Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Mouse Droppings Spotted

ALEXANDRIA, VA — As we continue to look at the latest restaurant inspections in Alexandria, and there's a mix of restaurants with violations and no violations.

The Alexandria Health Department's environmental health specialist regularly inspects restaurants and other food service establishments around the city. Each food service establishment gets at least one inspection per year, but the frequency of inspections is based on the type of food prepared and how it is prepared, according to the Virginia Department of Health inspection database. Inspections may be routine visits, follow-up inspections, training inspections, pre-opening inspections, or risk assessment or complaint inspections.

Reports are typically available a week after the inspection. Residents can search for a specific restaurant or browse a map of inspected locations through the online database.

One of the notable reports was at Veronica's Bakery & Cafe, where inspectors found mouse droppings. Inspectors recommended the restaurant increase pest monitoring and work with a pest control company to remove pest harborage areas.

The health department's visits also include restaurants receiving training on administering Narcan to reverse opioid overdoses.

Below are reports in recent weeks at restaurants around Alexandria.

Northside 10: 10 E Glebe Rd. Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: Sept. 6 (training on opioid response and administering Narcan)

Clyde's At Mark Center: 1700 N. Beauregard St Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (training on opioid response and administering Narcan)

&pizza: 3525 B Richmond Hwy. Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: Sept. 6 (routine)

Violations:

• The following time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures: Back prep refrigerator [left side - next to pizza oven] - Meatball (44°F), meatball (45°F), shrimp (43°F); Back prep refrigerator [right side] - Blue cheese (47°F), goat cheese (44°F).

Washed food containers were not allowed to air dry prior to stacking.

Red Rocks: 904 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Sept. 6 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed general use Spectracide Bug Stop in kitchen.
• Observed two bottles of bleach in kitchen on shelf above flour and cooking equipment.
• Observed significant number of fruit flies in mop sink, on walls around mop sink, and flying in this area.
• Observed light bulb immediately inside walk-in cooler did not have protective shielding.

Executive Diner: 1400 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: Sept. 6 (routine)

Violations:

• Incoming shipments are not being routinely inspected for the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests. Observed onions with heavy fruit fly presence.
• Boxes of Food stored on the walk in freezer floor and stored less than 6 inches off the floor.

Subway #22343: 3829 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: Sept. 1 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Southside 815: 815 S. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 31 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed crab mix at 44F and shredded cheese at 50F in 1-door upright glass door cooler.
• Observed 1-door glass reach-in refrigerator had an ambient temperature of 40-41F but was set at approximately 20F.
• Observed significant dust accumulation around vent above cook line and on metal shelves above prep units on cook line.
• Observed mop was left in dirty mop water after last use.
• Observed grout was very low in multiple areas of kitchen.

La Pupusa Loca: 4231 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: Aug. 31 (risk factor)

Violations:

• No disposable towels were provided a the hand washing lavatory in the front area.
• Surfaces of ice bins, beverage dispensing nozzles, and enclosed components of equipment are not being cleaned as required.

Wing Zone: 4110 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: Aug. 31 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed the following time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items cold holding at improper temperatures in the walk in cooler: Shredded cheese (50°F), sliced tomatoes (50°F). No other TCS food was stored.

Taverna Cretekou: 818 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 31 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed cracked tiles and dirty apron between wall and cooler created harborage conditions for live cockroaches.

South Block: 3051 Mount Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: Aug. 31 (routine)

Violations:

Verification was not available to show that employees are trained on employee health reporting procedures.

This food establishment has not established written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.

M.E. Swing's Coffee Roasters: 501 E. Monroe Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (routine)

Violations:

• There is no certified food protection manager to supervise the food establishment's food service employees; the person in charge shall be a certified food protection manager.
• Ham cheddar scones and parmesan leek croissants are stored in the pastry case with no refrigeration. Product was at 68 F.

Panera Bread #695: 3201 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

District Taco: 701 S. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Philadelphia Cheesesteak Factory: 3060 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Warehouse Bar & Grill: 214 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed that the following potentially hazardous foods were not cooled from 135°F to 41°F within a total of 6 hours: tomato sauce in bucket in WIC.
• The food-contact surfaces of the following storage items are not approved for use with food: plastic home depot buckets used for food.

Aldo's Italian Kitchen: 2850 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 30 (training on opioid response and administering Narcan)

For Five Coffee Roasters: 1800 Diagonal Rd Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 29 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Cheese and spinach pies for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not labeled or otherwise marked with a 4 hour cook, serve or discard by time.

