Leesburg Health Inspections: Red Bar Sushi, Pen's, Jersey Mike's

LEESBURG, VA — Several restaurants around Leesburg and western Loudoun County recorded violations during recent inspections from the health department. Inspectors conducted the most recent restaurant visits between Dec. 6 and Dec. 12.

COVID-19 restrictions around the state have disappeared, so health inspectors have returned to conduct most restaurant inspections in person. However, some visits, such as those for training purposes, can be conducted virtually.

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.

Here are the most recent restaurant inspections in the Leesburg area, according to the Loudoun County Health Department.

• Red Bar Sushi & Best Thai Kitchen, 4 East Federal St Middleburg, VA 20117
  • Date inspected: Dec. 8
  • Total violations: 3
    • Bar low temperature dish machine not distributing chlorine. Chlorine dispenser was empty. Person In charge replaced empty container with full container of sanitizer (chlorine). Maintain dish machine with sanitizer (chlorine) to deliver 50-100 ppm chlorine to sanitizer equipment, utensils, wares. Corrected at inspection to deliver 50 ppm chlorine.
    • Prepackaged noodles being thawed in still water. Thaw time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods by: Completely submerging under running water at a temperature of 70°F or below.
    • Rice scoops (in use utensils) being held in water that is below 135F. Person in charge adjusted temperature of hot holding crock to be 135F or higher for in-use utensils.
• Jersey Mike's Subs, 522 Fort Evans Rd NE Leesburg, VA 20176
  • Date inspected: Dec. 8
  • Total violations: 5
    • Person In Charge (PIC) did not have proper documentation of Employee health form. Food employees and conditional employees are informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report in accordance with law, to the person in charge, information about their health and activities as they relate to diseases that are transmissible through food. PIC will train employees about the employee health policy and have them sign the employee health form.
    • Observed no verifiable procedure in place in case of vomiting and diarrheal event. A food establishment shall have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events that involve the discharge of vomitus or fecal matter onto surfaces in the food establishment. The procedures shall address the specific actions employees must take to minimize the spread of contamination and the exposure of employees, consumers, food, and surfaces to vomitus or fecal matter. EHS will email procedure to PIC and will display it for employees to see.
    • Observed no soap at employee hand washing sink in the back of the house by the three-compartment sink. Each handwashing sink or group of two adjacent handwashing sinks shall be provided with a supply of hand cleaning liquid, powder, or bar soap. PIC place soap at sink for proper hand washing.
    • Observed sliced tomatoes (51 F) and shredded lettuce (54 F) cold holding at improper temperatures. Time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods must be held at 41 F or below to prevent growth of harmful bacteria. PIC moved sliced tomatoes and lettuce to walk in cooler to maintain proper temperature of 41 F or below.
    • Observed a leak under hand washing sink by three compartment sink. A plumbing system shall be maintained in good repair. PIC will call a plumber to fix the leak.
• SR Coffee Co LLC, 940 Sycolin Rd Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Dec. 8
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed entry door not tight fitting. Door observed to have daylight around the door seam. Ensure outer openings are tight fitting to prevent entry of pests.
    • Observed hot water nozzle at the 3-compartment sink leaking. Ensure plumbing is maintained in good repair.
• Paisano's Pizza, 23-25 Catoctin Circle NE Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Dec. 8
  • Total violations: 1
    • Observed chemical dish machine in a state of disrepair at time of follow-up inspection. Per Person in Charge (PIC) facility is awaiting the dish machine to be serviced. Signage on dish machine stating the machine is out of order. Ensure equipment is maintained in good repair and proper adjustment.
• Noku Sushi Hibachi and Ramen, 1607 Village Market Blvd #108 Leesburg, VA 20175
  • Date inspected: Dec. 11
  • Total violations: 2
    • Observed shrimp, fish and beef stored over several ready to eat (RTE) yams, cucumbers, green onions and cream cheese. Prevent potential cross contamination by not storing raw animal foods over RTE foods. Person in charge relocated food to protect from cross contamination.
    • Observed Masago container being reused with cream cheese slices. Single use articles shall not be reused. Do not reuse these containers once the original product has been used. Use only multi-use containers that are designed to be reused for food storage.
• Pen's Oriental Kitchen, 609-Z Main Street East Purcellville, VA 20132
  • Date inspected: Dec. 11
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed hand washing sink by the dish machine unable to be used. Hand washing sink was filled with items. Items filled the whole basin of the sink. Ensure hand washing sinks are accessible at all times.
    • Observed raw chicken stored over ready-to-eat carrots. Ensure raw animal proteins are stored in a manner that prevents potential cross contamination. Ensure ready-to-eat foods are stored separately from raw animal proteins.
    • Observed sushi display cold holding fish at improper temperature. Observed tuna at 58F, salmon at 57F, and crab stick at 58F. Ensure time/temperature control for safety foods are cold held at 41F or below. Also observed fish eggs cold holding at improper temperature (44F) in 2 door refrigeration unit below sushi display case.
• Ledo Pizza, 1037 Edwards Ferry Rd NE Leesburg, VA 20176
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 12
  • Total violations: 7
    • Employee health policies indicating that they have been trained in the signs and symptoms of foodborne illness were not available for the foodhandling employees within the facility at the time of inspection. Follow up item.
    • There is no cleanser available at the handwash sink in the kitchen. Provide cleanser at this sink and each handwashing sink.
    • There are no hand towels available (battery for dispensing has run out) at the beverage handsink and the women's handsink. Follow up item.
    • Due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning. Follow up item.
    • Test strips to measure sanitizer (chlorine and quaternary ammonia) are not available. Follow up item.
    • Only one mixing valve (cold) is delivering water at the hand sink at the beverage station. Provide hot and cold water at hand sink to accommodate proper hand washing.
    • The plumbing beneath the 3 compartment sink is leaking. Repair plumbing so that 3 compartment sink can be filled up and used adequately.
• Hunan Cafe, 414 Sycolin Rd SE Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 12
  • Total violations: 3
    • Observed onions on the floor stored less than 6" above the floor. Food shall be protected from contamination by storing the food at least 6 inches (15 cm) above the floor. Person In Charge relocated food above 6 inches off the floor.
    • Observed single-service bowls as scoops in the containers that stored cooked rice and flour powder. During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food preparation and dispensing utensils shall be stored in food that is not time/temperature control for safety food with their handles above the top of the food within containers or equipment that can be closed, such as bins of sugar, flour, or cinnamon. Also, in can be stored in food with their handles above the top of the food and the container. PIC removed the bowls and replaced with utensils with handles.
    • Observed vent filters in the hood system are not being maintained in a clean condition. Intake and exhaust air ducts shall be cleaned, and filters changed so they are not a source of contamination by dust, dirt, and other materials. PIC will call hood cleaning company to come and clean vent filters.
• South Street Under, 203 Harrison St Se Leesburg, VA 20175
  
