Ashburn Health Inspections: Mediterranean Breeze, Popeyes

ASHBURN, VA — Several facilities in the Ashburn area recorded violations during health department inspections between Dec. 28 and Jan. 3.

Most COVID-19 restrictions around the state have relaxed, so health inspectors are returning to conduct some restaurant inspections in person. However, some visits, such as those for training purposes, can be conducted virtually.

Violations at restaurants typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. The local health department can also perform a re-inspection to ensure that possible violations have been corrected.

For every observed violation, the inspector provides a specific corrective action that can be completed to rectify the violation. Sometimes these are simple, and violations can be corrected during the course of the inspection.

Here are the most recent restaurant inspections in the Ashburn area, according to the Loudoun County Health Department.

• Bracket Room, 1 Saarinen Cir. Dulles, VA 20166
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Total violations: 11
    • EHS observed an open cup of tea (uncovered) on top of the prep cooler and also a half eaten sandwich on the prep table on the cookline. Employee eating and drinking in unapproved areas.
    • The bar hand sink was observed filled with the bar rubber mats that line the entire bar. Hand sink clearly blocked and not usable.
    • Paper towels not provided for proper hand drying at the back kitchen hand sink.
    • EHS observed the food employee on the cookline crack raw shell eggs for an order and then turn around and attempted to grab an english muffin for the the same order without changing their gloves.
    • Containers of raw beef and raw bacon and raw salmon improperly stored in the walk in cooler over a container of cooked chicken wings and a container of salad dressing.
    • Multiple food contact surfaces (immersion blender top, spoons, measuring cups, bowls etc.) observed dirty with food debris stored on two shelves above the two prep tables in the back kitchen near the dish machine.
    • Several TCS (time temperature control for safety) foods are held out on the counter at room temperature during the breakfast period (tater tots, raw shell eggs, turkey sausage, pork sausage). Said TCS food items are not time stamped to indicate a maximum holding time of 4 hours out of temperature control, and this facility does not have written procedures in place for utilizing time as a public health control.
    • Filled Spray bottle kept on top of the bar countertop not labeled with its contents. When asked, the bartender explained that the spray bottle was filled with water.
    • Reduced oxygen packaged salmon not thawed properly. Salmon left in the packaging after being thawed in the cooler.
    • EHS observed an employee taking peppers directly from their cardboard box in which they were delivered in and cut them up for prep without washing them first.
    • The back kitchen prep table is no longer cleanable, the bottom shelf is rusted, cracked and broken and employees are attempting to remedy this issue by covering said table shelf in cardboard boxes before storing clean equipment on it however the cardboard boxes are not switched out and they are heavily soiled in food debris and grime.
• Ashburn Pub (The), 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza #196 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed ice machine interior deflector with an accumulation of black debris.
    • Observed improper cooling of mushroom gravy. Gravy stored on counter at 91F at the 2-hour mark of the cooling process. Active cooling methods are not used and gravy has not reached 70F within the first 2-hour requirement.
• Broadlands Brickoven Pizzeria, 42882 Truro Parish Dr #110 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 28
  • Total violations: 2
    • The clean in place slicer is observed with debris build up near the blade.
    • Shelving on right side of walk-in-cooler observed rusted and is no longer easily cleanable.
• Yen's Kitchen & Sushi Bar, 44640 Waxpool Rd #100 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 29
  • Total violations: 6
    • A box of live clams observed in the walk-in cooler without a label.
    • Raw whole duck and duck meat in a bowl observed being stored above the ready to eat food/vegetables in the walk-in cooler.
    • Cooked rice and cooked pig bones observed after two hours cooling at 88 degrees and 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • Frozen beef observed in a bucket of water on the counter.
    • Dirty wet towels observed being stored on the counter.
    • Ice machine observed with accumulation of black residues.
