Guacamole, Chicken Kept At Wrong Temperatures Discarded: Inspections

ARLINGTON, VA — Arlington County Public Health Department inspectors visited 29 food establishments between Nov. 1-8 and reported finding 13 with health code violations.

At one restauant, the inspector reported finding grilled chicken, fried chicken, pico de gallo, gyro slices, shredded cabbage, hummus, gyro slices, Guacamole and Tzatziki sauce being held at the incorrect temperature.

In response, the person who was in charge at the restaurant voluntarily discarded all the food. The inspector also directed them to replace or repair the equipment that wasn't keeping the food at a safe temperature.

More information about what types of violations ACPHD inspectors report can be found at the bottom of this story.

Here are the inspections that were conducted as reported by Arlington County Public Health:

Yorktown High School-Indoor Concession Stand

5200 Yorktown Blvd Arlington, VA 22207
Status: Permitted

MOST RECENT INSPECTION
Fast Food | Routine
November 8, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Senor Saltena

918 S Lincoln St Suite #2 Arlington, VA 22204
Status: Permitted

Caterer | Pre-Opening
November 8, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Stone Hot Pizza

3217 Washington Blvd Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 8, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Observed a food employee making Caesar salad with bare hands. Corrective Actions: Avoid bare hand-contact with RTE-foods to prevent the contamination. Use gloves when working with RTE-foods.
• Observed garlic-in-coil mixture (65F) at improper cold holding temperature. The PIC voluntarily discarded the food. Corrective Actions: Discard this food at this time and hold garlic-in-oil mixture and all other TCS-foods at 41F or less.
• No date-marking system in place on foods which ae prepared and held in the food establishment for more than 24 hours - (corrected by instructions). Corrective Actions: The foods which are prepared and held in the food establishment for more than 24 hours shall be clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded when held at a temperature of 41F or less for a maximum of 7 days. The day of preparation shall be counted as Day 1.

Sabores De Blanquita

918 S Lincoln St Suite #2 Arlington, VA 22204
Status: Permitted

Caterer | Risk Factor
November 8, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Nando's PERi-PERi

1800 N. Lynn St. Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22209
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• No hand washing reminder sign is available at dish area kitchen hand sink. Corrective Actions: All hand wash sinks used by employees must have a hand washing reminder sign.
• TCS items in 2 door line prep are not holding at 41F or less, including deli cheese, sweet potatoes, and sliced tomatoes, holding at 48-49F. Unit temperature adjusted. Corrective Actions: All TCS food items must be maintained at 41F or less in refrigeration units.

DCA - PF Chang's

2401 Smith Blvd Terminal E Arlington, VA 22202
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Take-out counter hand sink hot water under 85 F. Corrective Actions: Repair order placed to provide at least 85 F water at this hand sink.
• Cookline and one bar hand sink were found with no soap. Corrective Actions: Maintain hand soap at all the hand sinks.
• Found a couple of pineapple cans with dents on their seams. Corrective Actions: Cans were discarded and/or segregated/labeled not to use, return for credit.
• Three part sink sanitizer QT-40 level found below 150 ppm. Corrective Actions: Adjusted on-site to 200 ppm. Keep 150-400 ppm at 65-75 F water. Use test papers and thermometer to verify.
• "Sunkist" juicer at server station and inside the ice machine aren't kept clean. Corrective Actions: Wash, rinse, sanitize and air dry these items at a frequency to keep them clean.
• Walk-in refrigerator was recently defrosted and foods went above 41 F; sprouts found at 45 F, noodles 45 F, and chicken mix 48 F. Corrective Actions: Maintain foods at or below 41 F.
• Some wiping cloth QT-40 sanitizer solutions found above 500 ppm. Corrective Actions: Emptied and refilled. Keep 150-400 ppm at 65-75 F.

Popeye's Famous Fried Chicken #101

4675 King St Arlington, VA 22206
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Ledo Pizza

1035 S Edgewood St Arlington, VA 22204
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

No Violations Reported

FOR FIVE COFFEE ROASTERS

1735 N Lynn St 30 Arlington, VA 22209
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

McDonald's #20659

1100 S Hayes St Arlington, VA 22202
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Pupatella

5104 Wilson Blvd Unit # C Arlington, VA 22205
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• Panzarotti's found at 51 F inside the "Coca Cola" refrigerator reading 50 F. Marginal food temperatures found in both "Atosa" 2-door counter refrigerators.Corrective Actions: Cold hold foods at or below 41 F; unit was adjusted to a colder setting. Check in one hour to see if temperatures are decreasing; if not relocate foods from this unit to another until it is repaired/replaced to hold foods at or below 41 F. Adjust/repair the "Atosa" refrigerators to hold foods at or below 41 F.

Peri-Peri Original Kallisto Steak House

2333 S Eads St Arlington, VA 22204
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Virginia Hospital Center Cafeteria

1701 N George Mason Dr Arlington, VA 22205
Status: Permitted

Hospital Food Service | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Dos Generaciones

36 S Glebe Rd Arlington, VA 22204
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Hand sink at front bar observed missing paper towels. Corrective Actions: Ensure all hand washing stations are properly supplied with soap and paper towels.
• Beef soup prepared 2 days prior observed not date marked. Corrective Actions: Ensure all food if kept for more than 24 hours are properly dated.

