McLean Restaurant Inspections: Legal Sea Foods and Other Mall Eateries

In Virginia, restaurant inspection reports aren't quite as simple as getting a letter grade or an easy to see number rating to post in the front window.

That said, we all want to know how our favorite restaurants stack up on cleanliness and sanitation.

In Fairfax County, inspectors grade restaurants based on critical and non-critical violations.

A "critical violation" is one that "poses a direct or immediate threat to the safety of the food being served." Non-critical violations are generally related to cleaning or maintenance.

"Ideally, an operation would have no critical violations, or none which are not corrected immediately and not repeated. In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," according to Virginia Department of Health's website.

The site continues: "Keep in mind that any inspection report is a 'snapshot' of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, a restaurant could have fewer or more violations than noted in the report. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long term cleanliness of an establishment."

Since our last round-up, the following McLean restaurants have been inspected by the Virginia Department of Health. The full reports can be accessed on the health department's website.

Baja Bistro, inside Tysons Corner Center

• No Critical Violations

Kelly's Cajun Grill, inside Tysons Corner Center

• Critical: The inspector observed bourbon chicken holding at an improper temperature.

Great Wraps, inside Tysons Corner Center

• Critical: The inspector observed hummus being held at an improper temperature.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, inside Tysons Corner Center

• Critical: The inspector observed shredded monterey jack cheese being held at an improper temperature.

Neiman Marcus Cafe, inside Tysons Galleria

• Critical: A food employee was observed handling tortilla chips with his or her bare hands.
• Critical: The inspector observed goat cheese, quinoa, cooked chicken and shredded cheese being held at improper temperatures.

Legal Sea Foods, inside Tysons Galleria

• Critical: The inspector observed warm cheese sauce being held at an improper temperature.
• Critical: The inspector observed tzatziki sauce, heavy cream, white chowder, fish stew and half and half being held at improper temperatures.