Ashburn Health Inspections: Saffron Indian Restaurant, Chili's

ASHBURN, VA —Several facilities around Ashburn recorded violations during health department inspections from Aug. 24 to Aug. 30.

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.

• Urbano Modern Italian, 21430 Epicerie Plaza Sterling, VA 20164
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 1
    • Facility does not have sanitizer test strips for monitoring the sanitizer concentration at the low temperature dish machine.
• Kung Fu Tea, 44110 Ashburn Shopping Plaza #186 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 6
    • PIC could not provided employee health policy documentation showing employees are informed of their responsibility to report illnesses as they relate to food.
    • No paper towels provided at front counter hand sink.
    • Quat sanitizer solution at 3 compartment sink tested below acceptable range of 200-400ppm.
    • Observed boba hot holding at improper temperatures of 121F, 110F.
    • A thin probe food temperature measuring device is not provided.
    • All food handlers observed without hair restraint.
• Kabob & Chicken, 45591 Dulles Eastern Plaza #198 Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 2
    • Multiple ready to eat foods are not labeled with date.
    • Raw red meat sitting out at room temperature to thaw.
• Kindercare Learning Center, 43599 Golden Meadow Circle Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 2
    • The person in charge (PIC) was not able to produce a verifiable employee health reporting agreement for each of the food employees.
    • The facility does not have an irreversible waterproof temperature indicator for the high temperature dish machine.
• Burton's Grill & Bar, 21434 Epicerie Plaza Sterling, VA 20164
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 1
    • The low temperature dish machine behind the bar used for glassware is not dispensing sanitizer.
• Greek Unique, 44632 Guilford Drive #107 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 2
    • A container of cut tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and a container of soup were observed with no date marking.
    • 2 spray bottles containing bleach and degreaser were observed with no identifying information.
• International House of Pancakes #3616, 24290 Liberty Harvest Ct Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 4
    • Observed Handwashing sink next to the ice bin to not have soap or a soap dispenser.
    • Observed both microwave to have accumulation of food materials.
    • Observed white light to be showing underneath the back door creating a possible entry for pests.
    • Quaternary ammonia test strips for testing sanitizer at 3 compartment sink not available.
• Senor Tequila's Of Ashburn, 43750 Central Station Dr #100 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 6
    • EHS observed an open employee drink with no lid on the counter on the fountain drink and guacamole/chip station.
    • The low temperature dishwasher in the kitchen is not dispensing sanitizer (0ppm chlorine).
    • A large container of Chicken Tinga with a date mark of 8/23/2022 was found at improper cold holding temperature (55F) in the walk-in cooler.
    • A container of salsa/slaw was found with a date marking of 8/2/22.
    • A bag of tamale husks was observed stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler. Multiple boxes of frozen foods were found stored on the floor of the walk-in freezer.
    • The surfaces of the mincer/cutter, emulsifier, and the heavy duty blender located in the prep room were observed with heavy soil residue on their outer surfaces.
• Kiddie Academy of Ashburn, 20775 Century Corner Dr Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 2
    • EHS observed items (mop, stool, boxes) partially blocking the hand sink in the kitchen.
    • EHS observed refried beans date marked 8/1/2022 and cheese sauce date marked 8/17/2022. Both of these TCS (Time/temperature control for safety) foods were held past 7 days after the commercial container was opened.
• Little Caesars, 22405 Enterprise Street #101 Sterling, VA 20164
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 24
  • Total violations: 5
    • Observed full gallon of milk sitting out in ambient temperatures with a temperature of 48F.
    • Observed bottle of RAID Ant and Roach labeled "For indoor residential use only" by the 3 VAT sink.
    • Observed the following items thawing in ambient temperatures: Canadian Ham and Pepperonis.
    • Quaternary ammonia test strips for testing sanitizer at 3 compartment sink not available.
    • Observed 2 mops soiled and leaning inverted against wall.
• Fireworks Pizza, 21475 Epicerie Plaza #100 Sterling, VA 20164
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 6
    • EHS identified 2 containers of cooked pasta that had a date label of 8/4 & 8/7.
    • EHS observed several containers of ready to eat food that did not have date labels.
    • EHS observed a container of salmon filets thawing in reduced oxygen packaging (ROP).
    • EHS observed 2 pizza cutters stored in a container of stagnant water, and two prep knives stored in between equipment.
    • The facility was not able to provide test strips to test the concentration of sanitizer in equipment that utilizes chlorine.
    • The deflector on the ice machine was observed with moderate black soil residue.
• Walmart/McDonalds #3683, 45415 Dulles Crossing Plaza Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 1
    • Sliced tomatoes (66F) cold holding at improper temperatures at the line chiller.
• Zoup, 21435 Epicerie Plaza #185 Sterling, VA 20164
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 4
    • Raw shell eggs were found stored above ready to eat (RTE) foods in the reach-in cooler.
    • A container of cooked noodles used on the line to add to the chicken noodle soup was found at improper temperature (54F).
