Residue buildup, unmarked food. See September’s Centre County restaurant inspection reports

Matt DiSanto
·9 min read

At least three Centre County establishments were found out of compliance following food safety inspections conducted throughout September.

Information about county establishments and their violations appears below in an alphabetical list with a summary of the problems inspectors noted in their respective reports. More details are available upon request by visiting the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s online database.

More than 80 other establishments passed their inspections with few or no violations. They also appear alphabetically below.

Business owners who want to clarify or comment on inspection results can contact Centre Daily Times reporter Matt DiSanto by emailing mdisanto@centredaily.com.

About food safety inspections

In accordance with commonwealth law, Pennsylvania’s eating and drinking establishments are inspected at least once per year. Some schools, including the State College Area School District, receive biannual inspections.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Agriculture may conduct additional inspections if complaints are received or if initial inspections are not up to code.

Most observed violations are minor in scope and are corrected during inspections, but some establishments may temporarily close if too many violations are found. Closures may occur as a result of other issues, including risks for foodborne illnesses or violations that take time to address, such as broken plumbing or pest infestations.

Most inspections in Centre County are conducted at the state level through the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. More than 100 municipalities conduct their own health inspections through certified officials who fall under their jurisdiction. State College, for example, is responsible for performing inspections in the borough and in Ferguson, Patton and College townships, a borough official said.

Once inspections are complete and reports are published, you can browse them online by visiting pafoodsafety.state.pa.us/web/inspection/publicinspectionsearch.aspx. You can look up establishments by name or filter results to specific cities, counties or ZIP codes.

Out-of-compliance inspections

Fisher’s Market, 100 Turnpike St., P.O. Box 813 in Milesburg — A Sept. 12 routine inspection found five violations at this establishment. According to the report, some commercially processed time/temperature control for safety (TCS) ready-to-eat foods were left open from their original containers and placed in refrigeration for more than 24 hours with no markings indicating when they were opened or by what date they should be discarded (a repeat violation). Additionally, prepackaged raw meat products designated for sale were in the retail freezer without labels covering safe handling instructions, net weight or product names, the report reads.

Additionally, sanitarian David Zimmerman observed an employee washing their hands at a sink not designated for hand-washing, he wrote in his report. The hand-washing sink was also blocked by a tray filled with items and left inaccessible.

In his report, Zimmerman wrote that “the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety.”

Fisher’s Market returned to compliance following a Sept. 20 follow-up inspection that did not result in any recorded violations.

Poke Fresh, 328 E. Calder Way in State College — A routine inspection on Sept. 7 recorded seven violations, including potentially hazardous ready-to-eat food stored in a walk-in cooler without proper date markings. According to the report, foods that are opened, cut and prepared can be held for up to seven days from the date of the oldest ingredient or expiration date contained in the product.

Additionally, State College borough sanitarian Brian O’Donnell observed a sink stained with tea residue and black deposits, deducing that it was being used for food and drink and not hand-washing. A three-compartment sink lacked a proper air gap from the floor and was left in disrepair as its stainless steel showed signs of separation, preventing proper cleaning and a smooth surface. The plumbing under the three-compartment sink was leaking and in need of repair.

Elsewhere, O’Donnell observed an employee storing clean food equipment while it remained wet, leading to improper drying. An insect control device located in the dish-drying area was removed due to its potential to contaminate food, utensils and equipment.

O’Donnell did not observe any violations during a follow-up inspection conducted Sept. 11, his report reads. As a result, Poke Fresh returned to compliance.

Sarina’s Pizza, 1079 N. Front St. in Philipsburg — A routine inspection on Sept. 6 found four violations at this restaurant, including the observed buildup of “black and red residue” on the interior of an ice machine, Zimmerman wrote. The inspection also found raw chicken stored above uncovered pizza dough in a walk-in cooler.

This report also found TCS ready-to-eat foods left in refrigeration for too long while lacking proper markings. Again, Zimmerman wrote that “the person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility.”

A follow-up inspection conducted Sept. 12 did not find any code violations, returning Sarina’s Pizza to compliance.

How to complain about conditions

If you see a problem at a retail food or lodging establishment, you can file a complaint to catch officials’ attention.

To notify the commonwealth about questionable conditions anywhere food is served or sold to the public, call 1-866-366-3723 or fill out the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s food safety complaint form, available online at pda.pa.gov/FoodSafetyComplaint/. The form asks for consumer information, facility details and a full description of each complaint.

You can also contact the commonwealth’s Bureau of Food Safety and Laboratory Services directly by calling 717-787-4315 or emailing RA-FoodSafety@pa.gov.

Locally, you can report concerns to State College officials by calling 814-234-7100 or emailing healthdept@statecollegepa.us.

These businesses passed inspections in September

  • Bagel Crust, 225 W. Beaver Ave. in State College

  • Barnes & Noble Cafe and Barney’s Convenience Shop #142 (PSU HUB), MO10C Hub-Robeson Center in University Park

  • Beaver Stadium TSF4, 1 Beaver Stadium in University Park

  • Beer & Lemonade - Jay Vending (Beaver Stadium), 1 Beaver Stadium in University Park

