Leesburg Health Inspections: More Better Restaurant, Noku

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 March 8 and March 14.

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.

• More Better Restaurant, 35246 Harry Byrd Highway #140 Round Hill, VA 20141
  • Date inspected: March 8
  • Total violations: 6
    • Observed: Black bean soup (47F); Mushroom gravy (54F) Time/Temperature control for safety foods shall be cooled from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours and from and 135°F to 41°F within a total of 6 hours to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Person in charge divided said items into thinner portions and returned to walk-in cooler to quickly cool product to 41F.
    • Observed: Disclosure on bottom of menu is missing asterisk that corresponds to the reminder of foods offered undercooked. Two items did not have asterisks: cheeseburger, salmon. Apply asterisks next to items that are offered undercooked. Apply an asterisk to the disclosure on the bottom of the menu that corresponds to the asterisked menu item.
    • Observed: Lids on two bulk items: black bean soup and mushroom gravy have accumulation of condensation on inside/ underneath lid, indicating the item was not properly cooled. Properly cool items by: 1. Placing food in shallow pans 2. Separating food into smaller thinner portions 3. Using rapid chill cooling equipment 4. Stirring the food in a container placed in an ice water bath 5. Using containers that facilitate heat transfer.
    • Refrigeration unit underneath salad prep table does not have thermometer to check ambient air temperature. Provide a calibrated ambient thermometer for prep table.
    • Painted cinderblock walls in prep area have a generous accumulation of dried ketchup. Clean walls as often as necessary to keep them clean.Corrective Actions: Clean walls as often as necessary to keep them clean.
    • The flooring in the bar area is not smooth, durable, easily cleanable, and/or nonabsorbent. Refinish the flooring behind the bar area, so it is: (1) Smooth, durable, and easily cleanable for areas where food establishment operations are conducted.
• Bubbleology, 1604 Village Market Blvd SE #121 Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 8
  • Total violations: 2
    • Person in charge could not provide verifiable documents that all employees have been trained on the signs, symptoms, and exposures of foodborne illnesses and whom to report them to.
    • Observed ice scoop in ice bin and the handle touching touching ice. The handle of the scoop should be stored above ice or not stored in the ice bin.
• Jay & Ed's Seafood, 34400 Harry Byrd Hwy Round Hill, VA 20141
  