  • Date inspected: Dec. 12
  • Total violations: 6
    • Observed bread stored directly on wire stainless steel shelf in need of cleaning. Shelf observed with caked on residue. Ensure food contact surfaces are maintained clean to touch and sight.
    • Observed chili hot holding at improper temperature in soup urn. Chili observed at 109F. Hot hold time/temperature control for safety foods at 135F or above.
    • Observed food items in prep unit closest to hand washing sink cold holding at improper temperature. Observed cut melon 52F, chorizo 56F, cut tomato 45F, cut tomato salsa 54F, sausage patty 44F, sauerkraut 50F and cheese 50F. Cold hold time/temperature control for safety foods at 41F or below.
    • Observed facility to utilize time as a public health control for half & half. Half & half is not marked or otherwise identified to indicate the time that it was removed from temperature control. PIC stated facility utilizes a timer, but timer was not set.
    • Observed several pre-packaged food items in a grab & go manner with no label. Items include pecan bar, lemon bar, toffee brownie, German chocolate bar, raspberry walnut brownie, peppermint brownie, love bar, butterscotch bread pudding, zucchini bread, banana bread, cookie kits. Also observed poblano pepper soup with an incomplete label. Label did not include ingredients and sub ingredients. Pre-packaged food items in a grab & go manner shall include 1. the common name of the food, 2. the list of major ingredients including artificial colors or preservatives, 3. the total net weight or quantity of the food, 4. the name and place of business of the food manufacturer, packer, or distributor, 5. the name of the food source for each major food allergen contained in the food,6. nutrition labeling and, 7. for any salmonid fish containing canthaxanthin as a color additive, the labeling of the bulk fish container, including a list of ingredients, displayed on the retail container or by other written means.
    • Observed prep unit closest to the hand washing sink unable to maintain Time/temperature control for safety foods at 41F or below. Ensure equipment is in good repair and functioning properly.

The following facility did not record any violations:

• Koyo Ramen