• Y-Tea, 22621 Amendola Terr #185 Ashburn, VA 20148
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 29
  • Total violations: 2
    • Tapioca hot holding at improper temperature in that reheated tapioca registered at 90°F in warmer. As per the PIC, said tapioca was prepared an hour ago.
    • The prepared ready-to-eat (RTE) cooked taro in the refrigeration unit observed being held for more than 7 days.
• Mediterranean Breeze Restaurant, 20693 Ashburn Rd #100 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 30
  • Total violations: 13
    • Facility could not provide documentation that all new employees have been trained on the signs, symptoms, and exposures of foodborne illness and who to report to.
    • Observed food employee touch cut lettuce with bare hands.
    • Hand sink in kitchen was blocked by a container of chips.
    • Observed expired milk (expiration 12/22).
    • Facility had no chlorine to sanitize dishes and utensils for the 3-compartemnt sink.
    • Observed dishwasher sanitizer 0 ppm chlorine concentration should be 50-100 ppm.
    • Observed pizza cutter with a build of dry marinara. Food contact surfaces should be clean to sight and touch.
    • A variety of foods (cooked chicken quarters, gyro meats, Greek lasagna, mousaka) with no date mark. Person in charge stated items were made on Wednesday.
    • Observed no asterisk on the menu to indicate what food item are raw or undercooked for Greek burger, house balsamic vinaigrette is made with raw eggs and eggs on the breakfast menu are undercooked.
    • Observed frozen salmon thawing in reach in cooler in plastic reduced oxygen packaging.
    • Observed cutting broad on prep cooler with heavy scratches and scaring making the cutting broads not easily cleanable.
    • Observed both prep coolers and prep table in back with build up dirt and grime.
    • Observed the wall and floors by dishwasher and 3 compartment sink in need of cleaning.
• Punjabi Junction, 23520 Overland Dr #122 Dulles, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 2
    • Food such as bags of potatoes observed stored on floor in rear dry food storage room.
    • Heavy accumulation of water observed on floor in kitchen near the three compartment sink.
• Udupi Bhavan, 45633 Dulles Eastern Plaza #100 Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 1
    • Water temperature at the dishwasher is at 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Poke Sushi Bowl, 21438 Epicerie Plaza Sterling, VA 20164
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 4
    • Raw shell eggs observed being stored on the top shelf of the tall reach in cooler in the kitchen.
    • Ready to eat food such as noodle and rice observed without date marking.
    • Medicine bottle observed on the kitchen shelf.
    • Multiple dry food items such as sugar and rice, canned/bottled drinks observed being stored directly on the floor.
• Anna Sudha Community Kitchens, 21100 Dulles Town Cir #134-A Dulles, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 4
    • The paper towel dispenser at the hand sinks is not working. There are no paper towels available for proper hand drying at the hand sink.
    • The 2 compartment sink and two hand sinks in the kitchens have detached from the wall and are therefore no longer fixed (seal has come off).
    • The cold water faucet does not work at the three compartment sink. Cold water is not available.
    • Several pieces of equipment have been left behind by the previous tenant and will not be used according to the new owner.
• Popeyes, 44061 Ashburn Shopping Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 3
  • Total violations: 5
    • The PIC (person in charge-manager) is not monitoring hand sinks to ensure that hot water is available, they are stocked with paper towels and are not blocked from hand washing.
    • Dish room hand sink observed blocked from use. Ice machine scoop stored in sink basin.
    • Observed no paper towels at dish room hand sink for drying clean hands.
    • Observed no hot water available at drive thru window hand sink. Hot water valve turned off. Manager stated the water was turned off yesterday to replenish the fountain drink machine.
    • Observed the following equipment in disrepair: prep cooler doors at the raw chicken make station observed with duct tape ad temporary fix to ensure doors close properly, prep cooler door at service line is not tight fitting allowing cold air to escape, cabinet doors beneath customer beverage service area broken and duct taped.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Lufthansa Senator
• Thaitastic
• Open Arms Christian Child Development Center
• Kiddie Academy of Moorefield Station
• Chuck E Cheese's
• The Purple Crumbs LLC