Arlington Health Inspectors Cite Food Safety Violations At Local Restaurants

ARLINGTON, VA — The following information is from routine and risk factor inspections conducted July 1-7 by Arlington County Public Health. Establishments are listed only if inspectors documented one or more violations during the inspections. Many violations were corrected while inspectors were on site.

Ballston Local, 900 North Glebe Road: Inspectors found a soda gun nozzle at the bar in need of cleaning. The establishment was instructed to clean the food-contact surface.

Bethel Cafe, 3045A Columbia Pike: Inspectors reported the restaurant did not have a certified food protection manager on site and found no soap at a handwashing sink in the cooking area. The facility was instructed to ensure a certified manager is present during operating hours and to keep all handwashing sinks stocked with soap.

Caffe Nero, 700 N. Randolph St.: Inspectors found the high-temperature dish machine was not properly sanitizing dishes, observed a bird inside the facility, noted the restaurant lacked a high-temperature dish machine testing device, and found the bottom of a reach-in freezer in need of cleaning. Staff were instructed to sanitize dishes in the three-compartment sink until the dish machine is repaired, remove the bird, obtain testing strips or a thermometer, and clean the freezer.

Capital Doner Arl, 1731 Wilson Blvd.: Inspectors found the cook line handwashing sink lacked paper towels. The person in charge provided paper towels during the inspection, correcting the violation.

Chipotle Mexican Grill #2473, 1002 S. Glebe Road: Multiple cold foods, including pico de gallo, corn salsa, salsa, guacamole, shredded cheese and sour cream, were found above the required 41-degree cold-holding temperature. Staff immediately replaced the food and added ice as an additional cooling method.

Curry & Clay Oven Restaurant, 5645 Langston Blvd.: Inspectors found raw vegetables stored above uncovered ready-to-eat foods and raw chicken stored above raw salmon and cooked foods in the walk-in refrigerator. They also found sanitizer concentration below required levels before the person in charge adjusted it. Staff were instructed to properly separate raw and ready-to-eat foods and maintain sanitizer at the proper concentration.

DCA Grille District, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Terminal B: A container of beer cheese was found hot holding at 118 degrees, below the required minimum. The person in charge reheated the food to 165 degrees during the inspection.

Extreme Pizza, 1419 S. Fern St.: Inspectors cited numerous violations, including a hand sink that did not consistently provide properly tempered water, dirty drink nozzles and pizza pans, packaged cookies missing required labeling and allergen information, cardboard used as a food-contact surface, equipment installation issues, greasy walls and ceilings, fruit fly droppings on ceiling tiles, and missing hood ventilation drip pans.

Gharer Khabar, 5157 Langston Blvd.: Inspectors found a hotel pan stored in a handwashing sink, no paper towels at another hand sink, uncovered foods in a refrigerator, dirty wiping towels without sanitizer buckets, and improperly date-marked prepared foods. Additional comments noted houseflies and fruit flies in the basement.

Kung Fu Tea, 4238 Wilson Blvd.: Ice was found inside a handwashing sink, preventing it from being used solely for handwashing. Staff were instructed to keep hand sinks available only for handwashing.

Meda Restaurant and Lounge, 5037 Columbia Pike: Inspectors observed an employee drinking from an open cup in the kitchen, another employee failing to wash hands before putting on gloves after returning from outside, utensils being washed in improper sinks, and sliced cheddar cheese holding at 50 degrees. The cheese was voluntarily discarded during the inspection.

Minerva Express, 4815-B Langston Blvd.: Paneer was found holding at 45 degrees in a reach-in cooler, above the required cold-holding temperature. Inspectors instructed staff to move temperature-controlled foods to another cooler and adjust the display cooler to maintain 41 degrees or below.

Old Dominion Pizza Company, 4514 Cherry Hill Road: Inspectors found food debris on a deli slicer that had not been cleaned after the previous day's use. The report noted it was the fifth observation of the same priority violation, and a risk control plan will be required.

Shake Shack Ballston, 4201 Wilson Blvd.: The milkshake preparation area dish machine failed to reach the required sanitizing temperature, and the soda fountain ice chute dispenser was dirty. Inspectors instructed the restaurant not to use the dish machine until it is repaired and to clean and sanitize the ice chute.

Sofia Pupuseria, 3610 Columbia Pike: Inspectors found two hot beverages, Atol de Elote and Atol Chuco Salado, holding below the required minimum temperature. The beverages were reheated to 165 degrees during the inspection.

Stone Hot Pizza, 3217 Washington Blvd.: Inspectors found a bag of moldy cheese in the walk-in refrigerator and observed raw ground beef stored above tortillas. The moldy cheese was discarded, and staff were instructed to store raw meat below ready-to-eat foods.

Tupelo Honey Cafe, 1616 N. Troy St.: Inspectors found a soda gun nozzle that needed cleaning and tomato soup holding at 111 degrees, below the required hot-holding temperature. The soup was reheated to 165 degrees during the inspection.