Mouse Droppings, Slimy Substance: Alexandria Restaurant Inspections

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.

Below are reports for the first half of March at restaurants around Alexandria. One of the notable violations was mouse droppings in a storage area at Hawwi Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant. The health inspector recommended fixing a gap in the back door that could allow entry of pest as well as cleaning and sanitizing of areas with mouse droppings.

Another violation was a "white, slimy substance" on a soda nozzle at Pita House. The violation was corrected during the inspection.

Click on each link to see the full report for the restaurants.

Hummingbird: 220 S Union St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 1 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed chemical sanitizing dish machine dispensing sanitizer at a concentration of approximately 25 PPM.
• Observed the following time/temperature control for safety items at the following temperatures in the right 2-door reach in cooler: cooked pasta at 48F, romesco sauce at 48F, ricotta cheese at 48F.

La Fromagerie: 1222 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 1 (routine)

Violations:

• The cutting boards along the reach-in coolers are heavily scratched and scored.

Brabo Tasting Room: 1600 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 1 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Lori's Table: 1028 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 1 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Piece Out Del Ray: 2419 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, Virginia 22301

Last inspection: March 1 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed an open beverage container on the pizza prep unit.
• Observed a big container of meatballs with sauce not being adequately cooled to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.

Sicilian Pizza & Kabob: 1504-B Mt. Vernon Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 1 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Jimmy John's: 330 John Carlyle St, Unit 140 Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 1 (routine)

Violations:

• The ice chute at the soda station was observed with black build up.
• There is no covered refuse container for the disposal of feminine napkins in the unisex restroom.
• Observed the caulking at the 3 compartment sink and the hand sink was in disrepair.

Subway #827: 3674 King St Alexandria, VA 22302

Last inspection: March 1 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed chopped spinach (51), sliced tomatoes (42-49), shredded lettuce (47) in the right serve line unit cold holding at improper temperatures.

DMV Pizza: 3406 Commonwealth Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: March 2

• Violations: Ownership change, valid food establishment permit needed.

Marcelas Bakery: 3856 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: March 2 (routine)

Violations:

• Employees are not informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report information regarding their health and activities relating to symptoms and illnesses transmitted through food to the person in charge.
• Paper towels were not provided at the hand sink in the men's restroom.
• Observed chicken saltena (122°F) hot holding at improper temperature in the display case.
• Raw shell eggs observed being kept at room temperature.
• Wiping cloths were stored on tables throughout kitchen and bakery.
• Observed dispensing spoon stored in standing water (70°F).
• The door gaskets to the 3-door reach in refrigerator and the walk in cooler are not in good condition.
• The cutting boards are heavily scratched and scored.
• The nonfood contact surfaces of the interior of refrigerators/freezers, door tracks of refrigerators/freezers, and exterior of cooking equipment are in need of cleaning.

Lost Dog Cafe: 808 N Henry St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 6 (routine)

Violations:

• Food found in the pizza prep unit-right were cold holding at improper temperatures.
• Cold hold potentially hazardous food at 41°F or below to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria.
• Fries and onion rings 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.
• Provide written procedures for the use of time as a public health control.
• Observed several containers of items actively cooling while wrapped/covered.
• The pizza prep unit-right was cold holding foods above 41 F.
• The bottom panel right under the outside of the WIC door is in bad repair.

1799 Prime Steak & Seafood: 110 S. Pitt St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 6 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed there was no soap at bar handwashing sink.
• Observed the following food at the respective temperatures: mashed sweet potatoes at 50F and spinach sauce at 50F in 2-door upright refrigerator; french onion soup at 47F in walk-in cooler; half and half at 60F in right keg cooler; shrimp at 50F, coleslaw at 53F, corn at 52F in grill prep unit.
• Observed gap under exterior door in kitchen.
• Observed bottles stored in ice bin at bar that contains ice used for service.
• Observed multiple in-use utensils stored in 60F water.
• Observed clean equipment stored in mop sink, observed equipment stored on clean dish rack is not protected from splash from mop sink.

Uptowner Cafe: 1609 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 6 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

The Chewish Deli: 1640 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 6 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Crafty Crab: 5770 Dow Ave. Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: March 7 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

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

Last inspection: March 7 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed salmon thawing without opening ROP packaging per the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging.
• Wiping cloths improperly stored between use (in quaternary ammonium sanitizer solution measured too high, greater than 400ppm).

Finn & Porter Restaurant/ Sushi Bar: 5000 Seminary Rd Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations:

• Fruit flies were/was noted in the establishment in the sushi and front bar area.
• Caulking in the prep area and the dish machine area is not maintained in good repair and was observed with black build up and no longer easily cleanable.

Sam Phao Thai Cuisine: 1019 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations:

• The following ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous 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: multiple tcs food items in the 2 door cooler.
• Outer opening of the food establishment is not protected against entry of insects and rodents.
• In-use utensils improperly stored between use: rice scoop in standing water.
• The cutting board(s) along the prep unit are heavily scratched and scored.

Hawwi Ethiopian Cafe and Restaurant: 1125 Queen St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations:

• Outer opening of the food establishment is not protected against entry of insects and rodents.
• Observed mouse droppings in the back dry storage area.

Spill The Tea: 515 Braddock Road E Alexandria, 22314

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Watergate Restaurant and Market: 211 Yoakum Pkwy Alexandria, VA

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations:

• Facility does not have an Employee Health Policy.
• This food establishment has not established written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
• No disposable towels were provided at the hand washing lavatory near the television nor at the hand washing sink in the warewashing area.
• There is no chemical sanitizing test kit present to ensure the quaternary ammonium chemical sanitizing solution used at the 3-compartment sink is at the proper concentration.