    • A mobile phone was observed resting directly on the prep table/cutting board at the prep sink, another mobile phone was observed resting in a sandwich basket at the sandwich basket station.
    • 2 sanitizing buckets with sanitizer and wet wiping cloths within were found stored on the floor.
• Dulles Cafe Express, 4430 Mercure Circle #115 Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 4
    • Employee/PIC does not have a verifiable means to show certified food protection manager certificate. PIC has a cfm cert that is not accepted in loudoun county. Claims that other chef has one, but could not show today.
    • Mgmt indicated that the eggs and steak food items are able to be cooked to order, but the menu does not include an advisory statement or disclaimer.
    • In Use Tongs found resting on the guard cover of the 2 dr prep top.
    • Quaternary ammonia test strips for testing sanitizer at 3 compartment sink not available. "Nu-foam" Sanitizer Tablets are being utilized, which requires a quat test kit, not a cl test kit.
• Banjara Flavors Of India, 44050 Ashburn Shopping Plaza #191 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 10
    • Employees are not informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report illnesses that are transmissible through food. Signed Form 1B forms not on file for employees.
    • Observed raw chicken stored above milk and raw lamb stored above orange juice in reach in cooler, Raw chicken stored directly above lemon water in prep cooler.
    • Observed chlorine sanitizer at below required range, 10ppm at 3 compartment sink and 25ppm at dish machine.
    • Metal stemmed thin probe thermometer not calibrated.
    • Large containers of food in dry storage area, walk in cooler and walk in freezer observed stored directly on floor.
    • Observed food handlers without hair restraint.
    • Observed small prep cooler cutting board scored, stained and no longer cleanable.
    • Observed no test strips to measure chlorine sanitizer concentration.
    • The following observed in need of detail cleaning: ceiling vent above wait station, prep cooler gaskets, doors and hinges, exterior of rice and sugar bulk bins.
    • Cove molding in disrepair and missing in some areas near wait station.
• Taco Bell, 22288 S. Sterling Blvd Sterling, VA 20164
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed the soda nozzles in the drink dispensing tap by the take out window to contain a black mold like substance when tested with an alcohol swab (lemonade/Gatorade) tap.
    • Observed two soiled mops inverted pressed against wall in the mop sink area.
• Potbelly Sandwich Works, 44060 Pipeline Plaza #100 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 1
    • Facility is applying Raid themselves.
• Smoothie King #620, 21100 Dulles Town Cir B120 Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 1
    • The facility does not have verifiable means that employees have been trained in the signs and symptoms of food borne illness and how to properly report them.
• Anita's New Mexico Style Foods, 44305 Ice Rink Pl #104 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Dates inspected: Aug. 25
  • Total violations: 2
    • No sanitizer in quat bucket currently in use.
    • Cheese, strawberry, olives, parm, caesar dressing, salsa, marisco in walkin all have date marks over 7 days old. These items should have been discarded.
• Akira Japanese Restaurant, 20035 Ashbrook Common Plaza #176 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 26
  • Total violations: 3
    • Chemical dishwasher in kitchen not sanitizing adequately. The pipe for sanitizer connecting to the dishwasher observed broken.
    • Container of dishwashing detergent observed stored next to the containers of food in rare dry food storage area.
    • The fan in the two door reach in refrigerator observed with heavy accumulation of dust. Said unit observed holding food such as salad bowls and dressings.
• Smoothie King, 20035 Ashbrook Common Plaza #194 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 26
  • Total violations: 2
    • Food employee reporting agreement (Form 1B) that are reviewed and signed by the employees not provided during the inspection.
    • Facility observed without paper towels in all handwashing facilities.
• Chili's Grill & Bar #1826 / It's Just Wings, 45555 Dulles Eastern Plaza Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 29
  • Total violations: 10
    • The person in charge (PIC) was not able to produce a verifiable employee health reporting agreement for each of the food employees.
    • The hand sink at the ware washing area was not equipped with paper towels in the paper towel dispenser.
    • 0 PPM (parts per million) sanitizer measured at the low temperature dish machine when tested. All wares that are being run through the dish machine are not getting sanitized after cleaning and before use.
    • TCS (time/temperature control for safety) foods ( 3rd pan of chili and a pan of portioned cooked peppers and onions) noted as improperly cooled to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. The chili and the cooked peppers and onions were cooled from the previous night in the low boy cooler on the line.
    • Pan of cooked corn (109F) and a pan of portioned cooked peppers and onions (98F-100F) observed hot holding at improper temperatures. Said food was attempting to hot hold on the expo counter below an over head heating element. According to the PIC this is not a normal practice however, they had a steam table unit break.
    • The following TCS foods were noted as improperly cold holding: - Alfredo sauce (54F) double panned at pasta station - Chicken portions (52F) double panned at open top prep cooler - fresh salsa (42-44F) double panned at servers station cooler - Chicken portions (69F) sitting on top of pans in grill station cooler.
