Route 1 Restaurant Inspections: Over 10 Violations At 2 Restaurants

HUNTINGTON, VA — With Fairfax County Health Department's restaurant inspection reports back online, we continue to look at reports in the Route 1 corridor.

The health department's environmental health staff inspect over 5,200 restaurants and other retail food service establishments in Fairfax County and cities of Falls Church and Fairfax to ensure safe food handling practices are followed. This includes proper sanitation, food storage and preparation, and adequate kitchen facilities. Aside from restaurants, staff inspect child care centers, hospitals, school cafeterias, and temporary food service vendors at festivals.

Residents can search for a specific restaurant or browse a map of inspected locations through the online database.

The health department cautions residents that a single inspection should not be used to evaluate a restaurant. Pieter Sheehan, the Fairfax County environmental health director, says "it is important to look at multiple inspection reports for a facility to truly understand their approach and commitment to food safety and sanitation."

This week's report focuses on restaurants in Huntington, Groveton and Belle Haven in December and January. There were no posted inspections for Fort Hunt in these months.

Of note, there were 12 violations at Bob & Edith's Diner and 11 violations at Bonchon. Both restaurants were scheduled to have follow-up inspections.

Juliano's: 5950 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Jan. 3

Violations:

• Observed that sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided or is not clearly visible at all handwashing sinks used by food employees.

Pizza Boli's: 2304 Huntington Ave., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Jan. 3

Violations:

• Observed that paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink.

Papa John's Pizza: 6200 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Jan. 11

Violations: No violations found.

Domino's Pizza: 6228 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Jan. 11

Violations:

• Observed that paper towels were not provided at the back handwashing sink.

Bob & Edith's Diner: 5918 North Kings Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Jan. 25

Violations:

• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: sliced cheddar cheese on ice (over fill) along grill line 45F; coconut custard pie in unit 4 (counter top pie cooler) holding at 45F;
• Raw animal food storage, preparation, holding or display conducted in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: Observed raw ground sausage patties holding over fully cooked country ham in unit 2 (2 door UCR at cookline);
• The food-contact surfaces of the following equipment were not observed sanitized: The utensils which were being washed, rinsed and sanitized in the chemical sanitizing dish-machine.
• Observed an ambient air temperature above 45F in the following refrigeration unit holding raw shells eggs: shell eggs holding along grill at ambient room air 65F;
• When tested, the low temperature, chemical sanitizing warewashing machine was observed with a sanitizing rinse concentration of less than 50 ppm chlorine solution;
• The person in charge is not a certified food protection manager (certified food manager arrived during inspection);
• The person in charge is not able to provide written procedures for the use of time as a public health control with the following time/temperature control for safety food item(s);
• Observed that hand soap was not provided at each handwashing sink next to salad bar as the soap dispenser does not dispense soap;
• Food item(s) for which time rather than temperature is used as a control is not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that is 4 hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control: Raw shell eggs;
• Observed that paper towels were not provided at the handwashing sink next to the cook stove at back as the dispenser does not dispense paper towels;
• There is no test kit located in the facility for monitoring the concentration of the chemical sanitizing solutions;
• The dish machine is not properly operating per manufacturer specifications.

Tanger Kabob House Cafe: 5735 Telegraph Rd., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Dec. 21

Violations:

• Raw animal food storage, preparation, holding or display conducted in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: raw shell eggs holding over uncut fresh vegetable in the walk in refrigerator;
• Observed that sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided or is not clearly visible at all handwashing sinks used by food employees;
• Food items that are not easily identified by appearance were observed without a label: cooking oils along cookline.

McDonald's: 6239 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22303

Last inspection: Jan. 29

Violations: No violations found.

Applebee's: 6310 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Dec. 15

Violations:

• The following food item(s) were observed hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: Marinara 82F in water along the cookline.

Wingstop: 6328 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Dec. 6

Violations:

• The vegetable wash dispenser is not operating properly to dispense vegetable wash.

Las Veguitas Restaurant: 6333 D South Kings Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Dec. 6

Violations:

• The certified food manager could not provide a food temperature measuring device;
• Utensils were observed in a state of repair and condition preventing the equipment to be used as designed: cracked handles on pans, cracked plastic containers.

JKO Catering: 6333 South Kings Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Jan. 17

Violations: No violations found.

Eastern Carry Out: 6331 B South Kings Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Dec. 6

Violations:

• Observed an ambient air temperature above 45F in the following refrigeration unit holding raw shells eggs: raw shell eggs holding out at cookline with ambient room air 63F;
• Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: a chopping knife was stored in between the hot holding cabinet and the 1 door prep cooler;
• The food-contact surfaces of the following equipment and/or utensils are not durable: the cardboard boxes used to store eggrolls.

Rosita's Restaurant and Carry Out: 6510 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Jan. 9

• Violations: The following refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: chicken flautas, pork (chicharron), and beans in the walk in cooler;
• Food employees to wash their hands is not provided at the hand-washing sink located in the women’s bathroom used by food employees.

Bonchon: 6852 Richmond Hwy., Alexandria, Va 22306

Last inspection: Dec. 1

Violations:

• A food employee failed to wash their hands and don gloves before removing the clean dishes from the dish machine;
• Food item(s) were observed hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: fried chicken wings in the hot holding cabinet (126F, 120F, 134F);
• A food employee was observed cleaning their hands in a food preparation sink;
• The following food item(s) for which time rather than temperature is used as a control is not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time thatis 4 hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control: cooked eggs, raw shelled eggs and rice at the stir fry station, and liquid eggs at the batter station;
• Hand soap was not provided at the handwashing sinks, located by the prep top cooler, by the fryer and the 3 compartment sink;
• Paper towels were not provided at the handwashing sinks, located by the prep top sink, the fryer and the 3 compartment sink;
• The following food items that are not easily identified by appearance were observed without a label: large tubs of white sugar and bread crumbs in the storage area, and bottles of oil, soy sauce and hoisin sauce at the cookline;
• Hot holding cabinet for the fried chicken was not functioning properly and registered at 103F, which was not maintaining hot holding temperatures for the chicken inside;
• A HACCP Plan was not submitted prior to engaging in preparation of kimchi in the facility. The CFM reported that Kimchi is held out of refrigeration for 24 hours during fermentation process;
• Sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at the hand washing sink located in the women’s bathroom, used by food employees;
• Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: the rice scoopers held in container of water that registered at 80F.

Revel Wine Bar: 1600 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria, Va 22307

Last inspection: Dec. 6

Violations:

• There was a change to the menu, beef tartare was added, but no disclosure was added to the menu for the beef tartare and roasted duck breast.

Dishes of India: 1510 Belle View Blvd., Alexandria, Va 22307

Last inspection: Dec. 6

Violations:

• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: rice pudding in the Kelvinator (44F);
• The following refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked: containers of cooked potatoes, cooked onion gravy, sauces, and chicken in the prep top coolers and upright coolers without dates.