Greater Alexandria Restaurant Violations: Live Roaches Found

Every wonder how clean your local restaurants are? Fairfax County 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 the latest inspections around Greater Alexandria, including restaurants that passed with no violations. Among these violations were live roaches found at El Pollo Ranchero. The restaurant must follow up with a pest control service.

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

Bob & Edith's Diner: 5918 N. Kings Hwy, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 3

violations: Food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: hash browns, home fries on ice measured 48f, 52f respectively, raw shell eggs stored at room temperature of 72f, food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils are not finished to have a smooth, cleanable surface: CARDBOARD BOX BEING USED TO STORE OPEN/UNWRAPPED DELI TURKEY IN PREP COOLERS, no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection, handwashing facility located next to the salad dressing prep cooler is blocked, preventing access by employees for easy handwashing, handsink at the back is being used to dump drinks and food and to store utensils (all corrected)

Eastern Carryout: 6331B South King Hwy, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22310, last inspection: Aug. 3

violations: A food employee was observed cleaning their hands in a food preparation sink (corrected)

El Pollo Ranchero: 6324 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22306, last inspection: Aug. 13

violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: slicer (corrected), observed two live cockroaches in the stairwell leading to the upstairs

El Rancho Latin Grill: 5834 N. Kings Hwy, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 9

violations: A food employee was observed handling the following ready-to-eat food using their bare hands: cut tomato for a salad, food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: raw chicken in boxes out in hallway at ambient air (45f, 45f, 47f, 44f. POS ranch dressing in individual service cup 49f, no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection, grease trap has been installed in a manner preventing easy access for cleaning of the grease (all corrected), fish offered for service or sale in the ready-to-eat form was not frozen to ensure parasite destruction: tilapia and shrimp served raw/undercooked in ceviche, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: eggs, ceveche with raw tilapia and shrimp, steak, sink is missing sink stoppers and the manager is using cloths to hold water which slowly drains from the sink basins, no covered refuse container for the disposal of feminine napkins in the ladies room stall, light bulb(s) in the kitchen prep area are not covered by a protective shielding

Maggio's Italian & Latin Cuisine: 2258 Huntington Ave, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 7

violations: Food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device:heavy cream in the Superior 2 door prep cooler holding at 45f; rice with vegetable on counter 60f; cooked noodles which were over stacked above fill line at the True two door prep cooler 44f, food that is made using a combination of ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous ingredients is not properly dated for discard using the date of the first-prepared ingredient: american cheese, mozzarella cheese, cooked ribs, gyro meat, cooked chicken wings, cooked lasagna, cooked, individually proportioned pastas all stored in the walk in, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: slicer, utensils in clean storage, handsink at the front is being used to store utensils and wiping cloths, pesticides labeled for residential use were observed in the facility and are being applied by the operator to control pests (all corrected)

Old Chicago Pizzeria: 2245 Huntington Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 10

violations: Food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: cut tomato 45f, mozzarella cheese 49f on the side of the Migali two door prep cooler which is closest to the pizza oven (corrected), no Certified Food Manager (CFM)present in the establishment

Tango Pastry: 6100 Richmond Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 14

violations: Observed that hand soap was not provided at each handwashing sink, observed that paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink, observed that handwash sign missing from back handsink (all corrected), chlorine test kit not available, observed fruit flies at mop/dishwashing area

Vet House Restaurant: 6226 Richmond Highway, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 6

violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: slicer, handsink at the dishwasher with utensils in basin (both corrected)

No violations

Dunkin Donuts: 5836 North Kings Hy, ALEXANDRIA, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 6

violations: none

Pizza Boli's: 2304 Huntington Ave, Alexandria, VA 22303, last inspection: Aug. 13

violations: none

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