Leesburg Restaurant Inspections: Plaza Azteca, Sycolin Deli

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. 18 and Jan. 24.

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.

• Shoes Cup & Cork Club, 17 N King Street Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Jan. 18
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed marinara prepared on 1/9 in need of disposition. Food has exceeded the 7 day shelf life.
    • Observed soup, marinara, and salsa prepared in the facility over 24 hours, not dated for disposition.
• Town Branch Social, 49 Catoctin Circle SE Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 18
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observation: Several squeeze bottle condiments have no date marking, labeling indicating when said condiments are to be used-by/discarded. Ready to eat(RTE), time temperature control (TCS) foods prepared in facility or repackaged needs to be date marked for a seven (7) day use-by date, if held longer than 24 hours.
    • Pesticide can observed on floor behind prep area. Restricted pesticides can only be applied in-facility by a certified applicator.
    • Observed: There are no chlorine test strips to check ppm of chlorine in low temperature dish machine in kitchen.
• Panda Cafe, 707-F Market St, East Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 18
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed several food items in the walk in freezer left uncovered, not protected from potential contamination.
    • Observed hood vent in need of cleaning. Hood vent was observed with an accumulation of grease.
• Hessler Heights, 19540 Sandridge Way Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 19
  • Total violations: 3
    • The establishment was not able to provide documentation of an active employee health reporting policy. Forms 1B were on file, but were not filled out by employees. Food establishments must have documentation that employees have been trained in the signs and symptoms of food borne illness and how to report them. Person in charge made copies of the form and had all employees read and sign during the inspection. Keep these forms onsite and available for review. Corrected.
    • 2 trays of raw shell eggs observed stored over ready-to-eat (RTE) foods (Jelly, mixed cheese) in the low boy cooler on the cook line. Food shall be protected from cross contamination by separating raw animal proteins from RTE foods and arranging in a way that minimize the risk of cross contamination. Employee moved the Jelly and mixed cheese away from the raw shell eggs.
    • A container of Tuna Fish Salad was observed stored in the walk-in cooler with a prepared date of 1/8/2023. Time/Temperature control for safety (TCS) foods that are RTE must be discarded after 7 days from the date that the food item was prepared/opened. The day that the item was prepared/made counts as day 1. PIC voluntarily discarded the container of Tuna Fish. Corrected.
• Gyro Kitchen Express, 241 Fort Evans Rd NE Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 19
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed: Condiments (sauces) in high boy refrigerator do not have date marks on them indicating use-by date. Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items that are held for more than 24 hours need to have a date mark indicating use-by date, which is seven days from the time is was repackaged.
• Plaza Azteca, 1608 Village Market Blvd #125 Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 19
  • Total violations: 7
    • Observed hand sink in kitchen area with no hand soap. Hand soap should be available for employees to use at all times.
    • Observed hand sink in kitchen area with no paper towels. Hand paper towels should be available for employees to use at all times.
    • Observed raw shell eggs stored on top of container of sour cream allowing possible cross contamination.
    • Observed improper cold holding temperature of ground beef 56F in walk in cooler foods held cold should be at 41F or below.
    • Observed Raid bug spray on top of the paper towel dispenser. Bug spray can leave a toxic residue on unprotect foods and food contact surfaces.
    • Observed cutting board at both prep cooler cutting board with heavy scratching and scaring not making the cutting boards easily cleanable.
    • Observed the use of grocery bags on the cook line to store unwrapped tortillas. Grocery bags are not a food contact surface and can transfer colors, odors, and are not necessarily safe and clean.
• Red Fox Inn & Tavern, 2 Washington Street East Middleburg, VA 20117
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 19
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed: Reminder (asterisk) and disclosure (asterisk) are not on the menu for the bison and beef products that are offered undercooked. A complete consumer advisory (reminder and disclosure with corresponding asterisks) needs to be on menu if animal proteins are offered undercooked.\
• 868 Estate Vineyards, 14001 Harpers Ferry Road Purcellville, VA 20132
  • Date inspected: Jan. 20
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed pizza sauce in prep unit without a date label. Ensure all prepared food is properly labeled when the food was prepared.
    • Observed several non-food contact surfaces in need of cleaning. Items include equipment under the hood vent, crockpots, and hot box. Ensure these non-food contact surfaces are cleaned frequently to prevent build-up.
