Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Mold Buildup In Ice Machine

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 for Old Town Alexandria restaurants through early September, which includes restaurants that passed with no violations. Among these violations was mold in the ice machine at La Tasca. This violation was corrected.

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

Bread & Chocolate: 611 King St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: he following mechanical refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: The milk cooler was measured at 49°F, plumbing connections under the mop sink are leaking, observed wet mops stored inside the mop sink and inside mop buckets rather than in a position that allows them to air dry

Casa Tequila Bar & Grill: 1701 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 14

violations: Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: raw beef was improperly stored above shrimp and scallops in the refrigerated drawers under the grill, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: eggs and steak, due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning (corrected)

District Taco: 701 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 19

violations: The following food item was measured at improper temperatures: steak at 122 F, food items were measured at improper temperatures: raw marinated shrimp and raw eggs found in the 4 drawer unit under the grill, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: 2 veggie choppers and blender lids, Observed employee rinsing towel at handwashing station, observed two spray bottles with blue liquid with no proper label/identification (all corrected), refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: The 4 drawer refrigeration unit is holding at 60 F, door gaskets of the following unit are (missing, damaged): the 4 drawer refrigeration unit is not shutting properly (bottom right drawer)

The Executive Diner: 1400 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22304, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: The following food items were measured at improper temperatures: cut cantaloupe, tomatoes, and coleslaw from the left prep unit in the kitchen, turkey and cheese sandwich in the 2 door sliding glass display, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: the deli slicer and can opener in the warewashing room, big potato slicer/dicer in front of the WIC (both corrected), no consumer advisory for the following food items that may be served raw and/or undercooked: 2 eggs any way, smoked salmon, mediterranean salmon, and extra egg, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: items have asterisks but no disclosure statement found throughout menu, refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less. the 2 door prep top unit (left-kitchen) and the two glass sliding display units (bar area and cafe), employee clothing and other possessions stored in areas that may contaminate food, food-contact surfaces of equipment, single-service items, or single-use items, observed employee keys, phones, watches in the kitchen and on dry storage areas throughout facility

Faccia Luna Pizza: 823 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: The date on which the last shellstock from the container is sold or served was not recorded on the tag or label (corrected)

Firehook Bakery: 430 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 20

violations: Observed that the walk-in refrigerator cooler floor is not maintained in good repair: flooring is coming apart and areas underneatth flooring is not easily cleanable.

Hank's Oyster Bar: 1026 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: meat slicer (corrected), surfaces of the downstairs ice machine in contact with non-potentially hazardous food items that were observed soiled with accumulations of grime and debris

Haute Dogs & Fries: 610 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 13

violations: employee failed to discard contaminated gloves, wash hands, and don clean gloves prior to handling ready to eat food, food items were measured at improper temperatures: -Prep refrigerator #2: Cooked chicken sausage, hot dog -2-door reach in refrigerator: Cole slaw, hot dog, cooked ground beef, diced tomatoes, liquid egg, french fries 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, handwashing facility located beside the 3 compartment sink is blocked (all corrected), equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: Food containers and dispensing utensils stored in kitchen

Hen Quarter: 801 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 18

violations: The following farm-raised fish served or sold in a ready-to-eat form without freezing for parasite destruction is not properly identified as such: the Person in Charge (PIC) was unable to present a written statement from the supplier for the salmon offered on the menu for raw or undercooked consumption, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: mashed potatoes (108°F), food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: diced cherry tomatoes (50°F), sliced cheese (53°F), unsalted butter (59°F), & yogurt (59°F) stored inside the front line prep cooler, milk (49°F) and half & half (43°F) stored inside the wait station undercounter cooler (all corrected), refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: the front line prep (56°F,45°F) and the wait station undercounter (45°F), door gaskets of the following unit(s) are (missing, damaged): the wait station undercounter cooler and the downstairs reach-in freezer, plumbing connections under the 3-compartment sink located in the prep kitchen on the lower level are leaking