  • Boal City Brewing, 281 Old Boalsburg Road in Boalsburg

  • Centre Hall Elementary School, 211 N. Hoffer Ave. in Centre Hall

  • Centre Markets, 25 Decibel Road Suite 103 in State College

  • Cheese & Cake State College, 106 School St. in Spring Mills

  • Chick 2, 128 E. College Ave. in State College

  • Cozy Thai Bistro, 232 S. Allen St. in State College

  • Diplomart, 329 E. Beaver Ave. in State College

  • Doggie’s Pizza Shop, 135 E. Calder Way in State College

  • Doggie’s Pub, 108 S. Pugh St. in State College

  • Duff’s Kettle Korn TFS3, 222 Penn’s Cave Road in Centre Hall

  • Dunkin’, 479 S. Pennsylvania Ave. in Centre Hall

  • Federal Taphouse, 130 S. Fraser St. Suite 200 in State College

  • Fireman’s Club of Millheim, 103-105 North St. in Millheim

  • Grove American Beef Mobile, 277 W. Pine Grove Road in Pine Grove Mills

  • Hidden Branch Farm MFF2, 101 Boal Ave. in Boalsburg

  • Hope Fire Co. Rec Center (TFS3), 6th & Alder St. in Philipsburg

  • Howard Elementary School, School Street P.O. Box 406 in Howard

  • Howard Fire Co. #1, 341 Walnut St. in Howard

  • Jackson M Concessions TFS3, 222 Penn’s Cave Road in Centre Hall

  • Kempz Getbuy, 814 Pleasantview Blvd. in Bellefonte

  • Kitchen Witch, 338 Walnut St. in Howard

  • Liberty Church Elementary School, 11125 N. Eagle Valley Road P.O. Box 213 in Blanchard

  • Lion Mart No. 17, 325 E. Beaver Ave. in State College

  • Living Faith Acres TFS3, 121 Crater Lane in Spring Mills

  • Marin Eats, 2042 Axemann Road in Bellefonte

  • Mark’s Custom Meats, 4101 Nittany Valley Drive in Howard

  • McDonald’s, 2167 S. Atherton St. in State College

  • Milesburg Lions Club, 101 Mill St. in Milesburg

  • Mount Nittany Club (Beaver Stadium), 1 Beaver Stadium in University Park

  • New Hope Lutheran Church (TFS4), 119 Cobblestone Court in Spring Mills

  • Nittany Antique Machinery Association Spring & Fall Show, 222 Penns Cave Road in Centre Hall

  • Nittany Catering, 3208 Benner Pike Suite 111 in Bellefonte

  • Nuts For You Beaver Stadium TFS3, 1 Beaver Stadium in University Park

  • Oak Hall Concession Stand, 120 Linden Hall Road in State College

  • Old Pop’s Corny, 1374 Troy Hawk Run Highway in Philipsburg

  • Packer’s Concessions #8 (XFR5598) (MFF3) Veggie, 628 Old Fort Road in Centre Hall

  • Pegula Ice Arena, 156 Pegula Ice Arena in University Park

  • Penn State Rec Hall, Rec Hall in University Park

  • Penn State Golf Courses, 1523 W. College Ave. in State College

  • Penns Valley Meat Market, 114 E. Main St. in Millheim

  • Philipsburg Elementary School, 1810 Black Moshannon Road in Philipsburg

  • Philipsburg Elks Lodge and Country Club, 1 Country Club Lane P.O. Box 307 in Philipsburg

  • Philipsburg-Osceola Area Middle School, 200 Short St. in Philipsburg

  • Philipsburg-Osceola Area High School, 502 Philips St. in Philipsburg

  • Pine Grove Hall, 101 E. Pine Grove Road in Pine Grove Mills

  • Pine Grove Mills Country Store, Route 45 & Route 26 in Pine Grove Mills

  • Pine Grove Mills Farmer’s Market, 277 W. Pine Grove Road in Pine Grove Mills

  • Pizza Hut, 2141 S. Atherton St. in State College

  • Poppy’s, 124 2nd St. in Philipsburg

  • Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, 228 E. College Ave. in State College

  • RE Farm Cafe, 1000 Filmore Road in State College

  • Ridge Side Farm, 897 Snydertown Road in Howard

  • Scoopers Ice Cream Beaver Stadium TFS2, 1 Beaver Stadium in University Park

  • Shake Smart, Inc. - White Building, Shortlidge Road in University Park

  • Shake Smart, Inc. - Intramural Building, Curtin Road in University Park

  • Sheetz #562, 106 Savannah Lane in Centre Hall

  • Smoke N Go Express 2, 121 W. College Ave. in Bellefonte

  • St. Paul’s Parish Hall (TFS4), 406 Presquile St. P.O. Box 170 in Philipsburg

  • State College Teener League, 485 Airport Road in State College

  • Stone Meadow Farms MMF3, 190 Quarry Road in Woodward

  • Sunset Ice Cream TFS3, 222 Penn’s Cave Road in Centre Hall

  • Sweets of Gold, 200-1 Mill St. in Milesburg

  • Tasty K, 325 E. Calder Way in State College

  • TeaFé, 1633 N. Atherton St. in State College

  • The Buck Stop, 2689 Port Matilda Highway in Philipsburg

  • The Garden, 778 Old Fort Road in Centre Hall,

  • The Hofbrau, 106 E. Bishop St. in Bellefonte

  • The Overlook Grill, 559 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Centre Hall

  • Tuesday State College Farmer’s Market, 128 Locust Lane in State College

  • Tussey Mountain Lodge, 344 Bear Meadows Road in Boalsburg

  • Uncle Chen’s Primetime, 426 E. Calder Way in State College

  • Uni-Mart #4094, 280 Walnut St. in Howard

  • Uni-Mart #3106, 1473 Port Matilda Highway in Philipsburg

  • Up Up and Away Cafe, 2493 Fox Hill Road in State College

  • Wasson Farm Ice Cream & Farm Market Stand MFF3, 2545 Shingletown Road in State College

  • Wendy Vonada, 106 School St. in Spring Mills

  • Wendy’s, 521 University Drive in State College

Note: Occasionally, a listed address — especially for mobile vendors and food trucks — is not where food is actually served to the public. Contact those establishments directly for specific service locations.