Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Mold-Like Substance Citations

After the Virginia Department of Health transitioned to a new online database, restaurant inspections are back. 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 find 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 Alexandria restaurants so far in January. Among the violations was a mold-like substance in the ice machine at Executive Diner and RedRocks.

On the other hand, eight restaurants had no violations. This included a better follow-up inspection for Hong Kong Express.

Click on each restaurant for full results. Full reports are usually available five to seven days after the inspection on the health department's website.

Violations

The Dairy Godmother: 2310 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301
Last inspection: Jan. 22
Violations: Chlorine sanitizing solution to the low temp dish machine was not at an acceptable concentration, unlabeled food containers with the following food items that are not easily identified by appearance: flour and sugar in bulk bins, equipment observed no longer smooth or easily cleanable: sides of the metal sifter and bulk sugar container and lid

Del Ray Pizzeria: 2218 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301
Last inspection: Jan. 3
Violations: Employee observed placing personal food and open top drink on top of cutting board in the kitchen area, paper towels were not provided in the unisex (upstairs) restroom, containers for cooling food are arranged so as not to allow for maximum heat transfer

Executive Diner: 1400 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 21
Violations: Observed mold-like substance on the interior of the ice machine, dish machine sanitizer concentration was at 0ppm, time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items cold holding at improper temperatures: -Drawer refrigerator: Cooked onions (58°F), shredded cheese (58°F), sausage patty (60°F), sausage link (58°F), raw hamburger (58°F) -Prep refrigerator #2: Salsa (44°F), feta cheese (43°F), ham (45), cooked asparagus (48°F), cooked noodles (45°F) -Coffee low boy refrigerator: Milk (48°F), milk (49°F), written procedures could not be provided for food items under Time as a Public Health Control (cooked potatoes, cooked fries), cooked potatoes and cooked fries that were sitting out at room temperature and under no form of temperature control were not marked with a 4 hour use/discard by time, refrigerators are not operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: Drawer refrigerator, prep refrigerator #2, and coffee low boy refrigerator, wet mops not hanging to air dry

Fin & Hoof Bar & Grill: 801 N. St. Asaph St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 14
Violations: Discard RTE foods, if not consumed within 7 days. Repeat observation CORRECTED. Observed rice dated 1/3/20 and tuna salad dated 12/26/19.

Good Luck Chinese Carry-Out: 6 S. Jordan St Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 9
Violations: The handwashing station in the back prep area is being used as a dump station, clean food bins were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization

Haute Dogs & Fries: 610 Montgomery St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 6
Violations: Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: ground meats stored above raw fish in the prep unit, quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution used was not at an acceptable concentration, foods were not cooled from 135°F to 41°F within a total of 6 hours: blanched French fries (big plastic container-covered) found in the 2 door reach-in, food items 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: fries stored next to the fryer, two spray bottles observed, not labeled

Italian Gourmet Market & Deli (Deli): 500 John Carlyle St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 14
Violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: can opener blade, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: cooked chicken on the stove, onions and mushrooms in the oven, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: chicken cutlet in the 1 door cooler, food containers for cooling food are arranged so as not to allow for maximum heat transfer, dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: utensils observed stored in standing water, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust food residue, and/or other debris: door and interior of ice machine

Noodles & Company #411: 3105 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 13
Violations: Plastic food bins were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization, air gap between the water supply outlet and the flood rim level of the mop sink is not observed

Pasara Thai VA: 360 Englehardt Ln Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 9
Violations: Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: raw chicken over raw fish, raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in multiple units: raw chicken over veggies, raw salmon over raw produce and raw pork over cooked meats, ice machine and the enclosed components within ice machine in the kitchen were observed to be soiled, food items were measured at improper temperatures-bean sprouts (on counter top), and squid, crabmeat, and raw beef (3 door prep), wet wiping cloths stored on prep tables, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and/or other debris: exterior and in between fryer and surrounding equipment

Perk’s Coffee Shop: 822 N. Fairfax St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 7
Violations: Employees observed handling raw eggs (cracking) and continuing food prep without changing gloves and washing hands, two big containers of butter on the stove top being cooled with no active supervision, build-up of ice observed on the saran wrapped quiche in the freezer, wet wiping cloth buckets improperly stored, utensils improperly stored between use as follows: ice scoop stored with handle in the ice

Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory: 3060 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 9
Violations: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: can opener, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: cooked onions, cheesesteak beef in the hot wells, observed bottle of bleach water not labeled, faucet for the hot water at the front handwashing sink was observed leaking

RedRocks: 904 King St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 10
Violations: There is no Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, kitchen handwashing sink is being used to dump ice, meat slicer was heavily soiled with grime and debris, accumulation of a mold-like substance in the ice machine interior, observed meatballs (156°F) and marinara (86°F) in the steam table and marinara (81°F) in the crockpot that were not properly reheated prior to hot holding, no consumer advisory for the Bourbon Alexander drink (contains raw egg whites) on the drink menu, disclosure was not provided on menus stating that the asterisked food items can be served raw or undercooked, inadequate lighting in the food preparation areas (15-17 foot candles)

Subway #23195: 4553 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 21
Violations: Person in charge has a food manager certification from an accredited program, but does not have the Northern VA Certified Food Protection Manager certificate, food item was measured at improper temperatures in the left prep cooler: roast beef (47 F), buffalo chicken (53-55 F), turkey slices (53-55 F), steak pieces (46 F), and veggie patties (55 F)

No Violations

Chipotle Mexican Grill (King): 601 King St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 6
Violations: none

Hong Kong Express: 4545 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 13
Violations: none

International House of Pancakes, #578: 3425 Richmond Hwy A Alexandria, VA 22305
Last inspection: Jan. 21
Violations: none

Meda Market & Restaurant: 512 S. Van Dorn St B Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 14
Violations: none

Sunday in Saigon: 682 N. St. Asaph St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 21
Violations: none

La Trattoria: 305 S. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314
Last inspection: Jan. 14
Violations: none

Tsedey LLC - Restaurant: 672 S. Pickett St. Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 21 (pre-opening)
Violations: none

Vizio Coffee House / Renaissance Caterer: 4936 Eisenhower Ave A Alexandria, VA 22304
Last inspection: Jan. 21
Violations: none