Mold In Ice Machine, Dozen More Violations: Vienna Restaurant Inspections

VIENNA, VA — As the Fairfax County Health Department regularly inspects restaurants in the Town of Vienna, we continue to look at the latest inspection results.

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 multiple inspection reports should be used to evaluate a restaurant rather than a single report.

This week's report focuses on reports in September around the Town of Vienna. The most violations were 13 at Bear Branch Tavern, including mold in the ice machine.

See inspection results below, and click on each link to see current and past reports for each restaurant. Results are typically available two weeks after the inspection.

Sunflower Vegetarian: 2531 Chain Bridge Rd, Vienna, Va 22181

Last inspection: Sept. 18

Violations:

• 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 that is 4 hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control: SUSHI RICE.
• Observed that the floor tiles in the kitchen are not maintained in good repair and. Some are missing.
• The nonfood-contact surfaces of the following equipment had accumulations of grime and debris: The hand washing sink, located at the cook-line.

Z Burger: 541 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 4

Violations:

• When tested, the chlorine-based sanitizing solution for soaking wet wiping towels, was observed to be at a concentration less than what is required for effective sanitization of food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils. Observed the sanitizing solution in the solution was noted to be zero ppm, for Total CHLORINE concentration.

Carnegie Diner: 501 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 16

Violations:

• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device:soft cooked bacon=61F, raw salmon=49, raw NY steak=49, feta cheese cubes=51F, blue cheese=45F, caramelized onions- 45F, cooked mushroom=45F, impossible beef patty=51F.
• Observed that poisonous and toxic materials are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items bottles of cleaning chemicals were observed stored with single service articles and foods
• Working containers of poisonous and toxic materials are not properly labeled with a common name. Unmarked spray bottles containing toxic cleaning solution were not labeled to identify contents.
• Observed that clean single service utensils were stored in on the floor in the dry storage room, which may exposed these item(s) to contamination.
• Soiled linens were found stored in a location that may directly or indirectly contaminate food or food-contact surfaces. Soiled towels/linen were noted on a storage rack in the kitchen.
• The door gaskets of some of the refrigeration unit(s) are broken/damaged.
• The food-contact surfaces of the following equipment and/or utensils are not finished to have a smooth, cleanable surface: rubber spatulas. The spatulas were damaged and deeply stained
• The following methods used for cooling were not adequate to facilitate proper cooling: Food containers were filled above the food-lines and sealed tightly with plastic covering, slowing the cooling process.
• The following food items that are not easily identified by appearance were observed without a label: Several unmarked squeeze bottles containing foods that are not easy to recognize, were not labeled accordingly.

Purple Onion Catering Company: 416 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Oct. 30

Violations:

• Observed the following ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food being held for more than the specified time/temperature allowed: Tziki sauce, Parmesan cream, malt cheese, Siracha cream.
• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: unsalted butter=56F, whole milk=45F, green bodes dressing=48F, half & half=47F Fresh Mozzarella cheese=49F.

Maple Room: 377 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 4

Violations: No violations found.

Seray: 160 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 15

Violations:

• Observed no heat sensitive test strip available to verify heat sanitization step of mechanical warewashing machine.

Panera Bread: 136 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 15

Violations:

• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: milk (57F) and cream (66F) in carafes at customer self service station counter at room temperature.

Le Bistro: 111 Church St, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 5

Violations:

• Upon discussion with the person-in-charge, one or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment. At the time of this inspection, the Health Department provided and reviewed handouts and resource information in a red folder labeled 'Employee Health Policy.'
• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: cooked duck leg (55F) stored inside 2 drawer undergrill cooler.
• Raw animal food storage, preparation, holding or display conducted in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows: uncooked beef stored above sautéed mushrooms inside the 1 Dr UR refrigerator, raw shelled eggs stored above sliced tomatoes and salad spring mix. Inside of 2 Dr UR refrigerator.
• Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows: uncooked beef stored above uncovered fresh mussels insides of 1 Dr UR refrigerator.
• The following raw and/or undercooked foods are provided on the menu, menu board, table tent or brochure without proper disclosure: NY strip steak, fresh mussels, soft boiled egg.

