Dead Lizard, Rodents, Mold, More Violations Found At VA Restaurants

VIRGINIA — Some signs of a restaurant with health violations are easy to spot; weird smells, crawling insects or unkempt employees are all red flags. But sometimes the problem is harder to pin down, such as food stored at improper temperatures, unclean kitchen equipment, or insufficient handwashing.

Some recent restaurant inspections throughout Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg uncovered a dead lizard, dead rodents, mouse droppings on a countertop, mold and other violations.

Then there are commercial kitchens that are immaculately clean, surpass all safety standards and serve up delicious food.

"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.

Do you know how clean your favorite coffee shop, go-to restaurant or school kitchen is? Look through these recent food safety inspections from around Northern Virginia and Fredericksburg, courtesy of Patch.

• Dead Lizard On Rodent Trap Reported At Fredericksburg Restaurant
• Dead Mouse Found Under Kitchen Refrigerator: Restaurant Inspections
• Mouse Droppings Found On Countertop Of Sushi Bar At Arlington Eatery
• Dead Petite Rodent Found On Food Prep Area At Fredericksburg Eatery
• Up To 23 Violations, Mold Found: Manassas Restaurant Inspections
• Foods Kept Past Discard Dates: Vienna Restaurant Inspections
• Woodbridge Restaurant Inspections: Dirt In Ice Machine, No Handwashing
• Pesticide Devices Hanging In Bar Area Of Fredericksburg Restaurant
• Utensils Not Properly Sanitized, More: Vienna Restaurant Inspections