VA Restaurants Cited: Mouse Droppings, Moldy Bread, Grease Trap Odor

VIRGINIA — Some signs of a restaurant with problems are easy to spot: weird smells, crawling insects or unkempt employees are all red flags. But sometimes the problem is harder to pin down, such as food stored at improper temperatures, unclean kitchen equipment, or insufficient handwashing.

Some recent restaurant inspections throughout Virginia uncovered mouse droppings, grease trap odors, moldy food and more. One restaurant even had 21 violations.

Then there are commercial kitchens that are immaculately clean, surpass all safety standards and dish up delicious food.

"In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," according to Virginia Department of Health's website.

Do you know how clean your favorite coffee shop, go-to restaurant or school kitchen is? Look through these recent food safety inspections from around Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg, courtesy of Patch.

• Ashburn Restaurant Inspections: 8 Violations At 1 Restaurant
• Fredericksburg Restaurant Inspections: Moldy Bread, Soiled Ice Machine
• Woodbridge Restaurant Inspections: Results From Schools, Child Care
• Fredericksburg Restaurant Inspections: Encrusted Pans, Chemical Sprays
• Vienna Restaurant Inspections: Maple Room, YamaChen Sushi
• Woodbridge Health Inspections: 10 Violations At 1 Place
• Fish Thawed Incorrectly, Mouse Droppings: Arlington Health Inspections
• Manassas Restaurant Inspections: 21 Violations At 1 Place