Vienna Inn: 120 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 16

Violations:

• The following methods used for cooling were not adequate to facilitate proper cooling: observed recently sliced tomato cooling (after 3 hours) inside top of 3 Dr preptop cooler.

Bear Branch Tavern: 133 Maple Ave, Ste# 100, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 22

Violations:

• The food-contact surfaces of the following equipment were not observed sanitized: @EQUIPMENT@. OBSERVED SANITIZING RINSE CONCENTRATION OF LESS THAN 50PPM CHLORINE SOLUTION AT THE MAIN DISHWASHER AND TWO BAR DISHWASHERS.
• The following food item(s) were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device: (1) CRAB CAKE (44F), SPINACH (45F), KALE (45F) WERE STORED IN 3-DOOR COOLER (SALAD) FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS; (2) SLICED SWISS CHEESE (48F), SLICED AMERICAN CHEESE (48F), ROASTED BEEF (44F), AND MAHI MAHI (42F) WERE STORED IN 2-DRAWER COOLER UNDER PLANCHA FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS; (3) HALF HALF (43F) WAS STORED IN CROWINE 1-DOOR COOLER OVERNIGHT; (4) COOKED POTATO (43F) WAS STORED IN 3-DOOR PREP COOLER (SAUTE) FOR MORE THAN 4 HOURS.
• Observed the lack of an approved backflow prevention device on the water supply system. OBSERVED A CHEMICAL DISPENSER WITH A SPRAY NOZZLE IS ATTACHED TO THE MOP SINK WITH AN ATMOSPHERIC BREAKER.
• The handwashing facility located at the LOCATION is blocked, preventing access by employees for easy handwashing.
• The following equipment is not operating properly and/or is in poor repair: MAIN DISHWASHER AND TWO BAR DISHWASHERS ARE NOT SANITIZING.
• Open drinking containers used or stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils.
• The nonfood-contact surface of the following equipment is not corrosion resistant, nonabsorbent, and/or smooth: OBSERVED CARDBOARD LINING ON STORAGE RACKS IN DRY STORAGE AREA.
• Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: (1) SERVING TONGS AND SPATULAS WERE STORED IN A CONTAINER OF STAGNANT WATER AT 112F; (2) MEASURING CUPS AND TEA MIXERS WERE STROED IN A CONTAINER OF STAGNANT WATER AT 67F.
• The following refrigeration unit is not operating properly and is unable to maintain cold food at or below 41F: AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 2-DRAWER COOLER UNDER FLAT TOP AND CROWINE 1-DOOR COOLER AT BAR WERE ALL 44F.
• A food employee was observed eating, smoking, or drinking in areas where they may contaminate food, clean equipment, utensils or other items needing protection. A FOOD EMPLOYEE WAS DRINKING WATER FROM A CUP WITHOUT LID.
• Food stored on the floor and/or food stored less than 6 inches off the floor. OBSERVED BOXES OF FOOD STORED DIRECTLY ON FLOOR IN DRY STORAGE AREA.
• Surfaces of ice bins, beverage dispensing nozzles, and enclosed components of equipment are not being cleaned as required. THE INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE IN DRY STORAGE AREA IS MOLDY.
• Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: ICE SCOOPS WERE STORED ON ICE WITH THEIR HANDLES IN TOUCH OF ICE.

Jammin Java: 227 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 30

Violations:

• Upon discussion with the person-in-charge, one or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment. At the time of this inspection, the Health Department provided and reviewed handouts and resource information in a red folder labeled 'Employee Health Policy.'
• Observed the food establishment does not have written procedures for employees to follow when responding to vomiting or diarrheal events.
• Observed that sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at the hand sink in the bar area used by food employees.

Smoothie King: 258 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 19

Violations:

• Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: 4 scoops stored in standing water (76F) inside of dipping well not turned on.

Westwood Country Club Snack Bar: 800 Maple Ave, Vienna, Va 22180

Last inspection: Sept. 4

Violations: No violations found.