Flies And Cockroaches: Restaurant Inspections In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The City of Alexandria regularly conducts health inspections for local restaurants. The frequency of inspections on the type of food served and how it is prepared.

“In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations,” states the Virginia Department of Health’s website.

Here are some of the violations from recent inspections in May. Among the violations were cockroaches and flies, grime in an ice machine, refrigerators not working properly and employees failing to wash hands before handling food.

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Reports are typically posted five to seven days after the inspections. Full reports are available on the health department’s website. Click on the violations to see each restaurant's results.

Cafe Gallery and Market: 2141 Jamieson Ave, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: May 17

violations: open drinking container in kitchen, dead or trapped fruit flies found in facility, fly paper in dry storage area, dish detergent stored near food

Columbia Firehouse: 109 S. St. Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: May 18

violations: employee failing to wash hands before food prep, beverages stored above food prep areas, raw meat stored over ready-to-eat food, no records of parasite destruction by freezing salmon, foods not properly cooled within four/six hours, foods measured cold at improper temperatures, food held longer than expiration date, dirty food equipment, cockroaches and flies observed in the back

Hops Grill & Brewery: 3625 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Alexandria, VA 22305, last inspection: May 18

violations: containers of soup uncovered in refrigerator, door of refrigerator damaged, cutting boards not able to be properly sanitized due to heavy scratching, grime buildup inside ice machine

Namaste: 1504 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: May 15

violations: employee failing to wash hands before food prep, open drinking container stored near food prep area, employees without hair restraints in food prep area, uncovered food in refrigerators and dry storage area, improper method of thawing chicken, food not dated or discarded within 24 hours, refrigerator door damaged

Subway: 1512 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: May 12

violation: open drinking container stored near food prep area

Uptowner Cafe: 1609 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: May 12

violations: raw food stored over ready-to-eat food, steamed milk, eggs measured at improper temperatures,

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