Alexandria Restaurant Violations: 'Numerous Flies' At Eatery

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 the last half of August, which includes restaurants that passed with no violations. Among these violations were 11 at Los Cuates Restaurant. A violation of flies required pest control within 10 days.

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

Asian Wok Cafe: 828 N. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 27

violations: Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: raw chicken observed over raw beef in the WIF, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: floor mixer, mandolin hanging at the triple sink, paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink (all corrected)

Bilbo Baggins Global Restaurant: 208 Queen St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 27

violations: Tuna observed thawing in the ROP packaging, glass door to the salad unit observed cracked and taped, lid to the flour bin in the basement is taped up which does not allow for proper cleaning, nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment were observed soiled with an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and/or other debris: containers used for storage of the flour in the basement, build up observed on the deflector shield of the ice machine in the basement

Blackwall Hitch: 5 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 17

violations: During inspection observed open containers of sodas and beverages stored in dishwashing area above clean dishes and on the prep table during service, observed that several food items were stored at temperatures above 41F, due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning, chemical sanitizer mixer valve appears to be malfunctioning, and is unable to deliver sanitizer consistently (all corrected), observed that large bins are used to cool portions of food from cooking or ambient temperatures, employees are not properly monitoring the sanitizing solutions for multiuse equipment and utensils

Blue & White Carryout: 1024 Wythe St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 23

violations: The person in charge failed to explain how the PIC, food employees, and conditional employees comply with reporting responsibilities and exclusion or restriction of food employees by knowing which foodborne illnesses to report and knowing to report them to the local health department, observed raw steaks stored next to cooked beans on the bottom shelf of the 2-door reach-in refrigerator, methods used for cooling were not adequate to facilitate cooling of the product from 135°F to 41°F within 6 hours: observed beans being cooled in a deep metal container, 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: cooked chicken and rice and sausage patties, no QT-10 test kit located in the facility for monitoring the concentration of the chemical sanitizing solutions, paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink (all corrected)

Brabo Tasting Room: 1602 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 20

violations: No Northern Virginia Certified Food Protection Manager on duty during hours of operation, coving in the back dish area and the floor tiles in the back dish area are not maintained in good repair

The Chart House: 1 Cameron St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 27

violations: none

Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap: 401 East Braddock Road, Alexandria, VA 22301, last inspection: Aug. 16

violations: The following food items were measured at improper temperatures: ham, caramelized onions, and beef short ribs all found on the pizza prep cold table; Also, meatballs, lasagna, eggplant parmigiana, breaded chicken, raw chicken, and marsala sauce were all found to be above 41 F in the WIC, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: the big pasta machine in the pasta room (both corrected), WIC can appropriately hold at 41 F however the two doors are not properly sealed and hot air is entering through

Le Refuge: 127 N. Washington St C, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 23

violations: Food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: onion soup measured 129°F, mushroom sauce measured 120°F, pepper sauce measured 120°F, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: brie, clams, goat cheese, creme brulee all in the 2 door undercounter cooler unit, 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), person in charge has a food manager certification from an accredited program, but does not have the Northern VA Certified Food Protection Manager certificate (photo ID card)

Los Cuates Restaurant: 1116 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 22

violations: Employee failed to wash his hands after handling trash and before putting on gloves, food employee(s) was observed handling the following ready-to-eat foods using their bare hands: lettuce, raw whole shell eggs were improperly stored above the carrots and cooked pork, unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: in the reach-in refrigerator, observed unwashed lettuce with washed lettuce at the prep cooler, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: queso, pinto beans, cooked pork in the reach-in refrigerator, cooked pork dated 8/14/18 was not consumed or discarded by 8/20/18, due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning, paper towels were not provided at the kitchen handwashing sink (all corrected), food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: soup, tamale, beef (steam table), numerous flies and fruit flies were observed in the restaurant

Misha's: 102 S. Patrick St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 22

violations: The following food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: the whole milk 60°F and the fat free milk 62°F at the coffee counter, paper towels were not provided at the rear handwashing sink, Quaternary Ammonium concentration was 500ppm (all corrected)

Myron Mixon's Pitmaster Barbecue: 220 N. Lee St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 27

violations: The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: sunny side up options on the brunch menu, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: The sunny side up options on the brunch menu

Old Town Deli: 109 N. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 23

violations: The following food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: meatloaf measured at 114°F (corrected), refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: ambient air temperature of the salad prep unit was measured at 52°F

Tequila & Taco: 540 John Carlyle St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 27

violations: Observed employee handling lettuce on quesadilla with his bare hands, food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: diced tomatoes, seared tuna, shrimp, lettuce, bean salsa (ice bath) (both corrected), hand soap was not provided at the kitchen handwashing sink

No violations

Bastille: 602 N Fayette St., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 28

violations: none

Cafe 44: 44 Canal Center Pl., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 15

violations: none

Casa Tequila Bar & Grill (pre-opening): 1701 Duke St., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 16

violations: none

Hawwi Ethiopian Restaurant: 1125 Queen St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 28

violations: none

Starbucks: 683 N. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 20

violations: none

Union Street Public House: 121 S. Union St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 20

violations: none

The Wharf: 119 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: Aug. 23

violations: none

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