Blue & White Carry-Out: 1024 Wythe St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed chemical spray bottles with no labels on them.

Goody's Carryout: 1104 Queen St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 8 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Potomac Yard Subway: 3825 Richmond Hwy A Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: March 9 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Eisenhower Cafe: 4825 Eisenhower Ave A Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: March 9 (routine)

Violations:

• Employees are not maintaining the temperatures of Time/temperature Control for Safety (TCS) Foods during hot and cold holding through daily oversight of the employees' routine monitoring of food temperatures.
• Sliced tomatoes (48), sliced cheese (48), tuna (47), and liquid eggs (48) inside the cookline prep cooler and sliced ham (47), and cut lettuce (47) inside the back area reach-in cooler cold holding at improper temperatures.
• The Person in Charge could not produce an appropriate food temperature measuring device to verify cooking and monitor cold holding and hot holding temperatures of food.
• The back area reach-in cooler (45) and the cookline prep cooler (47) were observed in a state and condition that prevents necessary maintenance and easy cleaning.
• The nonfood contact surface of the back area reach-in cooler and the cookline prep cooler had accumulations of grime and debris.

Calabash African Cuisine and Bar: 514-c S Van Down St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: March 9 (routine)

Violations:

• Water from the handwashing sink at the bar was measured at a temperature less than 85°F.

El Texano Bar and Grill: 514 S Van Dorn St #E Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: March 9 (routine)

Violations:

• Raw animal food (chicken) stored over ready-to-eat (RTE) food (coleslaw) in the 3-door white reach-in cooler.
• Foods not protected from cross contamination as raw animal foods were not separated by type during storage, preparation, holding and display: observed raw chicken stored over sausage.
• Observed cooked rice tightly covered in a deep container inside the 1-door reach-in cooler during cooling (at approximately 100 F).

Morrison House- The Study: 116 S. Alfred St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 9 (routine)

Violations:

• No disposable towels were provided a the hand washing lavatory in the bar area.

TGI Friday's #193: 4650 King St Alexandria, VA 22302

Last inspection: March 10 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Indochen: 4906 Brenman Park Dr Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: March 10 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed shredded cheddar cheese (67) on the counter near the naan station cold holding at improper temperatures.
• Observed 5 large containers of chicken curry cooling for 1.5 hours on the counter with melted ice stirs in them. Chicken curry ranged from 86-116 F. In addition, cooked chicken cooling for 1 hour in the counter was observed at 61 F.
• Observed in use utensil on the grill in stagnant water holding at 120 F.

Old Town Deli: 109 N. Washington St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 10 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

McDonald's #847: 121 W. Glebe Rd Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: March 10 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Popeyes Chicken #143: 3402 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: March 10 (routine)

Violations:

• This food establishment has not established written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
• Observed raw chicken nuggets at batter station cold holding at improper temperatures 42-51F due to overfilling of container.
• Observed rice in covered tubs in reach-in refrigerator while cooling, 83-90F.
• Tongs used to dispense jalapenos were observed stored on an unclean surface with a mixing spoon for tea.
• Clean pans and bowls were not observed stored in a position to allow air-drying.
• Observed a hose attached to a faucet fixture at the mop sink. The hose extended below the flood rim level of the sink basin.
• Flooring in various locations is not maintained in good repair, grouting between floor tiles is worn away in places and allowing for the standing of water.

Express Sub & Pizza: 2320 Richmond Hwy Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: March 13 (routine)

Violations:

• The handwashing sink countertop near the registers are in bad repair. Observed peeling paint and corroding. The floor to wall junction and the wall corner is not in good repair.
• The light bulbs near the walk-in cooler entrance were not on/working.

Genova Pizza: 4614 Kenmore Ave Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: March 13 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Noodles & Company #411: 3105 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 13 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

McDonald's #20492: 1000 N. Henry St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 13 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Trademark & Market: 400 Courthouse Sq Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 13 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Diya Indian Cuisine: 218 N Lee St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 13 (routine)

Violations:

• The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: can opener blade soiled.
• Improper methods used to thaw ROP tilapia. Package not cut open.

Pita House: 719 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 13 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed facility is preparing labneh in house; person in charge stated the milk is heated, cooled slightly, yogurt is added, and the resulting mixture is left at room temperature overnight.
• Observed soda gun nozzle had accumulation of white, slimy substance.
• Observed food debris on deli slicer; person in charge stated it was used previous day.

MOMO Sushi & Cafe: 212 Queen St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 14 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Village Brauhaus: 710 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: March 14 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed there was no soap at handwashing sink on cook line.
• Observed handwashing sinks on cook line in downstairs bar did not have a handwashing sign.
• Observed raw shell eggs stored over uncovered produce in main floor walk-in cooler.
• Observed beer cheese and chicken wings that were prepared yesterday with incorrect date marks.
• Observed there were no test strips available for SmartPower sanitizer.
• Observed peeling paint above cook line where old light used to be.

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

Last inspection: March 14 (routine)

Violations:

• The following TCS food item was observed above the minimum cold holding temp of 41 deg F: overnight oats in the to go cooler at 46 degrees F since 7 a.m..
• Caesar salad dressing is made with raw egg and does not have a disclosure on the menu. Steak and eggs can be ordered undercooked and other egg dishes.

Ferman Bar & Grill: 4112 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: March 15 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed raw shell eggs stored above vegetables in the walk in cooler.
• Observed cooked onions and peppers (121°F) and refried beans (130°F) that were improperly reheated for hot holding on the steam table.
• Improper methods used to thaw tilapia. Raw tilapia packaged in reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) was thawed in the ROP and stored in the walk in cooler.
• Observed wet mop not hanging to air dry.