Del Ray Restaurant Inspections: Mold-Like Residue In Ice Bin

Every wonder how clean your local restaurants are? City of Alexandria restaurants regularly undergo health inspections, with the frequency depending on the type of food served and how it is prepared. While violations like malfunctioning refrigerators and food that's not warm or cold enough often pop up, health inspectors sometimes note more critical violations.

"In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," notes the Virginia Department of Health.

Here are full results for Del Ray area restaurants through early September, which includes restaurants that passed with no violations. Among these violations was black residue in the ice machine at Royal Nepal.

Click on the violations to see each restaurant's results. Full reports are usually available five to seven days after the inspection on the health department's website.

Violations

Bombay Curry Company: 2607 Mt Vernon, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Sept. 20

violations: he following food items were measured at improper temperatures: items found in the 3 door UC-right unit such as samosas, cooked veggies, and fried potato cakes were all 45 F or above, working containers of poisonous and toxic materials are not properly labeled with a common name: observed two spray bottles with no labels (both corrected), the person in charge has a food manager certification from an accredited program, but does not have the Northern VA Certified Food Protection Manager certificate (photo ID card), observed several containers/ boxes of food stored on the floor in the WIC, refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less. The 3 door prep cooler-right is holding at 47 F, light bulbs in the dry storage area are not covered by a protective shielding

Cheesetique: 2411 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Sept. 18

violations: The following food items were measured at improper temperatures: roast beef, brie cheese, lobster meat, and pork found in the turbo air unit (next to panini) were above 41 F (corrected), no consumer advisory for the following food items that may be served raw and/or undercooked: the cocktail-fior italiano is made with raw eggs, raw and/or undercooked foods provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure do not provide a disclosure statement, refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less, (floors, floor coverings, walls, wall coverings, or ceilings) are not designed, constructed, or installed so that they are smooth and easily cleanable: The panini presses are exposed to duct wrap that is coming apart, the warewashing area is exposed to chipping paint from the ceiling/vent pipe

Marino's: 3100 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Sept. 17

violations: The following food items were measured at improper temperatures: deli meat, salami, pizza sauce(2 door true sliding glass unit), turkey meat and salami (2 door true stainless unit), observed flying insect killer spray in the mop storage closet (both corrected), person in charge has a food manager certification from an accredited program, but does not have the Northern VA Certified Food Protection Manager certificate (photo ID card), 2 door True sliding glass unit across from the pizza oven and the 2 door True stainless steel unit in the back next to the mop closet are holding above 41 F, fans in the establishment are in need of cleaning (heavy dust build up), observed floor/area behind fryer has build up of food debris

Royal Nepal: 3807 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Sept. 18

violations: Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: observed two containers of utensils stored in water below 135 F, food being held for more than the specified time/temperature allowed: beef curry dated 9/10/18, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: a few knives on the wall magnet, onion dicer, can opener (all corrected), interior areas of big ice machine in the back were soiled with black residue, no covered refuse container for the disposal of feminine napkins in the ladies room stall, light bulbs are not covered by a protective shielding near the 3 compartment sink

Sophia's Cafe: 1320 Braddock Pl, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: The cutting board(s) along the prep table across from the 3-compartment sink are heavily scratched and scored, items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment are being stored on the premises: Observed 3 prep coolers unplugged and/or broken and other unnecessary equipment stored in the kitchen area

Taqueria Poblano: 2400 Mt. Vernon Ave B, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Sept. 17

violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: observed knives on the wall magnet were soiled with food debris (corrected), nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment had accumulations of grime and debris: walls behind prep tables, side of prep sink and refrigeration units, door seals on sliding glass refrigeration unit, wall panels near the handwashing sink and the prep sink is not maintained in good repair: this allows for water and grime to penetrate through and create pest harborage conditions, wall/wall panel next to the prep sink is coming apart and is not maintained in good repair

Toppers Pizza: 3827 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: The person in charge has a food manager certification from an accredited program, but does not have the Northern VA Certified Food Protection Manager certificate (photo ID card)

No Violations

Chipotle: 3425 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Sept. 18

violations: none

Dos Amigos Restaurant: 535 E. Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: none

FujiSan Sushi: 3801 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Sept. 24

violations: none

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: 401 East Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Sept. 17

violations: none

Northside 10: 10 E Glebe Rd., Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: none

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