Hissho Sushi @Virginia Hospital Center

1701 N George Mason Dr Arlington, VA 22205
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Rossana Trailer

924 N Garfield St Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Mobile Food Unit | Pre-Opening
November 7, 2024

• No Violations Reported

The Renegade

3100 Clarendon Blvd #PL 10 Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Main dish machine in the kitchen not ejecting any chlorine sanitizer. Setup and use 3-compartment sink until fixed. Corrective Actions: Contact your service provider and use 3-compartment sink until the machine is repaired.
• Observed soda guns at upstairs and main bar in need of cleaning. Corrective Actions: Clean and sanitize these soda gun nozzles.
• Observed grilled chicken (126F) in the "Alto-Sham" 1-dr HH box at improper hot holding temperature. The PIC voluntarily removed the food. Corrective Actions: Ensure to hot hold all TCS-foods at 135F or above. Reheat or discard this chicken at this time.
• Observed fried chicken (59F), pico de gallo (54F), gyro slices (51F), shredded cabbage (54-65F), hummus (45F), gyro slices (51F), Guacamole (54F) and Tzatziki sauce (54F) in 6-drawers prep ref. at improper cold holding temperature. The PIC voluntarily discarded all the foods. Corrective Actions: Discard all these foods at this time and repair/replace the prep unit.

Maria Teresa's Babies

825 S 23rd St Arlington, VA 22202
Status: Permitted

Child Care Food Service | Risk Factor
November 7, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Sanitizer level of chlorine found under 50 ppm. Corrective Actions: More bleach was added to make 50-150 ppm; use test papers and verify every day to ensure it is 50-150 ppm at 65-75 F.
• Found open containers of milk with "Sell by" dates of 10-15. Corrective Actions: Once opened re-date to be used within 7 days.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

2300 Wilson Blvd #150 Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 6, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Brass Rabbit

1210 N Garfield St Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 6, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Drink glass observed in hand sink in kitchen. Corrective Actions: Remove drink glass and ensure hand sink is only use for washing hands.
• Dish machine observed not sanitizing. 0 PPM Corrected to 50 PPM Corrective Actions: Switch to manual washing until machine is sanitizing properly

Five Guys Burgers and Fries

2300 Wilson Blvd #150 Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Risk Factor
November 6, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Mister Days

1101 N Highland St Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Pre-Opening
November 6, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Chop't Creative Salad Co.

1735 N Lynn St Suite 20 Arlington, VA 22209
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Routine
November 6, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• The 3-compartment sink is no longer fully sealed to the wall. Corrective Actions: Ensure the 3-compartment sink is fully sealed to the wall.

Tasty Chicken Box and Lamb Restaurant

2716 Washington Blvd Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 4, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Observed front handwashing sink blocked by a rice cooker on a milk crate. Corrective Actions: Handwashing sinks should always be easily accessible to food employees to wash their hands. Relocate the rice cooker blocking the access to handwashing sink.
• Observed a food employee failed to rinse and sanitize the dishes after washing. Corrective Actions: Equipment, utensils and dishes must be rinsed and sanitized properly after washing.
• Observed diced lamb gyro (105-113F) on steamtable at improper hot holding temperature. The food was reheated to 207F. Corrective Actions: Reheat the food to 165F or above and hold at 135F or above.

Arlington County Detention Facility

1435 N Courthouse Rd G Level Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Correctional Facility | Risk Factor
November 4, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Observed quat-sanitizer in 3-compartment sink around 500 ppm. The PIC added little more water to dilute it. Corrective Actions: Quat-sanitizer dilution should be between 200-400 ppm at 65-75F water temperature. Contact the service provider to recalibrate the sanitizer dispenser.

Wagamama

2950 Clarendon Blvd Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 4, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Hand sinks on cook line observed blocked by trash cans. Corrective Actions: Remove trash cans and ensure easy access to all hand washing stations.
• Hand sink by Steamer observed missing hand soap. Corrective Actions: Ensure all hand washing stations are properly supplied
• Dish machine at bar observed not reaching sanitizing temp. Corrective Actions: Discontinue use of machine until fixed, and all glass wear should be washed in kitchen dish machine.

King of Koshary

5515 Wilson Blvd Arlington, VA 22205
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 4, 2024

• No Violations Reported

Big Tony's

3100 Clarendon Blvd #PL 10 Arlington, VA 22201
Status: Permitted

Fast Food | Follow-Up
November 1, 2024

• No Violations Reported

First Down Sports Bar & Grill

4213 & 4221 N Fairfax Dr Arlington, VA 22203
Status: Permitted

Full Service Restaurant | Risk Factor
November 1, 2024

Observations & Corrective Actions

• Two bar hand sinks do not have hand washing reminder signs. Corrective Actions: All hand sinks used by employees must have hand wash reminder signs.

What Violations Do ACPHD Inspectors Report?

In Virginia, all food service locations are supposed to be inspected at least once per year. Facilities with higher risk factors may be inspected as often as four times per year, according to the Virginia Department of Health.

Violations at restaurants typically focus on factors that can contribute to food contamination. The local health department can also perform a re-inspection to ensure that possible violations have been corrected. Sometimes, the follow-up inspection only considers the most important "priority" violations.

For every observed violation, the inspector provides a specific corrective action that can be completed to rectify the violation. Sometimes these are simple, and violations can be corrected during the course of the inspection. Depending on the results of the inspection, the health department can pursue several actions.

They can issue a permit for the restaurant to continue serving food, they can schedule a follow-up inspection to determine if violations have been rectified, or they can temporarily shut down an establishment until certain issues are solved.

The Virginia Department of Health only recommends restaurants have their permits suspended when "the continued operation of the food service presents a substantial and imminent threat to the public health."