McLean Restaurant Inspections: Soiled Equipment, Expired Certificates

MCLEAN, VA — As the Fairfax County Health Department continues to post restaurant inspection reports, we are looking at recent reports in the McLean area.

The health department's environmental health staff inspect over 5,200 restaurants and other retail food service establishments in Fairfax County 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.

This week's report focuses on McLean restaurants inspected in July 2023. Many restaurants were found with no violations.

The health department cautions residents that a single inspection should not be used to evaluate a restaurant. Rather, the health department suggests looking at multiple inspection reports for a better overview.

Click on each link to see the full report for the restaurant. Residents can also search for a specific restaurant or browse a map of inspected locations through the online database.

Lost Dog Cafe, 1690 A Anderson Rd., McLean, Va 22102

Date inspected: July 11

Violations

• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: Observed cooked peppers and onions at 50F in preparation refrigerator near the oven overnight.
• The following food item(s) for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not cooked, served or discarded by the expiration time as indicated: French fries and onion rings sitting on the counter were not discarded after four hours.
• The person in charge is not able to provide a verbal or written policy for preventing the transmission of foodborne disease by an employee who has a disease or a medical condition.
• The handwashing sink in the back kitchen only reaches 87F.
• 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): French fries and onion rings were on a four-hour time control without documentation of start time or temp.
• The food establishment does not have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
• The following methods used for cooling were not adequate to facilitate proper cooling: Observed cooked pasta cooling in a walk-in cooler in pre-portioned bags stacked high in a metal container at 67F.

Cafe Tatti, 6627 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, Va 22101

Date inspected: July 13

Violations

• A review of the menu with the food service operator indicates that there is no consumer advisory for the following food items that may be served raw and/or undercooked: Salmon on special menu.
• All Certified Food Managers in establishment have an expired certificate. Corrective Action: Obtain a certified food managers certificate from an accredited program.
• Encrusted grease deposits and/or other soil deposits were observed on the food contact surfaces of the following cooking equipment: Slicer observed with an accumulation of crumbs.

El Tio Grill, 1433 Center St, McLean, Va 22101

Date inspected: July 13

Violations

• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: Queso (45F), sour cream (45F), tomatillo sauce (46F) observed in walk in cooler.
• The following cooked time/temperature control for safety food(s) are not being adequately cooled from 135F to 70F within two hours and to 41F within a total of six hours: Chicken cooked the previous day observed in walk in cooler at 51F.
• The following food item(s) were observed hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: Refried beans (119-147F) and queso (113F) observed in steam well.

Shipgarten, 7581 Colshire Dr, McLean, Va 22102

Date inspected: July 17

Violations

• The following food item(s) for which time rather than temperature is being used as a control was not cooked, served or discarded by the expiration time as indicated: Sushi rice.
• Reduced oxygen fish packaging is not cut during the thawing process.

Cafe Monaco, 1800 Old Meadow Rd, Ste# 1, McLean, Va 22102

Date inspected: July 19

Violations

• The concentration of the bleach solution was measured at 200 ppm. This concentration exceeds the approved limits for use with food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils in a food service establishment.
• The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: Blenders, vegetable peelers, metal strainers, paint brush, wooden spoons, metal skewers.
• The operator is not testing the chemical sanitizing solution to ensure proper concentration of the solution. Observed test strips soiled.
• Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: Spoons stored in water, blenders stored with water inside, grill utensils.
• Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.