Mackie's Bar & Grill: 907 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 20

violations: Raw animal food holding in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: raw shrimp that was uncovered was stored on top of a container of cut tomatoes in the bottom of the prep unit, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: roasted eggplant observed covered on speed rack at 80F. PIC indicated that it was from the previous night, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food in the refrigeration unit is not used within 24 hours of preparation and is not properly dated for disposition within 7 days at 41°F: chicken wings and tuna salad (all corrected), uncovered straws were stored at bar and displayed and dispensed in a way that they are not protected from contamination

The Peoples Drug: 103 N Alfred St., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 20

violations: Raw animal food holding in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: raw shell eggs stored above ready-to-eat lettuce and greens in 2 door reach-in cooler, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: cooked mixed vegetables/54, and cooked mushrooms/52 on ice on prep table, observed a pot of peas stored in the only hand sink located in the prep area (all corrected)

RedRocks Pizza Napoletana: 904 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 17

violations: Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: 3 ice scoops stored inside 3 separate ice bins with the handles in contact with the ice, observed wiping cloths stored on food prep surfaces and on other equipment rather than in a chemical sanitizer solution at a specified concentration, observed food stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and/or other debris: slicer, pizza dough maker, and refrigeration units, inadequate lighting was provided in the food preparation areas in the kitchen, floors and walls in the kitchen area are in need of cleaning

Sophia's Cafe: 1320 Braddock Pl, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: The cutting board(s) along the prep table across from the 3-compartment sink are heavily scratched and scored, items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment are being stored on the premises: Observed 3 prep coolers unplugged and/or broken and other unnecessary equipment stored in the kitchen area

Southside 815: 815 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: Unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: prep refrigerators, reach in refrigerators, and low boy refrigerator, food items were measured at improper temperatures: -Walk in cooler: Cooked sweet potatoes, pico de gallo, sausage, pulled chicken -Bar cooler: Milk (corrected)

La Tasca: 607 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 17

violations: Surfaces of ice bins, beverage dispensing nozzles, and enclosed components of equipment are not being cleaned as required: observed mold-like build up on the inside ice machine guard, a distinct, separate water rinse after washing and before sanitizing of utensils and equipment was not observed, working containers of sanitizer (bleach & water) located at the mop sink, sanitizer located in the waitress station area, and cleaning chemicals located in the bar area are not properly labeled (all corrected)

Thanida Thai Restaurant: 835 N. Royal St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 18

violations: Observed half & half at improper temperatures that was stored in shallow ice bath, 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): Cooked noodles, cut cherry tomatoes, food item(s) for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not cooked, served or discarded by the expiration time as indicated: Cooked noodles, cut cherry tomatoes (all corrected), nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and/or other debris: Exterior of fryers, grill, and stoves, walls behind and floors underneath grills, stove, and fryers are in need of cleaning

Vaso's: 1118 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 21

violations: Employees observed working in the food service area without proper hair restraints, surfaces of the ice machine interior were in contact with non-potentially hazardous food items that were observed soiled with accumulations of grime and debris, nonfood contact surface of the exterior of the oven and top of the dish machine had accumulations of grime and debris, walls and floors in kitchen are in need of cleaning

Vermilion: 1120 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 21

violations: Raw chicken stored over ready-to-eat food in the refrigeration unit, food items were measured at improper temperatures: -Low boy (left): Heavy cream, sliced tomatoes -Walk in cooler: Seaweed aioli, raw chicken -Butter (sitting out), equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: meat slicer, due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning (all corrected), tag missing from the molluscan shellfish container, date on which the last shellstock from the container is sold or served was not recorded on the tag or label

YoLove Frozen Yogurt: 101 N. Union Street, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 20

violations: The premises is not being routinely inspected for the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests

No Violations

Brabo: 1600 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 18

violations: none

Dos Amigos Restaurant: 535 E. Braddock Rd, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Sept. 25

violations: none

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: 401 East Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Sept. 17

violations: none

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