    • Flies observed throughout bar area. One dead cockroach observed beside the ice machine and one dead cockroach observed on top of a cart labeled (clean dishes only). Harborage conditions observed- Small areas of standing water observed throughout kitchen (beside ice machine) and sticky surfaces observed throughout the bar.
    • EHS observed an abundance of plastic round containers with lids (yellow) used for wings chipped and scored and flaking. These containers appear to no longer be easily cleanable.
    • Dark brown residue observed on The left deflector of the ice machine and along the seals of the sliding door of the machine.
    • Several areas of the kitchen are in need of a deep cleaning (observed food debris and grime and dust build up) - in between and under equipment on the line - wall behind prep tables in prep area - ceiling above dish machine.
• Ashby Ponds - Willow Crossing Independent Living (Windows), 21144 Cardinal Pond Terr #110 Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 29
  • Total violations: 4
    • Observed hand sink in prep area blocked by a hot holding cabinet and hand sink by 3 compartment blocked by brooms and floor squeegees.
    • Observed hand sink in prep area blocked by a hot holding cabinet and hand sink by 3 compartment blocked by brooms and floor squeegees.
    • Observed cooked pasta cooling in prep cooler in a small metal container.
    • Observed cooked pasta cooling in prep cooler in a small metal container.
• Chick-Fil-A, 22015 Dulles Retail Plaza Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 29
  • Total violations: 2
    • The facility does not have test strips to monitor the concentration of the veggie wash.
    • EHS observed single use paper containers without handles being used as utensils at the salad station.
• Springhill Suites Hotel Continental Breakfast, 22595 Shaw Rd Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 30
  • Total violations: 4
    • Observed High Registering Dishwashing machine to not have a means to verify heat.
    • Observed Hard Boiled Eggs Cold Holding at Buffett at 54F and 54F.
    • Observed Tomato and Feta Egg White Frittatas (2) hot holding at 120F.
    • Observed facility improperly par cooking a reheated commercially processed item for hot holding. Tomato and Feta Egg White Frittatas found in microwave at 97F with PIC indicated they were cooked in two stages. Feta Egg White Frittatas at hot holding were found to be 120F.
• Saffron Indian Restaurant, 43170 Southern Walk Plaza #106-108 Ashburn, VA 20148
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 30
  • Total violations: 11
    • The food establishment does not have written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that may happen in the facility.
    • Two Drinks (coffee cup and water glass) without lids observed on the prep table on the cookline next to open food and prep space.
    • EHS observed a small spoon in a bowl of soiled water on the expo counter next to the rice warmer. After asking what it was for, an employee explained that they were using that spoon (repeatedly) to taste the different dishes being made for orders because they were in training and needed to taste all of the menu options.
    • No hand soap provided at the hand sink in the ware washing area.
    • Large stack of pots observed stacked in front of the hand sink located next to the three compartment sink.
    • Raw chicken and raw salmon stored over containers of onions and cooked potatoes in the 2nd walk in cooler. Sheet trays of fried vegetables and dumplings (pakora) that were made two days prior are stored uncovered in the walk in cooler.
    • All prepared RTE TCS (time temperature control for safety) foods are NOT date marked in the walk in cooler. According to the PIC all prepared TCS foods in the facility were made on Sunday (8/28) because the restaurant is closed on Mondays (8/29).
    • Three TCS food items are kept out of temperature control during the lunch rush according to the PIC. Onion sauce, paneer cheese, and a pan of tandoori chicken. EHS observed the food employees place said three items back into the low boy cooler after the lunch period. Lunch service is daily 11:30 am - 2:30 pm The facility does not have written procedures in place for utilizing time control. Said three TCS foods were also not time stamped with the time they were brought out of temperature control.
    • Both food thermometers in the facility were not accurate. Air temperature measuring at 88F.
    • Food stored on the ground in both walk in coolers.
    • Facility using a paint brush (non food grade) for spreading butter on naan bread at the tandoori oven. Bristles of the brush appeared to be breaking off of the brush.
• McAlister's Deli, 44155 Ashbrook Marketplace Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 30
  • Total violations: 1
    • Two trays of man and cheese registered at 92°F on a tray in a rack in rear kitchen. As per the PIC said food was reheated and was waiting to be placed on the hot holding table.
• Senor Ramon, 506 Shaw Rd #324 & #326 Sterling, VA 20166
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 30
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed wet mops pressed against wall on the mop sink in the mop room.
• Wendy's #6628, 20025 Ashbrook Commons Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147
  
  • Date inspected: Aug. 30
  • Total violations: 1
    • Gap observed between the floor tiles and wall throughout the walk refrigerator.

Here are the facilities that did not record any violations:

• Tropical Smoothie Cafe
• Center Stage Preschool
• Winwood Children's Center
• Broad Run HS Concession Outdoor
• Broad Run HS Concession Outdoor
• Neighbors Sports Bar & Grill
• SR Coffee Co
• Farm & Fork Kitchen
• Life Time Fitness/ Oasis Bistro
• Weathervane Coffee & Wine Bar
• Augusta School