries made last night, were observed at 49 F, no consumer advisory for the following food item(s) that may be served raw and/or undercooked: egg whites used in the drinks menu for "Gin and the giant peach," handwashing facility located at the kitchen-3 comp sink area is blocked, observed employee clothing on speed rack and observed employee cellphones on deli slicer (all corrected)
Chadwicks: 203 Strand St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 15
violations: There is no Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, foods were not cooled from 135°F to 41°F within a total of 6 hours: Observed chicken quarters at 46F. PIC stated that chicken was cooked yesterday (both corrected), food in the refrigeration unit is not used within 24 hours of preparation and is not properly dated for disposition within 7 days at 41°F: Cooked ribs, cooked chicken cooked on Sunday, observed serving on Tuesday, food is not used within 24 hours after opening the commercial package and is not properly dated for disposition within 7 days at 41°F: Sliced Deli Meats, sliced portions and unsliced portions, person in charge is not able to provide written procedures for the use of time as a public health control with the following potentially hazardous food item(s): Blanched Fries, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the paper special menus without a reminder statement, toilet tissue was not available in the womens toilet, containers of poisonous and toxic materials are not properly labeled with a common name
Don Taco: 808 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 7
violations: Containers of eggs, vegetables, and fish observed stored on the floor of the main walk-in, no data plate on the warewashing machine located in the main kitchen area, observed dirty dishes stored on the floor due to lack of storage space designated for dirty equipment/utensils, observed dead insects in the main kitchen on the floor and in the upstairs bar area, on the floor near the mechanical dish machine, floors and walls in the kitchen are in need of cleaning
Ernie's Original Crab House: 1743 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 9
violations: The date on which the last shellstock from the container is sold or served was not recorded on the tag or label (corrected), Observed pots of crab on walk-in floor, observed containers of veggies and other foods stored on floor in WIC, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and/or other debris: several pot and pan lids, and racks, fans in the kitchen are in need of cleaning
Hops N Shine: 3410 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Jan. 16
violations: Working containers of poisonous and toxic materials are not properly labeled with a common name (corrected), mops and brooms are not hung up to air dry
Java Grill: 611 King St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, last inspection: Jan. 4
violations: Observed that items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment are being stored on the premises, specifically in the back area, mops and brooms are not hung up to air dry
Los Tios Grill: 2615 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Jan. 7
violations: The cutting boards along the cookline (prep tops) are heavily scratched and scored
Mai Thai Restaurant: 6 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 2
violations: Food items for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is 4 hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control: chopped cabbage, bean sprouts, fried tofu, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: two veggie peelers were heavily soiled and stored while not in use and dirty knives on wall magnet (both corrected), no Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation
Marino's: 3100 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Jan. 22
violations: Observed the following ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food being held for more than the specified time/temperature allowed: ground beef that was made on 1/7/19 was found in the pizza prep unit, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: the big dough mixer and bowl was visibly dirty with oil and food debris, Observed spray bottle with no label and two other spray bottles with chemicals that were not matching with their labels (all corrected), floor tiles near the pizza oven is not maintained in good repair
Meridian Deli & Convenience Store: 1201 Braddock Pl, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 15
violations: Food (packaged beverages) stored on the floor of the establishment
MOMO Sushi & Cafe: 212 Queen St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 11
violations: Observed that oranges are stored on the lower shelf of reach in cooler, underneath raw fish, wet wiping cloths stored on countertops in kitchen, during inspection observed that foods cooling were stored tightly covered before items had fully cooled, observed multi surface cleaner and bug pray stored on top shelf above dry goods, ingredients (all corrected)
Murphy's Irish Pub: 713 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 8
violations: Unwrapped or uncovered food in the 2-door reach in cooler and walk in cooler where the food is subject to contamination, Food stored in a location where it is subject to splash, dust or other contamination as follows: Food stored on floor in the walk in freezer, fish in reduced oxygen packaging was not removed from packaging prior to thawing, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and/or other debris: -Pipes by steam tables -Light bulb sheilds above grill -Exterior of 2-door reach in refrigerator -Bottom interior of beer reach in refrigerator, trashcan in the unisex restroom on 1st floor did not have a cover
Old Town Sandwich Shop: 127 S. Peyton St 101, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 14
violations: Manufacturer containers were observed reused for the storage of grits
RedRocks: 904 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 10
violations: The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: Observed that Caesar salad dressing (made with unpasteurized shell eggs) is not indicated on the lunch menu, Salmon Toasts are not indicated on the dinner menu
Rosemarino d'Italia: 1905 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Jan. 8
violations: Tags missing from the molluscan shellfish containers, the dates on which the last shellstock from the container is sold or served was not recorded on the tags or labels (both corrected), observed that sugars, flours oils etc are not labeled with the contents, observed that cover of oven, gaskets are in need of cleaning, dead or trapped pests were found on the premises
Sophia's: 1320 Braddock Pl, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 16
violations: Observed that hand soap was not provided at the handwashing sink in the front coffee machine area, paper towels were not provided at the hand washing sink in the front coffee machine area (both corrected), observed prep coolers unplugged and/or broken and other unnecessary equipment stored in the kitchen area
Waffle Shop: 3864 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Jan. 8
violations: Raw steak stored over RTE grits in the 2 door prep top, observed raw shell eggs stored at room temperature, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: deli slicer upstairs (all corrected), mops and brooms are not hung up to air dry
No Violations
Bistro Sancerre (pre-opening): 1725 Duke- STE 100 St., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Jan. 11
violations: none
Cava: 3525 A Jefferson Davis Hwy., Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Jan. 4
violations: none
Hops Grill and Brewery: 3625 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Jan. 10
violations: none
Northside 10: 10 E Glebe Rd., Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Jan. 11
violations: none
Urbano 116 (pre-opening): 116 King, Alexandria, VA 22315, last inspection: Jan. 11
violations: none
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