Restaurant Inspections: Bon Vivant Cafe, Bastille, Brabo + More

Alexandria Health District officials recently inspected food preparation and storage in Alexandria. Full reports can be accessed on the health department’s NEW website.

A “critical violation” is one that “poses a direct or immediate threat to the safety of the food being served.”

“In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations,” according to the Virginia Department of Health’s website.

Here’s a look at some recent observations made by health inspectors at some restaurants in Alexandria. Not all violations are “critical” and most are corrected during inspections.

Click on the link on the restaurant name to go to the restaurant’s health inspection page.

• Cora Kelly School, 3600 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria VA 22305; last inspection: Oct 7; no violations
• Jerry Chan’s Restaurant, 3830 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22305; last inspection: Oct 7; no violations, change of ownership inspection
• Bon Vivant Cafe + Farm Market, 2016 Mt. Vernon Ave., Alexandria VA 22301; last inspection Oct. 6; no violations
• Hong Kong Bistro, 3616 King St, Alexandria Virginia 22302; last inspection: Oct 2; several violations including observing “roaches crawling on the floor under the 3-compartment sink and up the walls adjacent to the walk-in refrigerator.” Also: “...dead roaches observed in a container of flour batter located on the shelf below the steam table across from the cookline.”
• Bastille Restaurant & Bar, 602 N Fayette St., Alexandria VA 22314; last inspection: Oct 2; several violations, corrected during inspection.
• Rosemarino d’Italia, 1905 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22301; last inspection: Oct 1; 1 violation corrected during inspection
• Senor Chicken, 3410 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22305; last inspection: Sep 30; 1 critical, 1 non-critical; corrected during inspection
• Uptowner Cafe, 1609 King St, Alexandria VA 22314; last inspection: Sep 30; several violations including “Employees observed working in the food service area without proper hair restraints,” and “There is no cover to the feminine napkin refuse container in the ladies room stalls.” Some violations corrected during inspection.
• T. C. Williams High School, 3300 King St, Alexandria VA 22302; last inspection: Sep 30; three non-critical violations including problems with access to hand-washing sink.
• Lilian’s Restaurant, 3901 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22305; Sep 30; several violations, some corrected during inspection.
• Minnie Howard School, 3801 W. Braddock Rd, Alexandria VA 22302; Sep 30; three critical; four non-critical, some corrected during inspection.
• Brabo by Robert Wiedmaier, 1600 King St, Alexandria VA 22314; Sep 30; two critical, three non-critical, some corrected during inspection.
• Cold Stone Creamery, 239 Swamp Fox Rd, Alexandria VA 22314; last inspection: Sep 29; five non-critical including observation of “numerous fruit flies and gnats in the rear preparation area.”
• Faccia Luna Pizzeria, 823 S. Washington St, Alexandria VA 22314; last inspection: Sep 29; six non-critical repeat violations; “Numerous fruit flies were observed during the inspection.”
• Planet Wine, 2004 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22301; last inspection: Sep 24; no violations
• St. Elmo’s Coffee Shop, Inc.2300 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria VA 22301; last inspection: Sep 24; no violations; change of ownership inspection
• Bluprint Chocolatiers, 1001 King St., Alexandria VA 22314; Sep 22; four non-critical violations