Leesburg Restaurant Inspections: Live Cockroaches In Kitchen

LEESBURG, VA — Several restaurants around Leesburg and western Loudoun County recorded violations during recent inspections from the health department. Inspectors conducted the most recent restaurant visits between Jan. 4 and Jan. 10.

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 Leesburg area, according to the Loudoun County Health Department.

• Mama Lucci's, 302 Industrial Ct Se Unit I Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 5
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed: employee handwash sink near front counter had ice in it. Handwash sinks are for employee handwashing only.
    • Observed: Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. The ice scoop handle in contact with ice (food) should be above the top of the ice to prevent contamination.
• Giovanni's NY Pizza, 520 East Market Street Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 5
  • Total violations: 5
    • Person-in-charge (PIC) has an expired Certified Food Manager License. As per PIC, no one else in facility has credential. Training in food safety is required.
    • Items in the top line of the pizza prep cooler and left prep cooler are cold holding at improper temperatures.
    • Ready to eat foods (deli meats, cooked chicken) are not properly date labeled for disposition within 7 days of preparation.
    • Adult live cockroaches observed in kitchen. Pests can spread disease and effective pest control is needed.
    • Numerous items in kitchen in need of maintenance and cleaning: including walkin cooler door, overhead shelving added above mixer tied with rope, dirty shelves in walk in cooler.
• Chen's Garden, 9 Catoctin Cir Sw #2A Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 5
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed: Prepared food (cut greens) is being stored in containers intended for singe use (tofu container). Single use containers are not to be reused.
    • The chemical sanitizer used for the wiping cloths in use was too strong. The ppm chlorine was greater than 400 ppm chlorine. Maintain chlorine sanitizer levels of wiping cloths within required ppm of 50-100 ppm.
• Dairy Queen, 548 Fort Evans Rd Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Jan. 5
  • Total violations: 1
    • Food employee observed filling an ice cream cone at the ice cream machine and handling the cone above the paper wrap with their bare hands. The cone is a ready to eat food. Ready to eat foods cannot be handled with bare hands.
• Del Rio Mexican Restaurant, 701-B Market Street East Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 5
  • Total violations: 2
    • Repeat -Dishwasher was not sanitizing dishes. 0ppm chlorine was observed and 50ppm is required.
    • Low sanitizer indicator has not been installed on the sanitizing dishwasher to notify user that it is not working properly.
• Wendy's #6563, 404 E. Market Street Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Jan. 6
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed bacon in hot holding unit in back uncovered food should be protected from environmental contamination.
    • Observed raw shell eggs 69F, 52F in cooling unit at improper cold holding temperature for eggs. Food employee stated eggs had been in cooler for 15 minutes. Raw shell eggs should be kept in cooler that can maintain an ambient air of 45F or below.
• Boba Hero, 241 Fort Evans Rd NE #467 Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Jan. 6
  • Total violations: 5
    • Observed boba improperly hot holding in plastic container set inside crockpot with water bath at 120F. Boba hot hold temperature does not meet minimum requirement of 135F or above for a TCS (time temperature control for safety) food.
    • Observed tiramisu improperly cold holding in the drink display case at 48F, 46F, 50F. Tiramisu cold holding temperature does not meet minimum requirement of 41F or below for a TCS (time temperature control for safety) food.
    • Observed espresso machine (food contact side) facing and stored directly adjacent to hand sink. Machine is exposed to splash from hand washing.
    • Facility has added additional cabinetry to the customer service area without sealing the raw wood surfaces. These raw wood surfaces are not designed smooth nor cleanable.
    • Observed unused and broken equipment, and pieces of lumber stored throughout facility. Storage of unnecessary and broken equipment does not allow for proper cleaning and can create harborage conditions.
• Weird Brothers Coffee Bar, 1601 Village Market Blvd SE #122 Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 6
  • Total violations: 4
    • Not all food employees have been trained of their responsibilities in reporting symptoms of diagnosis of diseases transmissible through food.
    • Observed chlorine dishwasher 0 ppm the appropriate range of chlorine sanitizer is 50-100 ppm.
    • Observed no chlorine test strips for chemical dishwasher. Repeat violation.
    • No cover trash can offer in either unisex bathroom. Female restrooms need to have a cover trash can.
• Taste of Lebanon, 510 F E. Market St Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Jan. 6
