Leesburg Health Inspections: Outback Steakhouse, Hunan Cafe

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 Feb. 8 and Feb. 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.

• Sidebar, 24 South King Street Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Feb. 8
  • Total violations: 6
    • Observed bar hand washing sink used for storage of metal mixing containers. Several containers were observed in the hand washing sink. Hand washing sinks shall be used for hand washing only.
    • Observed employee utilizing disposable gloves to pre-rinse dishes and load soiled dishes into the dish washer. Employee utilized the same soiled gloves to remove clean, sanitized dishes from the dish washer. Employee failed to wash their hands and change their gloves.
    • Observed raw beef stored over ready-to-eat bacon and chocolate milk containers in the walk in refrigerator. Raw animal proteins shall be stored in a manner that prevents potential cross contamination.
    • Observed can opener in need of cleaning. Can opener observed with reside on portion that contacts food.
    • Observed heavy cream (46F) cold holding at improper temperature in bar beer cooler. Observed cut melon (51F) cold holding at improper temperature in counter unit. Cut melon was the only time/temperature control for safety food in the unit at time of inspection. Observed buttermilk (67F) used prior to frying foods cold holding at improper temperature on counter surface near fryer, outside of refrigeration.
    • Observed ice scoop stored improperly at the bar ice bin and the coffee shop ice bin. Scoop was observed with the handle in contact with the ice.
• Hunan Cafe, 414 Sycolin Rd SE Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 8
  • Total violations: 7
    • Observed metal bowl in hand sink by the 3 compartment sink. Hand sink should be available for employees use at all times.
    • Observed fried noodles in a cardboard box and uncovered in the dining area. Food should be covered and stored in food contact container to minimize environmental contamination. Clean knives had food residue food contact surfaces should be clean to sight and touch.
    • Observed improper cold holding temperature cut cabbage 58F, cooked noodles 48F foods held cold should be 41F or below and raw shell eggs 60F (raw shell egg should be maintained at 45F or below) on the counter.
    • Observed in the walk in cooler raw shell egg, napa cabbage, tofo, and celery in vegetable boxes on the floor in the walk cooler and in the walk in freezer a variety of foods are on the floor.
    • Observed cutting board at both prep coolers with heavy scratches and scaring not making them easily cleanable.
    • Observed hand sink at front and hot water turned off plumbing should be maintain in good repair.
    • Observed grease build up on the vents of the hood system.
• Market Salamander, 200 W. Washington St. Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 8
  • Total violations: 5
    • Observation: Several cartons of milk in walk-in refrigerator have exceded the use-by date (2/7/2023). Milk does not meet grade A standards if it has exceeded the use-by date. Person in Charge voluntarily discarded milk cartons. Corrected.
    • Observed: Raw shell eggs (raw animal protein) being stored above ready to eat (RTE) food in walk-in refrigerator. Store raw animal proteins below RTE food. Corrected at inspection.
    • Observed: low temperature dish machine in lower level prep area is not delivering chlorine. To adequately sanitize wares, discontinue using the low temperature dish machine until it is delivering 50-100 ppm chlorine at 120F. Wash, rinse and sanitize wares in 3 compartment sink. Follow-up item.
    • Observed: Small whole potatoes and raw shell eggs near grill not being held under temperature control, registering temperatures above acceptable (41F) cold hold temperatures. TCS (time temperature control for safety foods) need to be held at 41F or below if being held at temperature control.
    • Observed: Bread pudding produced and packaged in-house and offered for retail sale does not have a label that includes: list of ingredients and sub ingredients in descending order of predominance by weight, name and place of manufacturer, presence of specific allergens, weight. Follow-up item.
• McDonalds, 965 Edwards Ferry Rd Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Feb. 8
  • Total violations: 1
    • Wiping cloths were observed stored in a bucket of water when tested for sanitizer the test strip read 0 ppm. Wet wiping cloths need tdo be stored in a sanitizing solution to help prevent bacterial growth.
• Super Smash, 19 W. Market St Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 8
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed no verifiable employee health policy at the facility. Food employees and conditional employees are to informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report in accordance with law, to the person in charge, information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food.
• Seldens Landing Elementary School, 43345 Coton Commons Drive Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 9
  • Total violations: 1
    • A substitute employee was observed working in the kitchen area today and when Manager was asked if the substitute employee has signed and agreed to report signs and symptoms of illness the manager replied that the employee has. When Manager was asked about documentation of required training and agreement, the manager stated that she does not have it on site.
• Thaiverse, 101 S. Madison St Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 9
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed: Ice machine in lower level storage area with black residual on side wall. Food contact areas need to be kept clean to sight and touch.
• Wegmeyer Farms Donuts, 38299 Hughesville Rd Hamilton, VA 20158
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 9
  • Total violations: 3
    • Did not provide nitrates test results.
    • Light shields are dirty.
    • Missing caulking by 3 compartment and hand sink.