  • Date inspected: March 9
  • Total violations: 3
    • No hand soap available at hand sink. Hand soap should be available for employees at all times.
    • Mobile unit could not provide nitrate testing for servicing area. Water from a private well shall be sample and tested at least once a year.
    • Observed where the gray water comes out there was a small leak that was dripping on the ground. Plumbing should be maintained in good repair.
• Balls Bluff Elementary School, 821 Battlefield Pkwy Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 9
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed the following time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS), containers of salad consisting of lettuce and tomatoes, stored at serving line without being held in refrigeration. Cut lettuce observed at 53F, 55F, and diced tomatoes at 53F. TCS foods shall be cold held at 41F or below and shall remain refrigerated until served.
• Deli South, 38-D Catoctin Circle Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 13
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed unnecessary persons inside the food establishment. Observed employee of neighboring food service facility in the kitchen/prep area of the establishment scooping ice from facilities ice machine. Persons unnecessary to the food establishment operation are not allowed in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas.
    • Observed chemical dish machine not sanitizing wares. Chemical dish machine was tested and had 0PPM chlorine.
    • Observed several pre-packaged time/temperature control for safety foods in a grab & go manner with no label. Only information on the packaging was a date for when to consume. This is a repeat violation.
• Cowbell Kitchen, 26 North King Street, Suite 110 Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: March 13
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed several time/ temperature control for safety foods cold holding at improper temperature in prep unit.
    • Observed 3 compartment sink in use and not properly sanitizing wares. 3 compartment sink appears to have mixed the soap with the sanitizer (quaternary ammonium) in the dispenser for automatic dispensing. Wares are not being sanitized.
• Middleburg Deli, 2 Liberty Street Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: March 13
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed: Not all food handling employees, at the time of inspection, have been trained in the signs and symptoms of foodborne illness. An employee health policy, which can be verified, needs to be available for each food handling employee, indicating that they have been trained in the signs and symptoms of foodborne illness.
    • Observed: Raw shell eggs in trays stored above lettuce in Continental 2 door reach in refrigerator. Raw animal proteins need to be stored below ready to eat (RTE) foods (lettuce)to prevent cross contamination. Person In Charge corrected by placing raw shell eggs below ready to eat foods.
    • Observed that a proper protective shield is not provided for the double flourescent light fixture in the middle of the ceiling of the kitchen. Provide covering for light fixture in the kitchen.
• Wishbone Rotisserie, 9-D Catoctin Circle S.W. Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 14
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed: Bakery items (cookies) are not supplied from an approved source. Discontinue offering/selling these items which come from an unapproved source.
    • Raw shell eggs observed being stored in walk in refrigerator above ready to eat food (mayonnaise). Store raw animal proteins below ready to eat foods. Person in charge relocated raw shell eggs to lower shelf. Corrected.
• Noku, 1607 Village Market Blvd #108 Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 14
  • Total violations: 7
    • Observed improper cold holding temperature of cooked fried shrimp in a container setting on top of sushi rice. Food that are held cold should be maintained at 41F or below.
    • Observed on the menu there is no indication of what food items that are served raw or undercooked. Consumer should know what foods items are offered undercooked or raw.
    • Observed Windex window cleaner being store next to food seasoning. Poisonous or toxic materials shall be stored so that the it cannot contaminate food.
    • Observed a bag of panko stored on the floor and cutting board stored between freeze/soda machine directly on the floor. Food shall be protected from contamination by storing the food at least 6 inches above the floor.
    • Observed wet wiping cloth stored on cutting board of prep cooler. Wiping cloths in-use for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces shall be kept in chemical sanitizer or be dry.
    • Observed in use utensils used for rice in water of 70F. Utensils should be in a container of water if the water is maintained at a temperature of at least 135°F and the container is cleaned every 4 hours or as needed.
    • Observed multiple knives being store on top of the dishwasher. Food contact surfaces (knives) should not be stored where they are exposed to splash, dust, or other contamination.
• Catoctin Elementary School, 311 Catoctin Circle Sw Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 14
  • Total violations: 4
    • Three volunteers observed working with food in kitchen today with no verifiable employee health policy on file to report signs and symptoms of illness.
    • Observed raw shell eggs stored above ready to eat milk and cheese in reach in cooler. Raw animal proteins shall not be stored in a manner that may contaminate ready to eat foods.
    • Improper cooling methods used to cool sliced chicken. Chicken observed stored on shelf of reach in cooler with lid in place, which does not allow heat to escape.
    • Observed ceiling vent and left corner area beside washing machine in dry storage area in need of detail cleaning.
• Tuscarora High School, 801 N. King St Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: March 14
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed the SPFPac sanitizer solution at the 3-compartment sink in excess of the manufacturer's solution concentration requirement of 200ppm. SFSPac sanitizer solution tested at 400ppm.
• Starbucks, 19310 Front St Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: March 14
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed hand washing sink near the 3 compartment sink not supplied with paper towels. Paper towel dispenser was observed empty. Hand washing sinks shall be supplied at all times.
    • Observed several boxes of food/drink mixes stored on the ground in the back storage area. Food shall be stored in a clean dry location, where it is not exposed to splash, dust or other contamination and at least 6 inches off the ground.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Cool Springs Elementary School
• Woodgrove High School
• Belmont Ridge Middle School
• The Empress Tea Co
• John W. Tolbert Jr Elementary
• Loudoun Golf & Country Club
• Mountain View Elementary
• TGI Friday's #307