Smoke damage, dog in the dining room: See October’s Centre County restaurant inspections

Matt DiSanto
·8 min read

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

The month’s failed inspections highlighted several issues at local establishments, including improper storage of raw food products, dirty equipment and animals on the premises. One restaurant briefly closed due to code violations stemming from a small fire.

Information regarding 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.

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

Business owners who wish 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

El Jefe’s Taqueria, 352 E. Calder Way in State College — An Oct. 27 inspection prompted by an unspecified complaint found three code violations at this establishment. According to State College sanitarian Brian O’Donnell’s write-up, al pastor pork, a “potentially hazardous” ready-to-eat product, was held for more than 24 hours in a walk-in cooler without any dates marked. Those products were discarded while O’Donnell was on-site, the report reads.

Additionally, the inspection found meat products like al pastor pork, carnitas and ground beef were stored in a walk-in cooler between 46 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, notably above 41 degrees Fahrenheit or below as the code requires. Those foods were not properly cooled after preparation. The products were also thrown out.

O’Donnell’s report says El Jefe’s employees received education regarding “proper cooling,” plus a time and temperature monitor log.

Teadori, 454 E. College Ave. in State College — An Oct. 26 routine inspection found four code violations at this establishment. O’Donnell’s report says floors at the base of kitchen equipment, plus the walls behind prep tables, were soiled with dirt and food splashes. Additionally, the sanitarian observed a dog in the establishment’s dining room. Only service animals are allowed in retail food establishments, the report says.

Teadori’s inspection also found several raw animal products, including raw beef and shrimp, were stored above ready-to-eat foods in a refrigerator. Raw chicken was seen thawing in standing water in a prep sink, which is not an approved thawing method, according to the report.

‘We’ll be back soon,’ owner of downtown State College Waffle Shop says after fire

The Waffle Shop, 364 E. College Ave. in State College — This restaurant closed temporarily after a fire broke out Oct. 10. Though damages were minor, the blaze briefly brought the restaurant out of code compliance.

According to O’Donnell’s report, filed Oct. 11, the fire damaged the restaurant’s back stairwell and produced smoke damage throughout the establishment, which required cleaning and sanitizing. The borough sanitarian also observed water damage throughout the stairwell and basement.

Local firefighters quickly stopped the fire last month after a Penn State student living across the street saw smoke and called authorities. The Waffle Shop resumed regular operations with a “grand reopening” Sunday.

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

  • Aaronsburg Civic Club (TFS4), 315 Aaron Square in Aaronsburg

  • Aone Mart, Mr. Wish and Hibachi Express, 320 E. College Ave. in State College

  • Axemann Brewery, 2042 Axemann Road in Bellefonte

  • Bald Eagle Valley Community Church (TFS3), 111 Runville Road in Bellefonte

  • Belle Mercantile, 135 S. Spring St. in Bellefonte

  • Blue and White Pub and Bottleshop, 222 W. Beaver Ave., Unit C4, in State College

