West Orange Restaurants Cited for Health Code Violations

Local inspectors cited 11 restaurants in West Orange in the last year for health code violations, giving the eateries a 'conditionally satisfactory' rating, according to township records. 

The West Orange Health Department inspects hundreds of restaurants, schools and nursing homes throughout the year. It evaluates eateries based on 52 different inspection points. 

According to the health department, there were no restaurants in West Orange that were given 'unsatisfactory' ratings over the last year, however a few were deemed 'conditionally satisfactory.'

The department cites restaurants for violations and marks them as 'conditionally satisfactory,' but despite the rating, it does not mean the restaurant is unclean, according to department officials. The restaurants were all reinspected after seven to 14 days to fix the violations. 

Inspectors rate eateries as 'satisfactory,' 'conditionally satisfactory' and 'unsatisfactory' depending on the number and severity of their violations.  

A 'satisfactory' rating means the eatery has no health code violations. Conditionally satisfactory means the establishment received one or more health code violations at the time of the inspection which need to be corrected. 

If an unsatisfactory rating is given, the restaurant must close until those violations are corrected and another inspection is conducted. 

Restaurants are required to show inspection reports to customers upon request, the health department said, but Patch compiled the restaurants that were 'conditionally satisfactory' over the last year for readers below:

Fusion, 274 Main Street, was cited for 12 violations on April 18, 2013, including empty paper towels and soap dispenser as well as broken light fixtures.

El Primo Restaurant, 18 Lakeside Ave., was cited for 18 violations on Dec. 17, 2012, including mouse droppings found in kitchen and a broken urinal and light fixtures. 

Misty's Restaurant & Bar, 277 Main Street, was cited for 10 violations on Dec. 7, 2012, including dead cockroaches and soap and paper towels unavailable near sinks. 

Jimmy Buff's, 60 Washington Street, was cited for six violations on Dec. 10, 2012, including hot water unavailable at hand-washing sink and woman's bathroom lacked cover for trash can. 

Los Tapatios, 10 Main Street, was cited for eight violations on Dec. 26, 2012, including approximately 15 mouse droppings in the basement and paper towel holder not sanitary in the bathroom.

BC Market Cafe, 769 Northfield Ave., was cited for five violations on Dec. 6, 2012, one of which, refrigerated foods held in deli case were not at proper temperature, was a repeat violation.

Heritage Restaurant and Lounge was cited for five violations on Dec. 31, 2012, including cased beer not stored correctly.

Valley Residential Health Care, 341 Valley Road, was cited for five violations on Jan. 13, 2013, including broken dishwasher and flaking paint on kitchen ceiling. 

China Gourmet, 468 Eagle Rock Ave., was cited for 12 violations on Oct. 10, 2012, including dead and live mice found and floor wall junctures in kitchen in extreme disrepair.

Terra Luna, 136 South Valley Road, was cited for three violations on Sept. 27, 2012, including mouse droppings. 

Nia's Variety Store, 36 Main Street, was cited for one violation on Nov. 9, 2012, requiring the store to make a hand-washing sink available to employees at all times.