Mold In Ice Machine, 10 More Violations At Alexandria Restaurant

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 the latest inspections around Old Town Alexandria, including restaurants that passed with no violations. Among these violations were 11 at Quattro Formaggi, which included a mold-like substance in the ice machine. Rock It Grill was cited for a similar violation.

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

Hard Times Cafe: 1404 King St, Alexandria, Virginia 22314, last inspection: June 28

violations: Employee observed donning gloves to prep food without first washing hands, foods measured at improper temperatures: eggs, chili x 3, milk, french fries, equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: can opener blade, knives on the knife rack, pesticides are being used in the restaurant that are not applied by a certified applicator (all corrected)

Hen Quarter: 801 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: July 6

violations: Observed several containers and food equipment stored in downstairs storage area soiled with food residues and debris (corrected), employees are not properly sanitizing cleaned multi use equipment and utensils

Laporta's: 1600 Duke St 1, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: June 28

violations: Open drinking container was improper stored above the prep table, unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: walk-in refrigerator, improper methods used to thaw salmon in standing water, foods measured at improper temperatures: blue cheese, ranch dressing, cut tomato, spring mix, romaine lettuce (salad prep). and trout, shrimp reach-in cookline (right), Clean food contact surfaces were improperly stored with chemical in the dish washing area (all corrected), 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: au gratin potatoes, and pork in the walk-in refrigerator, toilet room is not provided with a self-closing door, floor in the dish machine area is in need of cleaning

Quattro Formaggi: 1725 Duke St B, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: July 10

violations: Observed container of raw salmon and chicken stored above RTE cheese and sauces in the WIC and raw steak stored above RTE foods in the UC 2 door, observed a container of utensils (knives, spatulas, spoons) to be stored on the grill and in room temperature water and pizza slicers to be stored in between the prep top and the wall, where the food contact areas are not regularly clean, observed containers of cooked pasta and prepped veggies to be tightly covered when they were in the cooling process, food item were measured at improper temperatures: 2 containers of marinara sauce found in the steam table were measured at 99 F and 108 F, handwashing facility located at the back next to the ice machine is blocked by a trashcan and empty boxes, observed a spray bottle for window cleaner with no label on it (all corrected), observed several containers of foods in the freezer to be stored on the floor, insides of the ice machine (white chute area and surrounding walls) are soiled with mold-like substance, nonfood-contact surfaces had accumulations of grime and debris: brute containers, storage containers, outsides of the hobart mixer and the slicer, pizza boxes and single-service containers were found stored on the floor, drains and the drain piping for the three compartment sink and prep sinks are in need of cleaning

Rock It Grill: 1319 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: July 9

violations: unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: in the freezer (fish and shrimp), under the prep table near the dry storage room (buckets of flour and breadcrumbs), build-up observed on the interior walls of the ice machine, floors under prep tables and equipment is in need of cleaning

Royal Restaurant: 734 N. St. Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: July 3

violations: Foods measured at improper temperatures: salsa measured 54°F, cheese measured 55°F, rice pudding measured 51°F, half and half measured 49°F (corrected), salad prep top unit (service prep top) measured 56°F and the pie cooler measured 53°F

Society Fair: 277 S. Washington St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: June 29

violations: Establishment does not have an approved HACCP plan for the food that is packaged using the Reduced Oxygen Packaging (ROP) process (corrected), raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: poached eggs, steak, prosciutto, and salmon

Sunday in Saigon: 682 N. St. Asaph St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: June 29

violations: Open top employee beverages observed stored on top of plateware, different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: raw chicken observed stored in the same pan as raw fish, tongs used to cook food on the cookline observed hanging in contact with the trash can. and large ladle observed hanging from the hand sink in contact with the trash can, wet wiping cloths observed stored throughout the kitchen on the counter tops, food stored on the floor and/or food stored less than 6 inches off the floor: broccoli observed stored in a colander on the floor in the kitchen, 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: cut melon, cooked tofu, cooked shrimp, cooked potatoes (all corrected), tags for the molluscan shellfish are not being retained for 90 days, raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure, light bulb on the front cookline above the cooking equipment are not covered by a protective shielding

TJ Stone's: 608 Montgomery St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: June 3

violations: 4 door reach-in cooler on the expo line is not holding temperature: ambient temperature measured 50°F, light bulb(s) throughout the kitchen area are not covered by a protective shielding, several floor tiles and a coving tile by the WIC are damaged or missing and grout is also excessively worn throughout the kitchen

No violations

La Fromagerie: 1222 King St, Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: June 28

violations: none

The Majestic: 911 King St., Alexandria, VA 22314, last inspection: July 3

violations: none

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