Pest Poison On Plates, Roaches: 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 so far in June at restaurants around Alexandria. One of the notable reports was at Peking Express, where inspectors found roaches as well as insect or rodent poison on plates. Health inspectors discussed proper pest control methods with the restaurant, and the insect or rodent poison was thrown out.

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

Andy's Pizza: 107 N. Fayette St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 15 (follow-up)

Violations:

• The following food items were observed above 41 deg F: chicken tenders (45) and par cooked wings (44-49) in the 2 door cooler.

Tsim Yung Chinese Restaurant: 2603 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: June 15 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Tequila & Taco: 540 John Carlyle St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 15 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed prep area handwashing sink was blocked by carts and not easily accessible.
• Observed pink mold-like buildup in interior of large ice machine bin.
• Observed brisket at 47F and queso at 48F in walk-in cooler.
• Observed accumulation of dust on vent and surrounding ceiling tiles above main line, and dust on fans in prep area. Observed significant dust accumulation on ice machine filters and filter covers.

Makeda Ethiopian Restaurant: 516 A/B S Van Dorn St. Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 15 (routine)

Violations:

• This food establishment has not established written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
• Soap was not provided at the hand washing lavatory in the bar area.
• Observed the drainboards and other parts of the warewashing machine in the kitchen soiled.
• The nonfood contact surface of the reach-in freezer had accumulations of grime and debris.

Cheesetique: 2411 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: June 15 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Rosemarino D'Italia: 1905 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: June 15 (pre-opening)

Violations: No violations found.

Pho 95: 265 S. Van Dorn St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 15 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed utensils in the hand washing sink.
• Observed the inside of the ice machine with mold accumulation.
• Observed multiple bags of egg rolls in non-food grade grocery bags.

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

Last inspection: June 15 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed chicken wing at 47F and potato au gratin at 47F in walk-in cooler, half and half at 58F in ice bath, and mashed potato at 48F in 2-door reach-in.
• Observed two large, deep plastic containers of mashed sweet potatoes cooling on speed rack.
• Observed in-use utensils stored in standing water on cook line.

Vaso's Mediterranean Bistro: 1118 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 14 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed tags were being retained but were not labeled with the date the last of the bag was sold/served.

Starbucks Coffee #11824: 1901 Ballenger Ave Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 14 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

Starbucks Coffee #8136: 2459 Eisenhower Ave Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 14 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed wiping cloths in sanitizer buckets at approximately 0 PPM quaternary ammonium.
• Observed there was no irreversible maximum temperature measuring device available for hot water sanitizing dish machine.

Cafe Gloria: 1900 N. Beauregard St Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: June 14 (routine)

Violations:

• In-use utensils improperly stored between use. Observed rice scoop in container of stagnant, room temperature water.

Sardi's Pollo A La Brasa: 1480 N. Beauregard St Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: June 14 (routine)

Violations:

• There is no certified food protection manager to supervise the food establishment's food service employees.
• Observed utensils in the hand washing sink near the 3 bay sink.
• Observed 4 partially cooked chicken thighs in the hot holding unit at 128-133 F.
• Observed provolone cheese (50), sliced tomatoes (44-53), feta (45-52), shredded lettuce (41-52), and cheddar (42-53) in the right prep unit cold holding at improper temperatures.

Cafe Aurora: 50 S. Pickett St 24 Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 14 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Bonchon: 3690 King St #N Alexandria, VA 22302

Last inspection: June 13 (follow-up)

Violations:

• There is no certified food protection manager to supervise the food establishment's food service employees; the person in charge shall be a certified food protection manager.

Joe Theismann's Restaurant: 1800 Diagonal Rd Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 13 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

El Pulgarcito: 3838 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: June 13 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed the following time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food cold holding at improper temperatures in a shallow ice bath: Diced tomatoes (46°F), pupusa mix (46°F).
• The cutting board along the prep area was heavily scratched.

Papa John's Pizza #830: 4529 Duke St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 12 (routine)

Violations:

• The person in charge failed to have no violations of priority items during the current inspection.
• This food establishment has not established written procedures for cleaning up vomiting or diarrheal events that happen in the facility.
• The employee is chewing gum in an area other than designated break area while preparing/handling food or contacting clean food contact surfaces.
• Food employee(s) was observed handling the following ready-to-eat foods using their bare hands: garlic knots.
• Observed food employee drain peppers into handwashing sink next to pizza make table.
• No disposable towels were provided a the hand washing lavatory in the dish area.
• Caulking at the 3 compartment sink is not maintained in good repair. The caulking at the 3 compartment sink was observed with black build up and needs to be repaired or replaced.
• The condenser's underside in the walk in cooler noted in need of cleaning. Excessive black build up was observed on the underside of the condenser, over the dough storage.

Sushijin Restaurant: 3470 Berkley St #303 Alexandria, VA 22302

Last inspection: June 12 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Pho Vietflare Restaurant: 514 S. Van Dorn St B Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 12 (risk factor)

Violations: No violations found.

