Arlington Restaurant Violations: Paintbrush Used To Spread Oil

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington restaurants regularly undergo health inspections, with the frequency depending on the type of food served and how it is prepared.

The Virginia Department of Health notes in a statement, "In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations."

While violations like malfunctioning refrigerators and food that's not warm or cold enough often pop up, health inspectors sometimes note more critical violations.

Here are the results from recent inspections around Arlington, including restaurants that passed with no violations. Among the violations were

Here's a list of restaurants and some of their violations:

Eastern Cafe & Carryout, 2300 N Pershing Dr Unit D, last inspection Jan. 31.

• Non-critical violation: Observed buckets of chicken stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler.
• Non-critical violation: No paper towels provided at the hand sink on the cooks line.

El Puerto Restaurant, 3007 Columbia Pike, last inspection Jan. 30.

• Critical violation: A container with garlic and oil was at room temperature, discarded at time of inspection.
• Non-critical violation: The food establishment serves or sells raw or undercooked food and the permit holder does not inform consumers of the significantly increased risk consuming such foods by way of a disclosure and reminder using brochures, deli case or menu advisories, label statements, table tents, placards, or other effective written means, no consumer advisory for the steak dishes.
• Critical violation: A metal banded paint brush is used to spread oil/garlic on food, discarded.

Acme Pie, Co, 2803 Columbia Pike, last inspection Jan. 19.

• Non-critical violation: Utensils, (scoops) were stored in between the wall and the electrical pipe, corrected during inspection.

1616 Corner Deli, 1616 N Fort Myer Dr., last inspection Jan. 16.

• Critical violation: 2% milk at the customer counter cold holding at the improper temperature of 51 F. This milk was discarded during inspection.
• Non-critical violation: Clean bowls are not stored covered or inverted.
• Non-critical violation: The floors in the storage room are not cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean. Do not store boxes of chips and drinks on the floor. Everything should be elevated onto shelving with six inch legs or castors. The counter lower shelving under the oven is not maintained clean.

7-Eleven, 2906 N Sycamore St., last inspection Jan. 9.

• Critical violation: Whole milk (46F) and half-&-half (46F) from the milk dispenser were observed at improper cold holding temperature. The unit was taken off line and work order placed.
• Non-critical violation: The gaskets of "Bev Air" counter refrigerator are in poor repair and are in need of cleaning. The cream and iced coffee dispensers are not maintaining proper cold holding temperature.
• Critical violation: The food establishment does not have a valid 2018 license.

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