• Chefscape Leesburg, 1602 Village Market Blvd #120 Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 10
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed mixer bowl and the blade of the slicer with a build up of food residue. Food contact surfaces should be clean to sight and touch.
    • Observed ice machine guard with a build up of dirt and debris. Non food contact surface should be cleaned at a frequency to be kept clean.
• Chefscape Bar, 1602 Village Market Blvd #120 Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 10
  • Total violations: 3
    • There was no verifiable documentation that employees have been trained on the signs, symptoms, and exposures of foodborne illnesses and who to report to.
    • Observed all hand sinks in bar used as dump sink there need to be one designated hand sink in the bar area.
    • Observed the nozzle of the soda gun with a build up soda residue. Food contact surfaces should be clean to sight and touch.
• Outback Steakhouse, 225 Fort Evans Rd NE Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 10
  • Total violations: 10
    • The food establishment does not have written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility. According to the PIC (person in charge) the facility does utilize bodily fluid cleanup kits however, one could not be located in the facility.
    • EHS observed an employee improperly wash their hands at the hand sink on the cook line near the raw steak cooler. Employee simply rinsed their hands with water and did not use soap.
    • Paper towels were not provided for proper hand drying at both the bar hand sink and the hand sink in the back prep area. Paper towels shall be provided at all hand sinks at all times so employees can properly dry their hands after washing them.
    • The water at the hand sink in the back prep area is ice cold. The hot water appears to not be working at said sink. Hand sinks need to have warm water of at least 100F for proper hand washing.
    • The hand sink at the line near the meat cooler is not labeled with a sign identifying the hand sink and reminding employees to wash their hands. All hand sinks shall be equipped with proper signage reminding employees to wash their hands.
    • The hand sink at the bar is outfitted with a perforated pan and is being utilized as a dump sink. Hand sinks are for washing hands only.
    • EHS observed a package of raw ground meatloaf meat mixture and packages of thawing raw ahi tuna thawing on the same sheet tray in the walk in cooler. Different raw animal proteins are to be separated according to final cook temperatures to prevent possible cross contamination.
    • Facility utilizes a non-continuous cook method and does not have written procedures on file outlining the processes being used for said non continuous cooking. Salmon is briefly seared on the flat top griddle to aid in the removal of the skin of the salmon portion. THe salmon is then cooled down in the walk in cooler and portioned out. The salmon is then cooked to the desired temperature of the customer when ordered. The salmon is marked with an asterisk on the menu indicating that it will be served at an undercooked temperature if requested by the customer.
    • Observed Mashed potatoes improperly hot holding at the steam table at the line.
    • Facility does not have a waterproof irreversible temperature indicator (thermometer) or temperature sensitive strips to accurately measure the utensil temperature of the high temperature dish machines to ensure they are sanitizing properly.
• Back Street Brews, 11 E. Pennsylvania Ave Lovettsville, VA 20180
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 10
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed time as a public health control being used for half & half next to the self-pour coffee station 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 food shall be marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time.
    • Observed quiches thawing improperly. Quiches were observed thawing on the counter at room temperature.
• Roy Rogers, 451 South King Street Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 10
  • Total violations: 4
    • Roast beef, being held under (hot hold )temperature control is below acceptable temperature required. Maintain time/temperature for control (TCS) food at 135F or higher.
    • Spray bottles (2) of all purpose cleaner does not have label indicating common name of contents within. Provide labels with common name for all spray botles containing toxic substances.
    • Ice scoop handle in Ice bin in storage room is in direct contact with ice. Maintain ice scoop handle above level of ice or in a separate, sanitized container. Person in charge corrected by storing handle above ice.
    • Wet mop is not placed in a position that allows it to air-dry. Place mop in a position to air dry to prevent bacterial growth. Person in charge placed mop in a position to air dry. Corrected.
• Noodles & Company #442, 1607 Village Market Blvd #112 Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 13
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed improper cold holding temperature of tofu 48F in prep cooler 4 food held cold should be maintained at 41F or below.
    • Observed spray bottle of chemical (sanitizer) store next to plastic containers for the food storage chemical (sanitizer) should not be store near food contact surfaces.
    • Observed a build up of dust/dirt on stationary fixtures (pipes/wall holders) on the wall. A facility should be cleaned as often as needed to be kept clean.
• Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, 1607 Village Market Blvd #100 Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 13
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed improper cold hold temperatures cooked chicken 51F, Pasta 48F, pico de gallo 45F in prep cooler 4 food held cold should be maintained at 41F or below.
• Poet's Walk Leesburg, 102 Desmond Plaza SE Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Feb. 13
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed ice machine in need of cleaning. Ice machine guard was observed with residue.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• Upper Crust Inc of Middleburg, VA (The)
• Mocatinas
• Happy Crepe
• Waterford Elementary School
• My Deli & Cafe
• Sycolin Deli
• Lucketts Elementary School
• Rebellion Bourbon Bar & Kitchen
• Flying Ace Food Truck
• Winwood Children's Center
• Five Guys Burgers & Fries