Haute Dogs & Fries: 610 Montgomery St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 29 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Zento Restaurant: 693 N. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 29 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Thompson Italian: 1024 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 29 (routine)

Watergate Restaurant and Market: 211 Yoakum Pkwy Alexandria, VA

Last inspection: Aug. 28 (routine)

Violations:

• Pizza-tomato sauce (55°F), shredded cheese (56°F), diced ham (53°F), and sausage (55°F) cold holding at improper temperatures inside the pizza prep cooler.
• The quaternary ammonium sanitizer solution used to sanitize utensils/equipment at the 3-compartment sink is not being used in accordance with law or the manufacturer's use directions. The quaternary ammonium concentration was too high, measured at 500ppm or above.
• The pizza prep cooler (ambient temperature=48°F) and backup prep cooler (ambient temperature=44°F) were observed in a state of disrepair and damaged, not properly cold holding TCS foods.
• There is not a sufficient (no color key and strips are faded) quaternary ammonium test kit located in the facility for monitoring the concentration of the chemical sanitizing solution.

Urbano 116: 116 King Alexandria, VA 22315

Last inspection: Aug. 28 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Landini Brothers: 115 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 28 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Alexandria Pastry and Cafe: 3690 King St H Alexandria, VA 22302

Last inspection: Aug. 28 (routine)

Violations:

• Whole milk and half & half for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not labeled or otherwise marked with a 4 hour cook, serve or discard by time.
• Food containers for cooling food are arranged so as not allow for maximum heat transfer. Cooling items wee observed wrapped with plastic wrap with no opening for cooling.
• Large floor drain in front of back line near stove tops noted in need of cleaning.
• The grout at the 3 compartment sink is not maintained in good repair and water is pooling.

Roundhouse Café: 600 Dulany St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 28 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed person in charge was routinely checking refrigeration unit temperatures but no corrective action was taken when units exceeded maximum desired temperature for cold holding.
• Observed half and half at 49F in cooler #10, turkey at 45F in meat/cheese walk-in, and batter at 50F in cooler #7.
• Observed chicken cooling in tightly covered container in produce walk-in cooler.
• Observed reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) salmon thawing in ROP environment in cooler #6.
• Observed the following units had an ambient air temperature above 41F: soda walk-in cooler, meat/cheese walk-in cooler, cooler #10, cooler #7 (Grill)
• Observed hose attached to y-splitter hanging below rim of mop sink.

Veronica's Bakery & Cafe (Dove): 2387 S. Dove St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 28 (routine)

Violations:

• Mouse droppings observed in the back storage room.

Subway #43173: 2421 Eisenhower Ave. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed no means by which to dry hands in customer restroom.

Nando's Peri Peri: 2462 Mandeville Ln Alexandria, VA 22332

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

International House of Pancakes, #578: 3425 Richmond Hwy A Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (routine)

Violations:

• The person in charge was not able to provide verification that employees were trained on employee health reporting procedures.

AMC Theatres Hoffman Center 22: 206 Swamp Fox Rd Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed 2-door upright freezer in back had an ambient temperature of 39F.
• Observed multiple areas of facility are in need of cleaning. Observed accumulation of debris and food under equipment, on floors, and in other areas.

Barnes and Noble Booksellers, Inc. #2867: 3651 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, Virginia 22305

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed accumulation of mold-like substance on the interior surfaces of the ice machine.
• Observed an accumulation of grime and debris on the nonfood contact surfaces of the interior of the display refrigerator, door tracks of display refrigerator.

Asian Wok Cafe: 828 N. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed accumulations of dust, dirt, food residue or other debris on the following non-food-contact surfaces: the wok/stove top and outside of containers holding sticky sauces. The spoons in seasoning containers also need cleaning.

International House of Pancakes, # 478: 6254 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22312

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Popeyes: 25 S. Pickett St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: Aug. 25 (routine)

Violations:

• Multiple areas on the floors are observed to be not smooth and easily cleanable.

Subway: 1470 N. Beauregard St A Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: Aug. 24 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Bella Napoli: 1310 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Mae's Market & Cafe: 277 S. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed tags were not being retained after last piece of shellstock is sold/served.
• Observed steak and burger on Virginia's Darling menu that may be served raw/undercooked did not have indicator for consumer advisory.
• Observed mop holder is broken and mops are not being hung to dry.

St. Elmo's Coffee Pub: 529 Montgomery St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Inca Chicken: 408 S. Van Dorn St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Hinata Sushi Bar & Grill: 909 N St Asaph St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (routine)

Violations:

• The chlorine sanitizer at the sanitizer 3 compartment sink basin was measured at 25 ppm.
• Observed several containers of food, beverages, containers and non-food containers stored directly on the floor (WIC, hallway, kitchen).
• The sushi 2 door lowboy (right) unit was cold holding above 50 F. Units holding TCS foods shall be stored under 41 F.

Kiwi Kuisine: 4550 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Falafel Inc.: 726 King St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: Aug. 23 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed diced tomatoes at 53F in upstairs small black refrigerator. PIC stated tomatoes had been in unit since previous day.
• Observed tongs and spoon stored in pans of stagnant water at 80F-80F.
• Observed upstairs small black refrigerator had an ambient temperature of 55F. Ice accumulation observed at back of unit.
• Observed cracked floor tiles by oven and in hallway leading to stairs.
• Observed cove base is missing on left side of mop sink, and cove base on right side of mop sink is not adhered to wall.