Foods 'Visibly Spoiled," Ice Machine Substance: Ashburn, Sterling Restaurant Inspections

ASHBURN, VA — Numerous restaurants in the Ashburn and Sterling area recorded violations during health department inspections in late March.

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. 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. Some common violations may include foods hot holding or cold holding at improper temperatures, foods without dates marked, and sanitizer with improper amounts.

Here are restaurant inspection results in and around Ashburn and Sterling in late March, according to the Loudoun County Health Department. Of note, Milk & Honey had 18 violations, including "visibly spoiled" foods and an ice machine with a pink substance. At Viet Kitchen & Tea House, inspectors found 14 violations, including foods not properly dated and cleaned equipment or utensils still having debris.

Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant: 19870 Belmont Chase Blvd. Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 25

Violations:

• There is no signage at hand sink across from the cooking line for employees to wash hands. Provide written signage at each hand sink to wash hands.
• Observed raw animal foods with higher cook temperatures stored over raw animal foods with lower cook temperatures in the walk in cooler.
• Observed salmon, sliced tomato, grouper, steak cold holding at improper temperature (55F). Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods must be held at 41F or below to prevent growth of harmful bacteria. Improper cold holding observed.
• Sanitizer solution for the sanitizer buckets observed to be too strong.

UP Ashburn LLC: 20051 Riverside Cmns Plz #136 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 25

Violations: No violations found. All violations have been corrected.

China Village: 32 Pidgeon Hill Dr Sterling, VA 20165

Last inspection: March 25

Violations:

• Observed employees sneeze, touch face, and enter/exit kitchen without washing hands. PIC (person-in-charge) educated staff to wash hands. Handwashing materials emailed to PIC upon completion of inspection.
• Observed no paper towels at handsink in kitchen. COS: employee stocked the paper towel dispenser at time of inspection.
• Observed can opener, meat grinder, and meat slicer all stored visibly unclean with food debris. COS: PIC had employees thoroughly clean items and then cover to prevent environmental contaminants.
• Observed bottle of detergent and water not labeled. Label all toxic items to avoid potential contamination/mixing of various items. COS: PIC labeled at time of inspection.
• Observed multiple containers of spices with no label. Label all items not easily recognizable to avoid confusion and potential contamination or allergen mix-ups of food.
• Observed shelled eggs in walk in cooler, and multiple boxes stored on floor in walk-in freezer. COS. PIC moved 6 inches above ground.
• Observed wet wiping cloths bucket stored on floor in kitchen. PIC moved 6 inches above ground.
• Observed single use articles (to-go containers) being used to scoop cooked chicken, dry goods (flour and rice), and cooked beef with no handles. Without handle, foods will be subject to contamination by hands. PIC removed at time of inspection.
• Observed outside of appliances, bottom shelving throughout, and shelving in walk in cooler visibly unclean with dust and food debris. Clean as necessary to preclude accumulation of soil.
• Observed floor behind equipment and around sink area visibly unclean. Clean as necessary to preclude accumulation.

Dwaraka's Bawarchi Indian Kitchen: 21760 Beaumeade Cir #145 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 25

Violations: No violations found. EHS rechecked the walk in cooler. It is now functioning. Walk in freezer light bulb has been replaced. Opening date will be the first week of April.

Bebop: 20630 Ashburn Rd #172 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 25

Violations:

• Observed rice cooker in hand washing sink basin. Handwashing sinks should be accessible at all times for employee use. Person in charge (PIC) removed rice cooker and relocated it to dishwashing area.
• Observed onion cutter with an accumulation of food debris. Food contact surface should be clean to sight and touch. PIC moved onion cutter to be washed, rinsed and sanitized.
• Observed time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS) not properly dated for disposition. Food not labeled are: corn, pico de gallo and Cole slaw. TCS foods held over 24 hours must be date marked with made on date or date the food must be consumed not to exceed 7 days. PIC date marked items.
• Observed one pan of shrimp and 2 pans of beef with date marking of 3/16. TCS foods should not be kept more than 7 days or their consumption date. Person in charge voluntarily discarded stated foods.