Clyde's At Mark Center: 1700 N. Beauregard St Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: June 12 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

El Tipico Restaurant: 664 S. Pickett St Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 12 (risk factor)

Violations:

• The Person in Charge (PIC) provided an expired Food Protection Manager (FPM) certification. There was no certified FPM on premises during the time of the inspection.
• Soap was not provided at the hand washing lavatory, near the fryer in the kitchen.

King Street Cafe: 1018 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 12 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed turkey in walk-in cooler at 48F. Observed the following items in middle prep unit: sausage at 48F, ham at 49F, cut tomatoes at 50F.

Dairy Queen: 1470 N. Beauregard St B Alexandria, VA 22311

Last inspection: June 12 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

CAVA Mezze Grill #10016: 4513 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 12 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Employees are not maintaining the temperatures of Time/temperature Control for Safety Foods during hot and cold holding through daily oversight of the employees' routine monitoring of food temperatures.
• The food employee was chewing gum in an area other than designated break area while preparing/handling food or contacting clean food contact surfaces.
• Mixed greens, tzatziki and feta were observed cold holding at improper temperatures.

Lily's Chocolate & Coffee: 631 King Street, Alexandria, VA, USA Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 12 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed in-use chlorine sanitizer in three-compartment sink with a concentration greater than or equal to 200 PPM.
• Observed ice scoop stored in ice bin with handle contacting ice.

Los Tres Amigos Tex-Mex Italian Cuisine: 410 E Glebe Rd. Alexandria, VA 22303

Last inspection: June 9 (pre-opening)

Violations: No violations found.

Blackwall Hitch: 5 Cameron St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 7 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed that paper towels were not provided at handwashing sink next to ice machine.
• The chemical sanitizer generated by a device located on-site at the food establishment is not operated and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Observed server dish machine at 0ppm, observed right bar dish machine at 0ppm.
• The following items were observed above the minimum cold holding temp of 41 deg F: chicken wings on fry station (49) top of pile, corn salsa on fry station (47), cut tomatoes (45) on grill prep station.
• The concentration of the quaternary ammonia solution was measured in excess of 500 ppm at the 3 comp sink.

Waffle Shop: 3864 Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22305

Last inspection: June 7 (routine)

Violations:

• Hand soap was not provided in the restroom.
• The interior of the ice machine had an accumulation of mold-like substance.
• Observed raw shell eggs at room temperature by the grill.
• Observed improper methods being used to thaw raw beef and raw chicken. Raw beef was sitting out at room temperature and raw chicken was in standing water in the prep sink.
• Wet wiping cloths were being kept on prep tables.
• Single-use containers were observed being used for food storage.
• Wet mops were observed not hanging to air dry.

Sweetfire Donna's: 510 John Carlyle St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 6 (risk factor)

Violations:

• Observed unlabeled chemical spray bottle over front kitchen handwashing sink.

Brut Wine Bar: 118 S. Royal St Alexandria, Virginia 22314

Last inspection: June 5 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Peking Express: 514 S. Van Dorn St F Alexandria, VA 22304

Last inspection: June 5 (routine)

Violations:

• No disposable towels were provided at the hand washing lavatory in the warewashing/3-compeartment sink area.
• Unwrapped or uncovered food stored in the inside the walk-in cooler (raw chicken, egg rolls, and raw shrimp) and inside the white reach-in freezer (French fries).
• Food contact surfaces of the knives and other utensils used to prepare/store TCS food items, stored inside the drawer of the prep table station across from the 3-compartment sink were observed soiled with accumulations of food residues.
• Observed insect/rodent poison on Styrofoam plates (on the floor to the right of the white reach-in freezer and on the floor, in the back, far right corner of the dry storage room).
• Observed working containers of cleaning chemicals (degreaser, etc.) without a label, identifying the contents with the common name.
• Roaches were observed on the wall near the warewashing/3-compartment sink and on the outside of the walk-in cooler in the establishment.
• Floors throughout the facility noted in need of cleaning.

Bagel Uprising: 2307 A Mt Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: June 5 (routine)

Violations:

• The deli slicer was not cleaned thoroughly from when it was used last time. Observed some food debris between the blades.

Taco Bell Cantina #34274: 417 King St. Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 5 (routine)

Violations: No violations found.

La Madeleine: 500 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 5 (routine)

Violations:

• Observed cook line handwashing sink had ice and pans in basin.
• Observed quaternary ammonium sanitizer in three compartment sink at a concentration of approximately 0 PPM.
• Observed reduced-oxygen packaged fish was not removed from reduced oxygen environment prior to thawing.
• Observed plastic food containers were stacked upon one another prior to adequately air drying.
• Observed cutting board on sandwich prep unit was deeply scored and scratched.
• Observed hole in middle of grease trap lid.

Dolce and Bean: 2003 A Mt. Vernon Ave Alexandria, VA 22301

Last inspection: June 2 (routine)

Violations:

• There is no certified food protection manager to supervise the food establishment's food service employees; the person in charge shall be a certified food protection manager.

Don Taco: 808 King St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 2 (follow-up)

Violations: No violations found.

Josephine: 109 S. St. Asaph St Alexandria, VA 22314

Last inspection: June 1 (pre-opening)

Violations: No violations found.