Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Fruit Flies Near Register

Every wonder how clean your local restaurants are? City of Alexandria 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 in and around Del Ray and Old Town Alexandria restaurants through November, which includes restaurants that passed with no violations. Among the violations were fruit flies at Veronica's Bakery & Cafe.

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

Chirilagua Pollo & Steak: 4112 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Nov. 14

violations: Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in the refrigeration unit: raw beef stored above veggies (corrected), no Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, (cavity, door seal) of the microwave oven is observed soiled

Flat Top Burger: 529 E Howell Ave., Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Nov. 19

violations: Foods were not cooled from 135°F to 41°F within a total of 6 hours: French Fries prepared 11/18 observed at 50F, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: Parcooked French fries held on countertop since 11am (both corrected), person in charge has a food manager certification from an accredited program, but does not have the Northern VA Certified Food Protection Manager certificate, hand soap was not provided at downstairs handwashing sink, sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at the downstairs shake station handwashing sink

Hard Times Cafe: 1404 King St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, last inspection: Nov. 20

violations: Food is not used within 24 hours after opening the commercial package and is not properly dated for disposition within 7 days at 41°F: sliced American cheese and hot dogs, person in charge is not able to provide written procedures for the use of time as a public health control with the following potentially hazardous food item(s): blanched French fries, food item(s) for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is 4 hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control: blanched French fries (all corrected), observed a cup used for scooping ice stored inside the ice bin and observed and a plate used for scooping blanched French fries stored in the container and in contact with French fries under time control, cutting board(s) along the prep surfaces of reach-in/prep coolers are heavily scratched and scored, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of grease, food residue, and/or other debris: stoves, fryers, and refrigeration units

Jerry Chan's Restaurant: 3830 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Nov. 13

violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: observed container of knives that were heavily soiled on the shelf above prep station, observed 2 spray bottles in the back prep area with no labels (both corrected, (cavity, door seal) of the microwave oven is observed soiled, no covered refuse container for the disposal of feminine napkins in the ladies room stall

Joe Theismann's Restaurant: 1800 Diagonal Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 6

violations: No Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, date on which the last shellstock from the container is sold or served was not recorded on the tag or label, no handwashing sign at the handsink located near the grill and frier (all corrected), several plastic holding containers were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization in the warewashing and the dry storage areas

Killer ESP: 1012 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 6

violations: The following food items were measured at improper temperatures: Chorizo saltena, chicken saltena, empanada, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: -Sliding glass reach in cooler: Vegan ratatouille, quiche -Glass 1-door reach in: Empanada, saltena -2-door reach in: Milk, milk (both corrected)

Le Pain Quotidien: 701 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 16

violations: The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without a reminder statement: no reminder statement on any part of the menu

Marcela's Bakery: 3856 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Nov. 14

violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: observed several ladles and pans to have food debris and was stored with clean equipment/utensils (corrected), observed unsealed wood platform under the vollrath mixer in the cake decorating room, observed inside-top portion of ice machine to have heavy build up of soil/mold-like substance

Old House Cosmopolitan Grill: 1024 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 7

violations: Observed raw salmon in vacuum packaging to be thawing in the 2 door tall unit, food containers for cooling food are arranged so as not to allow for maximum heat transfer, no soap at handwashing sink next to prep area (all corrected), toilet room is not provided with a self-closing door (x3 bathrooms)

Pizzeria Paradiso: 124 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 8

violations: Unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: cut lettuce, goat cheese, sliced prosciutto, mussels, cubed sweet potato, lamb sausage, bar handwashing sink was missing liquid soap (both corrected), no covered refuse container for the disposal of feminine napkins in the (3) unisex bathrooms

Potbelly Sandwich Works: 401 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 5

violations: Observed wiping cloth stored in buckets of quaternary ammonium compound sanitizer concentration measured at 0ppm and observed wiping cloths stored on countertops, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: sliced tomatoes (50°F) and chicken salad (44°F) stored inside the "right 1-door prep" cooler, operator is not testing the chemical sanitizing solution to ensure proper concentration of the solution (all corrected), refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: the "right 1-door prep" cooler, cutting board(s) along the prep units are heavily scratched and scored, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed with an accumulation of food residue and/or other debris: toasters and refrigeration units

Veronica's Bakery & Cafe: 4116 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Nov. 14

violations: Observed rice in metal container in the WIC that was covered in plastic wrap when in the process of cooling (corrected), cutting board along the prep table next to the 3 compartment sink is heavily scratched and scored, light bulbs throughout back kitchen and in the front register area are not covered by a protective shielding, observed several fruit flies in the back mop area and around food cases in the front register area

Vocelli Pizza: 3406 Commonwealth Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Nov. 19

violations: The flooring is coming apart and dirt and food debris is accumulating under the floor

Wing Zone: 4110 Mt. Vernon Ave, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: Nov. 5

violations: No Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: observed three spatulas and a knife stored on wall magnet (both corrected), refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less, sides and around deep fryers and area around grease trap had accumulation of grease and grime

No Violations

Daniel O'Connell's Restaurant: 112 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 7

violations: none

Don Taco: 808 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 13

violations: none

Five Guys Burgers and Fries: 725 King St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, last inspection: Nov. 5

violations: none

La Fromagerie: 1222 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 7

violations: none

Royal Restaurant: 734 N. St. Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Nov. 2

violations: none

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