Milk & Honey: 22000 Dulles Retail Plaza, Suite 186 Sterling, VA 20166

Last inspection: March 25

Violations:

• Observed multiple employees change tasks after touching contaminated equipment and not wash hands prior to donning gloves. Observed multiple employees done gloves without washing hands prior. Corrected on site (COS)- Person in charge (PIC) educated employees and had wash hands.
• Observed handsink with no paper towels. COS: paper towels added to dispenser at time of inspection.
• Observed sani bucket stored in hand sink at bar. COS: Bucket removed at time of inspection.
• Observed multiple tomatoes and bell visibly spoiled. COS: PIC voluntarily discarded at time of inspection.
• Observed multiple trays of eggs stored above multiple ready to eat foods in prep top. COS: PIC removed at time of inspection.
• Observed interior of ice machine visibly unclean with pink substance. Observed containers that utensils are stored in visibly unclean. Clean thoroughly for verification by 04/04/25.
• Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food shall be maintained at 135F or greater. Observed rice measuring 99F in hot hold cabinet. COS: PIC voluntarily discarded at time of inspection.
• Observed items on food list measuring above 41F or 45F (shelled eggs) for less than 4 hours. COS: All items vented and quick chilled immediately during inspection.
• Observed no footnote attached to the menu defining what asterisk means on menu. Correct physical/online menus or place a placard at point of sale with appropriate verbiage by 04/04/2025 for verification.
• Observed whiting being thawed in 72F standing water. Foods shall be thawed under running water at 70F or below.
• Observed bulk containers of spices not labeled. Label all items not easily recognizable to avoid potential contamination of various forms.
• Observed visibly unclean dry wiping cloths stored on food and non food contact surfaces throughout the kitchen.
• Observed single use container (to-go container) with no handle stored in sugar for dispensing of product. Observed ice scoop stored with handle touching ice in bin at the bar. PIC removed at time of inspection.
• Observed no irreversible registering temperature indicator available in facility at time of inspection for high temp dish machine. Obtain proper temperature indicator for verification by 04/04/2025.
• Observed outside of prep top visibly unclean, and outside of stainless steel visibly unclean. Observed air filters in ice machine, reach in units visibly unclean with dust.
• Observed backflow preventor at mop sink severely leaking indicating that the backflow preventor is not functioning correctly. Repair or replace to ensure backflow preventor is functioning properly and prevention of back siphonage of non-potable water into potable water supply. Verification due by 03/28/25.
• Observed floors visibly unclean. Clean as needed to preclude accumulation of soil.
• Observed intake air ducts at grill visibly unclean with oil/grease build up. Clean as necessary to ensure that exhaust system can function properly.

Rubino's Pizzeria: 43170 Southern Walk Plaza Ste 110-114 Ashburn, VA 20148

Last inspection: March 24

Violations:

• Employee observed cutting lime with his bare hand. Ready to eat foods cannot be handled with bare hands.
• Hand sink by the reach in cooler inside the pizza prep area doesn't have a proper signage.
• Wares cycled through the dish machine are not being sanitized, reading of less than 25 ppm chlorine were taken.
• Small plastic container observed inside the sauces to dispense food.

Popeyes: 44061 Ashburn Shopping Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 24

Violations: No violations found.

DC Prime Steakhouse: 20120 Lakeview Center Plaza Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 24

Violations:

• Observed demi-glace hot holding at 129F. Except during preparation, cooking, or cooling, or when time is used as the public health control as specified under 12VAC5-421-850 and except as specified in subsections B and C of this section, time/temperature control for safety food shall be maintained at 135F or above.

Viet Kitchen & Tea House: 20789 Great Falls Plaza Sterling, VA 20165

Last inspection: March 24

Violations:

• EHS observed an open employee beverage on the line shelving. Employees may drink from closed containers so that there is minimal risk of contamination from the contents or the container. Employees may drink drinks must be covered with a straw. Person in charge (PIC) remove3d the container from the line during the inspection.
• EHS observed raw shrimp stored above ready to eat (RTE) cooked proteins in the walk-in cooler (Chicken/Beef). Food shall be protected from sources of contamination by separating RTE foods from raw animal proteins and arranging them in a way that prevents splashes, drips, and spills. PIC moved the raw shrimp to be stored on shelving below the RTE foods.
• EHS observed multiple cleaned, stored utensils & equipment with visible debris on them. Food contact surfaces shall be clean to sight and touch. Removing all debris & stickers/residues from these surfaces before they are stored. Clean all equipment/utensils that have visible debris on them.
• The low temperature dish machine is not dispensing adequate amounts of chlorine sanitizer therefore is not sanitizing surfaces. Food contact surfaces must be sanitized before use, after cleaning. EHS directed that the three basin sink be used with a chlorine sanitizer at 50-100PPM chlorine to sanitize all food contact surfaces until the repair to the low temperature dish machine can be made.
• EHS observed spring rolls in the flip top cooler that temped at 48F. Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods must be maintained at 41F or less. PIC voluntarily discarded the spring rolls during the inspection.
• Proper date marking is not being completed in this facility. When keeping TCS/RTE foods longer than 24 hours, the date that the food item was opened/prepared or a date not to exceed 7 days from the date that the food item was prepared/opened shall be marked on the food/container. W
• EHS observed 2 spray bottles of fabuloso and bleach water with no labeling. When taking toxic materials (cleaners) from bulk supplies, the common name of the material must be labeled on the working container.
• EHS tested the chlorine sanitizer in a sanitizing bucket on the front register line with a chlorine level of over 200PPM. Chemical sanitizers applied to food contact surfaces must meet certain concentration criteria so that chemical contamination is not a risk. Chlorine sanitizer concentrations shall be between 50-100ppm.
• EHS observed salmon filets in reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) thawing in the walk-in cooler without the vacuum seal broken. When thawing fish in ROP, oxygen must be introduced to eliminate the potential of harmful anaerobic bacteria to reproduce. PIC cut all packaging so that air was introduced.
• EHS observed a box of raw chicken stored directly on the floor of the walk-in cooler, as well as several containers of iced coffee stored on the floor. Food shall be protected from sources of contamination by storing all foods at least 6" off the floor.
• EHS observed multiple employee items throughout the kitchen area stored with dry food goods and cleaned utensils & equipment. Food and food contact surfaces shall be protected from sources of contamination by storing employee items away from these items/areas.
• EHS observed 2 wet wiping clothes stored directly on the lip of the hand sink on the front line of the register, not stored in a sanitizing solution. Clothes in use for wiping down counters shall be held in between uses in a chemical sanitizer.
• EHS observed several knives stored in between uses on the line in between the equipment (coolers/prep table). These surfaces are not routinely cleaned and are not suitable to store in-use utensils in contact with those surfaces.
• EHS observed several single-use articles being re-used for use other than the initial intended use, as well as single use articles (to-go containers) washed and stored for re-use. Single-use articles are not to be reused.

Jimmy John's: 44110 Ashburn Village Blvd #134 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 24

Violations:

• When asked, the Person in Charge (PIC) was not able to describe or locate a vomit clean-up kit or plan.

Parrandos Tex-Mex Grill: 42830 Creek View Plaza #100 Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 24

Violations:

• Observed no soap available at bar hand sink.
• Observed the following foods cold holding at improper temperatures in the steam well at the grill line: guacamole 50F, cut lettuce 58F, cheese 52F. Time temperature control for safety foods shall be held at or below 41F.
• Observed ice bins at bar with ice for consumption used as coolant for bottles of bar mixers and lime juice. Ice used as coolant shall not be used as food.
• During pauses in food dispensing, ice cream scoop, cake knife, cake spatula, and 2 sauce ladles observed stored on counter in stagnant 73F temperature water. During pauses of dispensing food dispensing utensils shall be stored appropriately using temperature control for safety.

Carolina Brothers Pit BBQ: 20702 Ashburn Rd Ashburn, VA 20147

Last inspection: March 21

Violations:

• Observed no hand drying provision in men's restroom. Each handwashing sink or group of adjacent handwashing sinks shall be provided with Individual, disposable towels, a continuous towel system that supplies the user with a clean towel, or a heated-air hand drying device. Person in charge (PIC) refilled towel dispenser.
• Observed no sign or poster for handwashing sink by serving line. A sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands shall be provided at all handwashing sinks used by food employees and shall be clearly visible to food employees.
• Observed can opener with accumulation of debris. Food contact surfaces should be clean to sight and touch. PIC had can opener washed rinsed, and sanitized.
• Observed four pans of pork ribs in hot holding warmer registering at 111F. Food held hot should be maintained at 135F or above to prevent harmful bacteria growth. PIC rapidly reheated food to 165F or above and placed in hot holding unit at proper temperature.
• Observed nine pulled pork pans (58F) improperly cold holding in reach in cooler. Food held cold should be maintained at 41F or below to prevent harmful bacteria growth. PIC voluntarily discarded stated items.
• Observed brisket and green beans cooling with a lid tightly on the container. When cooling foods should be loosely covered or uncover to facilitate heat transfer from the surface of the food. PIC uncovered all the prepped containers of brisket and green beans.