Rodent Droppings, Flies, Unsafe Temperatures: Ocean County Restaurant Inspections

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Eighteen establishments were ordered to fix issues that risk food safety during inspections by the Ocean County Health Department.

The inspection reports are posted about two weeks after the inspection is done, and look at everything from restaurants and delis to grocery stores, youth sports organizations and any other business that sells fresh or packaged food items.

From June 1 through July 11, there were more than 250 establishments inspected, and of them 18 received conditionally satisfactory ratings, requiring corrections and reinspections, according to the health department. The rest of those inspected received satisfactory ratings.

The majority of the restaurants that received the conditionally satisfactory ratings received them because of food service temperatures being wrong, from refrigeration tables that were not cold enough to hot foods maintained at temperatures not hot enough.

Some had more serious issues, from sewer flies to rodent droppings.

Here are the restaurants that received conditionally satisfactory ratings from June 1 through July 11. You can search the list by the name of the restaurant.

• Buon Appetito, Bayville: Food temperature issues, handwashing sink needed in pizza preparation area
• Country Food Market, Berkeley: Ice machine needed cleaning due to biofilm buildup.
• Manhattan Bagel, Berkeley: Accumulation of food residue; sewer flies in a sink; food temperature storage issues.
• Stone Fire Grill, Beachwood: Ice bins for ice in drinks weren't covered; commonly used items (flour, breadcrumbs, sugar) stored in containers that were not labeled what they were.
• Doyle's Pour House, Tuckerton: Food holding temperature issues, ice at bar being used to store beer, lemons also used in drinks
• Stafford AYF and Lacrosse Concession Stand, Doc Cramer Boulevard Sports Complex, Stafford: Rodent droppings observed in multiple areas. "Facility must be cleaned and sanitized to remove spillage, residue, trash, and presence of rodents and insects. Routine housekeeping must
  be performed in a timely manner." The facility was between seasons when it was inspected, the report said.
• Tony's Pasta House, Toms River: Issues include food stored in containers that don't match the name on the container (raisins in a ricotta cheese container), food not cleaned up at night, dishwasher repairs needed
• Chang Thai Kitchen, Toms River: Takeout containers were being used as scoops for serving/packaging food; sprouts were being stored in a container that had held chemicals.
• Lakehurst Diner, Lakehurst: Small flies (drain/fruit/other) found in basement near sink; ice machine in basement needed to be cleaned.
• Stafford Baseball Concession, Doc Cramer Blvd, Manahawkin: Mouse droppings present on shelves. Oil in deep fryer needed to be changed. "It is old and dark and there is food debris crusted along the sides."
• Ebby's, Berkeley: Glasses and pots were being stored with their openings up, instead of rims down.
• Four Boys Ice Cream, Jackson: Ice cream scoops improperly stored between uses.
• La Casa De La tia, Lakewood: Mold buildup in the ice machine.
• Daddios Tacos, Ocean County Mall, Toms River: Frozen food was being thawed in one portion of the three-bay sink designed for washing and sanitizing cookware
• NPGS, Jackson: Temperature issues for food waiting to be served; "heavy fly activity with no known origin" in the dry food storage area
• GAL Mediterranean Cuisine, Toms River: "Establishment changed its name, changed menu items and changed equipment and opened for business without a required review of a written plan and without an opening inspection by Ocean County Health Department. Owner indicates ownership did not change. Owner indicates that Gyro cryo meat is used on the electric vertical rotating heating devices for one day and the balance of product not used is discarded. This is new equipment, not previously approved for use. Discussed the concern of this heating equipment not sufficiently heating the meat product at the center of the product. Recommend thin log style meat products for this equipment. Excess food equipment in basement must be maintained clean is stored on site for use. Equipment no longer used for establishment operations should be removed from the premises.
• IHOP # 3249, 941 Route 37 West, Toms River: Temperature issues for hot foods held for serving; ice cream scoop dipping wells not working properly.
• Peking Chinese Restaurant, Toms River: Issues with debris outside caused by another source.