Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Mouse Droppings, Roaches Found

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 in recent weeks. Of note, Hard Times Cafe had dead roaches due to a pest control treatment. There were no live pests or droppings observed. Meda Market & Restaurant was observed to have mouse droppings in several areas. The restaurant is working to eliminate pests and has pest control every two weeks. 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

Domino’s Pizza (S Pickett): 370 S Pickett St. Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Dec. 10
Violations: Paper towels were not provided at hand sink, grime and debris on the nonfood contact surfaces of the pizza oven under racks and the shelves beside the pizza oven, both restrooms did not have toilet paper, 3 wet mops that were not hung up to air dry between uses

Four Seasons Bakery Cafe: 50 S. Pickett St 23 Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Dec. 6 (pre-opening)
Violations: The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: dullet (last page), kitfo, gored gored, and dullet

Hard Times Cafe: 1404 King St Alexandria, Virginia 22314
Inspection: Dec. 10
Violations: Observed few dead roaches at the upstairs bar. This was due to the treatment this morning. Please remove/clean the area; Pest services are completed every two weeks. Observed reports from 12/10/19, 11/26/19, 11/12/19; It was suggested to properly seal holes in the wall in the laundry room upstairs and ensure that the ceiling is maintained in good repair; Observed no mouse droppings or live cockroaches. According to the PIC, establishment has increased cleaning frequency and conducted a deep-clean 2 weeks ago.

Meda Market & Restaurant: 512 S. Van Dorn St B Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Dec. 9
Violations: There is no Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, paper towels were not provided at the kitchen handwashing sink, unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: raw beef in the prep unit, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: can opener observed heavily soiled with food debris, 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): sambusas on the front counter, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: kitfo, eggs, person in charge described a specialized processing method of food preservation requiring a variance from the Health Department is used for the following meat, fish, poultry, game animal, or ratite product: PIC said they are drying their own meats in the facility, observed a few mice droppings in the following areas: by the water heater, along the baseboards in the kitchen, in the bathroom, wiping cloths in a solution with no sanitizer

No Violations

EL Saltado Peruvian Cuisine: 3616 King St Alexandria, VA 22302
Inspection: Dec. 6 (pre-opening)
Violations: none

M.E. Swing Coffee Roasters: 501 E. Monroe Ave Alexandria, VA 22301
Inspection: Dec. 10
Violations: none

Panamerican Bakery & Grill Inc.: 650 S. Pickett St Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Dec. 2
Violations: none

Sam Phao Thai Cuisine: 1019 King St Alexandria, VA 22314
Inspection: Dec. 10
Violations: Follow-up inspection, violations corrected

Wag & Brew: 614-A S Pickett St. Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Dec. 2
Violations: follow-up, none