Alexandria Restaurant Inspections: Roach, Rodent Droppings 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, Euro Cafe, the dining service at Northern Virginia Community College, had 16 violations. Among the findings were rodent droppings, a roach and drain flies. Health inspectors recommended a follow-up with pest control.

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

Violations

Cafe Gloria: 1900 N. Beauregard St Alexandria, VA 22311
Inspection: Oct. 29
Violations: Observed food employee accidentally drop a large carrot on the floor after peeling it, and then immediately slicing the carrot with a grater, food item was measured at improper temperatures: hard boiled eggs sitting out in room temperature for 3.6 hours, sliced tomatoes (50 F) and lettuce (container #2 55 F) in the Superior prep cooler, chlorine sanitizing solution (over 200 PPM) in wiping cloth bucket being applied to food contact surfaces does not meet the requirements of 21 CFR 178.1010, rice scooper stored in standing water (all corrected), handwashing station at the location is being used for purposes other than washing hands, food-contact surfaces were observed soiled to sight and touch: cell phone was sitting on top of slicer (close to the blade), mouse droppings throughout the kitchen (underneath equipment), wiping cloths improperly stored between use, no chemical sanitizing test kit present to ensure the chemical sanitizing solution used is at the proper concentration, plumbing connections under the 3 compartment sink piping are leaking

Deli For The Belly: 4926 Eisenhower Ave B Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Oct. 30
Violations: Hand soap was not provided at the kitchen hand sink or the front hand sink, kitchen hand sink was blocked by various objects, paper towels were not provided at the kitchen hand sink, observed sausages (48°F), diced tomatoes (43°F, 48°F), ham (43°F), and hot dogs (43°F) cold holding at improper temperatures in the left prep refrigerator, also observed heavy cream (55°F) stored at room temperature in carafe in coffee area, observed raw chicken thawing at room temperature, observed salads, fruit salads, and desserts packaged in the facility without proper labels in the customer self-serve refrigerator, wet wiping cloths stored on tables throughout facility, utensil used to dispense cooked rice stored in standing (room temperature) water between uses, wet mops not hanging to air dry

Euro Cafe (NVCC): 3001 N. Beauregard St Alexandria, VA 22311
Inspection: Nov. 4
Violations: The person in charge failed to describe the symptoms associated with diseases that are transmissible through food, observed a large container with sliced tomatoes and lettuce being stored on top of the handsink, there appeared to be white fuzzy AND green-blue mold on the vegetable wonton wrappers, food item was measured at improper temperatures: vanilla yogurt (43.4 F), shelled eggs (44 F), sour cream (44.2 F), spinach bag #1 (43.6 F) AND spinach bag #2 (44.2 F) in True 2 door refrigerator. Prep cooler: sliced tomatoes (57 F, recently cut around 8:30 AM; took temperature at 11 AM.) AND veggie soup (52 F), poisonous/toxic material (oven cleaner) is not properly stored to prevent the contamination of clean multi-use utensils, linens or single service items, four utensils next to the warmers stored in standing water AND utensil's handle to scoop sugar observed in the sugar, observed cell phones on prep tables, and a purse next to clean multi-use utensils (all corrected), equipment food-contact surfaces were observed soiled to sight and touch: slicer, prepared ready-to-eat (RTE) 'chicken patties and spaghetti sauce' in the True 2 door refrigerator, cooked veggie mix in the True 2 door refrigerator #2, AND 'sliced watermelon containers and hard boiled eggs' in the open display cooler are not labeled with a "consume by" date, 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: burgers, veggie/rice bowl, milk, sliced tomatoes, AND pizza, Observed small roach on the wall in the kitchen, multiple drain flies on the wall next to the handsink by the prep table, AND rodent droppings throughout the facility underneath equipment, observed multiple wiping cloths stored on top of prep tables throughout out the facility, on the grill, next to the rice warmers, and at the 3 compartment sink, refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: True 2 door refrigerator (45-46 F), open display cooler (43-44 F), AND prep cooler (45.4 F), true freezer in the dry storage area was observed in a state of disrepair and damaged, no chemical sanitizing test kit present to ensure the chemical sanitizing solution used is at the proper concentration, mops are not hung up to air dry

May Island: 1669 N. Quaker Ln Alexandria, VA 22302
Inspection: Oct. 30
Violations: This food establishment has not established written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility, open top cup of coffee stored on the prep table at the sushi bar, sushi rice 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, 3 bottles of chemicals observed without proper labels, boxes of food observed stored in standing water near the triple sink, accumulations of dust, dirt, food residue or other debris on the following non-food-contact surfaces: The container lids and exterior of the bins holding flour

McDonald’s #22834: 1468 N. Beauregard St B Alexandria, VA 22311
Inspection: Nov. 4
Violations: No written procedures exist for the use of time as a public health control with potentially hazardous foods (corrected)

Potbelly Sandwich Shop (King): 4690 King St. Alexandria, VA 22302
Inspection: Oct. 31
Violations: Discussed the following with the certified food protection manager (CFPM):1) Prep cooler ambient temperature observed at 33 F. Chick peas observed at 38 F and sliced eggs were 38 F

Quattro Formaggi: 1725 Duke St B Alexandria, VA 22314
Inspection: Oct. 31
Violations: Observed employees go outside, re-enter, and not wash hands prior to handling food again, observed employees spread garnishes onto cooked pizzas with their bare hands after placing the pizzas in delivery boxes, also observed employees touch cooked pizzas with their bare hands while placing the pizzas into delivery boxes, observed raw shell eggs stored above dressings and lettuce in the walk in cooler, observed a mold-like substance in the ice machine, observed feta cheese (44°F), tzatziki sauce (44°F), and shredded cheese (45°F) cold holding at improper temperatures in the left prep refrigerator

Ramparts: 1700 Fern St Alexandria, VA 22302
Inspection: Oct. 29
Violations: Soap was not provided at the hand washing sink at the bar, food-contact surfaces were observed soiled to sight and touch: blade of the prep table can opener, sliced tomatoes (44F) and coleslaw(44) were cold holding at improper temperatures, meat and potatoes observed on the floor of the walk-in cooler, linens observed stored on the ground back by the storage closet

Wendy’s #6524: 229 S. Van Dorn St Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Nov. 4
Violations: The premises is not being routinely inspected for the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests: Observed houseflies in the back storage area and fruit flies near the self-service soda machines, The following was discussed with the PIC: Ensure that proper cooling methods are being used when cooling tomatoes from ambient air temperature after prepping

No Violations

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams: 102 S. Patrick St Alexandria, VA 22314
Inspection: Oct (pre-opening)
Violations: none

Pizza Hut #23598: 5145 Duke St A Alexandria, VA 22304
Inspection: Oct. 25
Violations: none