  • Brazilian Munchies @ Pegula Ice Arena, 250 University Drive in University Park

  • Breakfast on Boal, 603 Boal Ave. in Boalsburg

  • Brothers Pizza, 783 S. Eagle Valley Road in Bellefonte

  • Brown Dog Catering, 112 E. Pine St. in Philipsburg

  • Burkholder’s Country Market, 107 Market Drive in Spring Mills

  • Cafe Laura, 104A Mateer Building in University Park

  • Centre Hall Fire Company (TFS4), 134 Witmer Ave. in Centre Hall

  • Centre Hall Lions Club (TFS4), 153 E. Church St. in Centre Hall

  • China Wok 1, 25 Ames Plaza in Philipsburg

  • Classic Cones, 1738 Princeton Drive in State College

  • Cold Stream Creamery, 1515 Port Matilda Highway in Philipsburg

  • College Buffet, 1631 N. Atherton St. in State College

  • Crumbl Cookies, 19 Colonnade Way, Suite 109, in State College

  • Dunkin Donuts, 1430 N. Atherton St. in State College

  • Dunkin Donuts, 1161 Philipsburg Bigler Highway in Philipsburg

  • Family Dollar No. 33680, 491 E. Sycamore Road in Snow Shoe

  • Fire Company Club of Millheim (TFS4), 103-105 North St. in Millheim

  • Giant Food Store No. 6072, 255 Northland Center in State College

  • Giant Food Store No. 6574, 2699 Benner Pike in Bellefonte

  • Giuseppe’s Pizzeria by Brothers, 204 E. College Ave. in State College

  • Gregg Township Fire Co. No. 1 (TFS4), 106 Water St. in Spring Mills

  • Hettinger’s Grocery, 135 E. Main St. in Rebersburg

  • HUB Dining, 33 HUB-Robeson Center in University Park

  • Joey’s To Go, 618 9th St. in Philipsburg

  • Kanagy’s Custom Meats, 2042 Axemann Road in Bellefonte

  • Moge Tee PSU, 214 E. Calder Way in State College

  • Monte Carlo Pizza and Wings, 616 W. College Ave., Suite 1, in State College

  • Mountaintop Area Elementary School, 100 School Drive in Snow Shoe

  • Mountaintop Pit Stop, 529 E. Sycamore Road in Snow Shoe

  • Northland Recreation Center, 1521 Martin St. in State College

  • Nuts For You BJC, 720 Curtin Road in University Park

  • Nuts For You Pegula, 250 University Drive in University Park

  • Old Gregg School Community Center, 106 School St. in Spring Mills

  • Olde Village Mercantile Co., 144 W. Aaron Square in Aaronsburg

  • Original Waffle Shop, 1229 N. Atherton St. in State College

  • Our Lady of Victory Activity Center, 820 Westerly Parkway in State College

  • Park Forest Village United Methodist Church, 1833 Park Forest Ave. in State College

  • Penn State Food Truck (TFS4), 196 Housing Food Services in University Park

  • Penns Valley Area Elementary School, 4528 Penns Valley Road in Spring Mills

  • Penns Valley Area Junior-Senor High School, 4545 Penns Valley Road in Spring Mills

  • Pleasant Gap Elementary School, 230 S. Main St. in Pleasant Gap

  • Port Matilda Elementary School, 209 Locust St., P.O. Box 558, in Port Matilda

  • Port Matilda Hotel Inc., 201 W. Plank Road, P.O. Box 218, in Port Matilda

  • Prospector’s Mount Nittany Rib Co., 333 Benner Pike in State College

  • Rebersburg Elementary School, 80 Town Lane Road in Rebersburg

  • Schaeffer Farm, 2093 Halfmoon Valley Road in Port Matilda

  • Sichuan House, 147 S. Allen St. in State College

  • St. Joseph’s Academy, 901 Boalsburg Pike in Boalsburg

  • State College Assembly of God, 2201 University Drive in State College

  • State College Area High School North, 653 Westerly Parkway in State College

  • State College Area High School South, 650 Westerly Parkway in State College

  • Sunset West Restaurant, 521 E. College Ave. in Pleasant Gap

  • Super Duper Cafe, 110 E. Main St. in Millheim

  • Tait Farm Foods, 179 Tait Road in Centre Hall

  • The Blonde Bistro Brew Works, 226 Nittany Valley Drive in Bellefonte

  • The Gourmet Girl Personal Chef Service, 316 Fieldstone Lane in Bellefonte

  • The Meandering Mallard Coffee House, 106 E. Main St. in Millheim

  • The Pennsylvania State University — Pegula Catering, 250 University Drive in University Park

  • The Tavern — Adam’s Apple, 220 E. College Ave. in State College

  • The Waffle Shop, 127 W. Bishop St. in Bellefonte

  • Titan Market LLC, 2042 Axemann Road in Bellefonte

  • Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 780 Waupelani Drive in State College

  • Valley Wok Co., 135 Railroad St. in Spring Mills

  • Waring Dining Commons, 222 Waring Commons in University Park

  • Way Fruit Farm Downtown, 252 E. Calder Way in State College

  • We Are Inn, 1535 Port Matilda Highway in Philipsburg

  • Wegmans Food Market, 345 Colonnade Blvd. in State College

  • Weis Markets No. 118, 501 N. Centre St. in Philipsburg

  • Wyndham Garden Hotel, 310 Elks Club Road in Boalsburg

  • Xi An Noodle Inc., 432 E. College Ave. in State College

  • Yallah Taco, 310 E. College Ave. 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.