• BKD Bagels, 130 Purcellville Gateway Dr Purcellville, VA 20132
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 20
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed: Dish machine (delivers chlorine as sanitizer) is not delivering chlorine. Parts per million chlorine should be 50-100, but test strip indicates 0 ppm). Dish machine needs to deliver 50-100 ppm to adequately sanitize. Wash, rinse and sanitize in the three compartment sink until the dish machine is repaired. Follow-up item.
    • Observed: Self serve stainless canisters of 1/2 an 1/2 and milk are held as "time as a public health control". Date stamp on canisters was: 7:00 AM. Accurate date stamp needs to be applied to reflect the time frame that these products are held under 'time as a public health control'. After items are brought out for self-serve at 41F or below they can be held for four hours and then discarded at the end of that time frame, if any product remains, but product cannot be returned to refrigeration to be used again.
• Savoir Fare Limited, P.O. BOX 671/1 West Loudoun St Round Hill, VA 20142/20141
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 20
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed: Half and Half has gone beyond use by date on carton. Maintain half and half within use by date on carton. Corrected by voluntarily discarding.
    • Observed: Test strips for quaternary ammonia (to test sanitizer at 3 compartment sink) not available. Test strips are required to test strength (ppm) of quaternary ammonia.
• SR Coffee Co. / Roots To Rise, 940 Sycolin Rd #145 ` Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 23
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed ice scoop for the bulk ice machine placed on top of the machine. Machine top where ice scoop was placed was observed dusty. This spot is not a clean surface for the scoop. Also observed ice scoop at front area with the scoop handle in contact with the ice.
• Sycolin Deli, 801 Sycolin Dr Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 23
  • Total violations: 4
    • Observed sausage patties 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 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 cans of soup and green beans. Food shall be stored no less than 6 inches off floor and in a protective manner, not exposed to splash, dirt or other contamination.
    • 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.
• Downtown Saloon, 7 North King St. Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 23
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed 2 door lowboy refrigeration unit unable to maintain 41F or below at follow-up inspection. No Time/temperature control for safety foods were stored in the unit. Refrigeration units shall be maintained in good repair.
• Lovettsville School House, 5. N. Berlin Pike Lovettsville, VA 20180
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 24
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed one container of milk with a sell by date of Jan 18th. For milk to meet grade A standards, the facility must use the milk by the sell by date.
• James Cafe, 671 Potomac Station Dr Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 24
  • Total violations: 5
    • Person in charge had not trained all food employees on the signs, symptoms, and exposures of foodborne illnesses and who to report to.
    • Observed in walk in cooler raw chicken stored over raw shrimp allowing for possible contamination.
    • Observed improper cold holding temperature cut cabbage 46F stored on top of prep cooler above the cooling capability of prep cooler. Time/temperature controlled for safety foods should be maintained at 41F or below.
    • Observed cooked batter chicken cooling in plastic container filled to top possibly not allowing chicken to cool properly.
    • Observed the use of grocery bags to store a variety of food items in the walk in and in the freezer. Grocery bags are not a contact food surface and can transfer colors, odors, or tastes to food.
• Daughter Thai, 19 E Broad Way Lovettsville, VA 20180
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 24
  • Total violations: 5
    • This facility is unable to provide documentation that they have a certified food protection manager.
    • Observed hand washing sink blocked by an empty half gallon container. Hand washing sinks should be used for hand washing only.
    • Observed raw shell eggs stored over ready-to-eat (RTE) lettuce mix and vegetables allowing for potential contamination.
    • Observed roasted peppers in a gated area outside of the food establishment cooling with no overhead protection or wrapping. Food is not protected from potential contamination.
    • Observed hood vent in need of cleaning. Hood vent has significant grease build-up.
• Starbucks Coffee #20388, 140A Purcellville Gateway Dr Purcellville, VA 20132
  
  • Date inspected: Jan. 24
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed: Thermometer or thermo test strips to check surface temperature of dishwares that have gone through the high temperature dish machine is not available. Said thermometer is required.

The following facilities did not record any violations:

• RC Culinary Lab
• Purcellville Children's Academy
• Weird Brothers Coffee Bar
• Xuan Saigon
• Travinia Italian Kitchen @ Leesburg
• Loudoun Hospital Center (Riverside Cafe)
• Moe's Southwest Grill #282