  • Total violations: 5
    • Employee was observed drinking from an uncovered cup and no straw while prepping tomatoes for salad. The drink cup was stored next to the cutting board. Drinks need to be kept covered and drink from straw.
    • Employee was observed cutting tomatoes for salad with their bare hands. Bare hand contact with ready to eat foods is not allowed.
    • Observed a pan of cooked beef strips and cut squash in the reach in cooler without any cover to help prevent cross contaminating.
    • When asked the manager could not provide a working thermometer to measure the internal temperature of foods.
    • Wet wiping cloths were observed stored on the prep cooler. Wiping cloths need to be stored in sanitizer between use.
• Thai Pan, 2 Harrison St Se Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 9
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed several pots/pans now allowed to air dry prior to stacking them on top of each other. Ensure wares are air dried prior to stacking.
    • Observed plumbing under the 3 compartment sink in disrepair. The drain was observed clogged and re-directed with a large plastic bin to a floor drain.
    • Observed hood vent in need of cleaning. Hood vent observed with grease build-up. Also observed ceiling vents in the kitchen in need of cleaning. Vents observed with significant dust build-up.
• Sycolin Deli, 801 Sycolin Dr Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Jan. 9
  • Total violations: 6
    • Observed food handler touching RTE (ready to eat) sliced roast beef and cubed pineapple with bare hands. Food employees shall not contact exposed ready to eat food with their bare hands, instead use clean gloved hand, tongs, spoon, deli paper.
    • Observed raw ground beef at (66F) and sliced roast beef (38F) thawing on countertop. Frozen foods shall be thawed using approved methods such as in refrigeration and completely submerged under running water.
    • Observed many containers of mixed spices, and sauces in working containers unlabeled. Food removed from original packaging, unless unmistakably recognizable, shall be labeled with the common name.
    • Observed many food items stored directly on floor, to include, box of moon pies, hot sauce, pasta sauces. Observed bags of onions stored on floor directly beneath hand sink. Food shall be stored no less than 6 inches off floor and in a protective manner, not exposed to splash, dirt or other contamination.
    • Observed many prepared food items such as mixed spices, oil, cheese and raw chicken stored in single-use sour cream, BBQ sauce and spice containers. Single-use articles are not to be reused.
    • Floors beneath all equipment and the area opposite the 3-compartment sink near the ice machine observed with accumulation of debris, trash and clutter. The physical facility shall be maintained clean.
• Ana's Market, 707 L East Market St Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Jan. 10
  • Total violations: 5
    • Observed tamales with an internal temperature of 62F. Per PIC, the tamales were prepared yesterday. Tamales observed wrapped tight in aluminum foil, not allowing for proper cooling.
    • Observed several food items in 2 door refrigeration unit cold holding at improper temperature. Items included cheese (46,47F), Cooked yuka (46/45F), and bean pupusa mix(48,50F)
    • Observed time as a public health control being used for several different pupusa mixes. The food items were not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is 4 hours past the point in time when the food was removed from temperature control. The items must be marked or otherwise identified.
    • Observed sanitizer bucket with over 200 PPM chlorine. Sanitizer observed to exceed the acceptable range.
    • Observed cutting board on the prep unit heavily scratched and scored. Cutting board is no longer easily cleanable.
• BFC, 201 E. Hirst Rd Purcellville, VA 20132
  • Date inspected: Jan. 10
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed: The Person in charge is not able to provide documentation that all food handling employees have been trained in the signs and symptoms of foodborne illness. .Documentation needs to be available during inspections for verification by Environmental Health Specialist. Follow-up item.
    • Observed: In dry storage area two bottles of cleaning solutions stored above single use items (latex gloves). Toxic chemicals need to be stored below or separate from single-use items.
    • Observed: test strips to check parts per million strength of quaterary ammonia available, but have become wet and dried, so are not readily accessible for use.
• Back Street Catering, 101 N Madison St Middleburg, VA 20117
  • Date inspected: Jan. 10
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed: Several Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) items in the Traulsen reach in refrigerator are not date marked for disposition. Date mark the food that is prepared or removed from original packaging with a seven day use-by date.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Jersey Mike's Subs
• Chipotle Mexican Grill
• Pupatella
• Fireworks Pizza