Restaurant Inspections: Chipotle and Golden China

From Feb. 22 to March 1 , the state health department inspected a few restaurants in the Chantilly and Centreville areas: Chipotle, Sila Thai Cuisine, Golden China Restaurant, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill.

For prior restaurant inspection reports, click here.

In Virginia, restaurant inspection reports aren't quite as simple as getting a letter grade or an easy-to-see number rating to post in the front window.

That said, we all want to know how our favorite restaurants stack up on cleanliness and sanitation. Inspectors grade restaurants based on critical and non-critical violations.

A "critical violation" is one that "poses a direct or immediate threat to the safety of the food being served." Non-critical violations are generally related to cleaning or maintenance.

"Ideally, an operation would have no critical violations, or none which are not corrected immediately and not repeated. In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," according to Virginia Department of Health's website.

The site continues: "Keep in mind that any inspection report is a 'snapshot' of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, a restaurant could have fewer or more violations than noted in the report. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment."

Below, find the latest restaurant inspection from the Virginia Department of Health. These inspections reflect visits from inspectors during the last few weeks. Some of the violations were corrected immediately during the recent inspections.

The full reports can be accessed on the health department's website.

Chipotle
6317-A Multiplex Dr.
Date of inspection: Feb. 27
Critical: One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Critical (corrected during inspection): The concentration of the quaternary sanitizing solution at the sanitizing vat of the 3-compartment sink was measured at 500 ppm. This concentration exceeds the approved limits for use with food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils in a foodservice establishment.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Trash and litter were observed adjacent to the refuse container outside the facility. Observed bags of trash stored on ground outside of rear kitchen door.

Sila Thai Cuisine
13971 Metrotech Drive
Date of inspection: Feb. 27
Critical: One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were found hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed raw shell eggs stored at room temperature, at bowls near wok/stove. Eggs were being kept out in large quantities.
Non-critical: The certified food manager could not provide a food temperature measuring device.
Non-critical: Grease from the exhaust hood system at the cook line was observed collecting underneath the filters. Hood cleaning is due in March 2013, please contact company to have to clean hood as soon as possible.

Golden China Restaurant
13934 Metrotech Dr
Date of inspection: Feb. 26
Critical: One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): The following food items from damaged packaging were found offered for sale or service: severely dented cans of bamboo shoots, pineapple, etc at dry storage area.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Majority of cans at dry storage area were extremely dirty.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: all refrigerators.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in the refrigeration unit. Raw chicken, beef, pork over cooked chicken at walk-in refrigerator.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that poisonous and toxic materials are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items. Car windshield wiper fluid stored with dry goods.
Non-critical: Observed that the ceiling in the kitchen has a small leak as well as many ceiling tiles being observed water damaged. Manager has contacted landlord.
Non-critical: Grease from the exhaust hood system at the cook line was observed collecting on filters in an excess accumulation. System was cleaned 10 months ago.
Non-critical: Surfaces of ice machine and enclosed components of equipment are not being cleaned as required. Ice chute and inside of machine were observed with pink and black mold.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink. Missing from kitchen handsink, women's restroom handsink.

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
13940 Lee Jackson Memorial Hwy
Date of inspection: Feb. 22
Critical: One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed food employees using improper handwashing procedures.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were found hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Methods used for cooling were not adequate to facilitate proper cooling.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee was observed cleaning their hands in a food preparation sink or in a mop sink.
Non-critical: Surfaces of ice machine are not being cleaned as required.