Four Chesco Eateries Top Restaurant Inspection Violations

This story was updated on Aug. 6.

CHESTER COUNTY, PA — As state inspectors make their rounds of Chester County eateries, four restaurants in Chester County were cited for more than 10 code violations in the week of April 13-20, in the state's report.

Paoli's Poseidon Asian Cuisine on Paoli Pike had the most — 11 violations in an April 13 inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture.

On Aug. 6, owner Gary Chi told Patch, "The reason for the long list of violations is because we undertook a vacant restaurant and were renovating it. We received the violations before we were even, and open due to construction debris, old equipment that needed replacement. We were in compliance at a follow-up inspection on May 6 and were allowed to open on May 18." Read a full update on Poseidon here.

The restaurant in April was given a list of actions to take based on code violations. They were told to "clean and sanitize the interior and exterior of all foodservice equipment (sinks, racks, cooking equipment, ice machines, soda machines, etc)."

An inspector observed three single-bay sinks in the sushi bar. "Designate and use two sinks for handwashing and one sink as a work/dump sink," Poseidon was told.

The restaurant must also provide new grease and refuse receptacles in the outdoor alley area and assure that all receptacles must have tightly-fitted lids, the report said.

"Provide steel divider between the food prep sink and the hand sink in the kitchen, the inspector's report advised. "At the sushi bar, partitions must be provided between the glass merchandisers in order to prevent contamination from customers who are seated at the bar stools."

The restaurant also needs to provide a stem-type thermometer to measure internal food temperatures. The inspector's report said to be in compliance with code, Poseidon must "remove all excess/damaged/unused equipment, clutter and refuse from the interior and exterior of the facility, and clean the floor throughout all facility."

Buddy's Burgers in Exton received notice of 10 violations on April 13. The establishment was cited for inadequate hot water at a three-compartment sink, and told to "Make any necessary repairs within 72 hours and send proof of correction to the Department (of Agriculture)."

An inspector reported seeing food products stored directly on the floor in the walk-in refrigerator, rather than 6 inches off of the floor, as required. "Relocate products today and comply every day," Buddy's Burgers was told.

The inspector also found prepared food products in the walk-in refrigeration unit without proper date labeling. The restaurant was told to "Ensure all prepared or opened food products, being held for over 24 hours, are marked with the date of preparation or the date to discard. Discard opened and prepared food products within seven (7) days with the date of prep counting as the first day. Begin immediately."

There were chemical bottles without proper labeling found by the inspector. The restaurant was given 72 hours to label all bottles with the common name of the chemical.

Employee food items were seen in the food preparation area, the report said. "Ensure employees are not eating in food preparation areas at all times," the restaurant was told.

Dirty wiping cloths were reported throughout the food preparation area, and inspectors said these were not being stored in a sanitizer solution. "Ensure all wiping cloths are stored in sanitizer solution when not in use. Begin practice immediately," the department told Buddy's Burgers.

The ice cream freezer had debris piled up inside and the restaurant was told to clean it up within 72 hours.

Also receiving 10 code violation notices on April 16 was Bravo Pizza at the Branbury Shoppes in West Chester, including one for food stored directly on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator.

Cut deli meat and cheeses in the walk-in refrigerator did not have proper date labeling, the report said.

In-use utensils were seen observed in a container of still, room-temperature water. The container was discarded and a container with sanitizer solution was provided to store utensils in, as the inspection was happening, the report said.

The inspector also saw wet wiping cloths throughout the food facility, not being stored in sanitizer solution. "It was discussed that the wiping cloths should be stored in sanitizing solution when not in use. Comply today and every day," an inspector wrote.

The restaurant was also told to adjust the storage temperature of its pizza sauce with meat to lower temperature and to fix a wash dial on its dishwasher.

Also with 10 violations on April 20 was El Rinconsito Restaurante in Kennett Square, which was cited for storing food on the floor. A bag of raw onions was seen on the floor, the inspector said. The restaurant was told to clean behind its cookline, and remove grease coated on a wall fan.

The report said the restaurant's tortilla machine is broken. "If it can't be repaired, remove it. Any broken or unused equipment must be removed, including the unused burners near the steam table," the report ordered.

Food storage temperature issues were noted. "Several pans of cooked foods were sitting on top of the tortilla machine. ... Foods may not sit out for hours to cool. Foods were moved to the refrigerator," the report said.

A kitchen side door and a screen door were open. the inspector said the "screen door must be closed to prevent insects from entering the building."

A kitchen employee was observed rinsing hands off several times without using soap, then returning to handling food. The employee was told to wash their hands properly, the report said. "Hand soap was not supplied to the kitchen hand sink. Supply soap at all times," the inspector said.

Other storage issues involved three cases of chicken that were seen sitting on the kitchen floor. A box of frozen (cow) tongue and frozen seafood were on tables because, the inspector noted, meats and seafood are delivered on Tuesday morning. The items were not stored properly when delivered but were reportedly being left there until more employees came in several hours.

"Deliveries of any refrigerated or frozen foods must be placed into refrigerators or freezers promptly. NOT in several hours. All foods were moved to cold storage," the inspector's report said.

An employee was seen touching heated tortillas and food toppings with bare hands. The employee was asked to use gloves. "Gloves must be worn when handling ready-to-eat foods. Use tongs to remove tortillas from the grill if gloves cannot be used," the inspector advised El Rinconsito Restaurante.

Other establishments with fewer violations in the week's inspections were Sabatino's Grille in West Chester, with 8 violations on April 13; Einstein Bros. Bagels in Paoli, with 7 violations on April 20; and Westtown Meat Market with 6 violations on April 16.

Others cited had four or fewer violations.