Restaurant Inspections: Afghan Market, Dave & Chung's

Alexandria Health Department officials inspected numerous restaurants in West End Alexandria in recent weeks. We all want to know how our favorite restaurants stack up on cleanliness and sanitation.

Full reports can be accessed on the health department's website.

Afghan Market, 5715 Edsall Road, Oct. 11:

• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils. Employee's open drinking container were improperly placed if the food prep area. Employee's drinking containers were moved during the inspection.
• Priority Item Repeat: The following food item(s) is observed to be unsound or adulterated: rotten produce was located in the reach-in refrigerator. The rotten produce was discarded during the inspection.
• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Item Repeat: Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in the refrigeration unit. Raw chicken was improperly stored above tomato paste in the reach-in refrigerator, and eggs were improperly stored above olives in the walk-in refrigerator. Foods were relocated during the inspection.
• Core Item Repeat: Unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: chicken meat pies (dairy reach-in refrigerator), rice at the prep sink, sugar (dry storage area), chicken (reach-in refrigerator) and several foods (walk-in refrigerator).
• Priority Foundation Item Repeat: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: the mixer, the prep table, the small rice bowls, food bowls, bulk dry ingredients, and the reach-in refrigerator.
• Core Item Repeat: The premises is not being routinely inspected for the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests. Observed mice dropping in the dry storage area.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Sheet trays and single service items were found stored on the floor.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item: Clean bowls were observed stored with the food-contact surface facing upward.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item: Single service containers were observed stored uncovered.
• Core Item Repeat: Observed that the floors and walls in the food prep area are in need of cleaning.
• Core Item: Observed that the ceiling tiles are not maintained in good repair. Repair in 15 days.
• Core Item Repeat: Observed that items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment are being stored on the premises. Remove table in the restroom, the unused steam table in the dry storage area, broken refrigeration units, and extra cooking pans in 30 days.
• Core Item: Observed that mops are improperly stored between use.
• Core Item: Observed employee clothing and other possessions stored in areas that may contaminate food, food-contact surfaces of equipment, single-service items, or single-use items. Employee's apron improperly stored on food contact surfaces. Apron were relocated during the inspection.

Alley Cat Bar and Grill, 2 S. Whiting St., Oct. 11

• Core Item: Employees observed working in the food service area without proper hair restraints.
• Core Item Repeat: Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use as follows: the ice scoops area improperly stored on top of boxes in the dry storage area.
• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Item Repeat: The following food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: sliced cherry tomatoes, lettuce (salad prep cooler) and hamburger, chicken breast, cooked diced chicken (True make table). The food in the salad prep cooler was discarded and the food in the True make table refrigerator was moved to a colder unit.
• Core Item Repeat: The following mechanical refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: the salad prep make table, and the True make table refrigerator.
• Core Item Repeat: The door gaskets of the following unit(s) are damaged: on the True glass door reach-in refrigerator.
• Priority Item: Due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning.
• Core Item Repeat: Clean equipment were found stored not inverted and on dish racks in the dry storage area. invert clean equipment and store items on approved equipment.
• Core Item Repeat: The pre-spray tower is leaking at the dish machine.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Observed that the area designated for employees to eat, drink, and use tobacco is not located to protect food, equipment, linens, and/or single-service items from contamination. Employee's half consumed bottle of water is improperly placed on the steam table and on the prep table next to the 3 compartment sink. Bottles of water were removed during the inspection.
• Core Item Repeat: Observed that items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment are being stored on the premises. The following must be removed in 10 days: unused beer tap, small refrigerator, Coca Cola refrigerator, broken ice machine, car seats, and ice bins outside.
• Core Item Repeat: Observed that the floor in the dishwashing area and the ice machine are in need of cleaning.

BBQ Bus and Big Cheese Gourmet, 4114 Wheeler Ave., Oct. 10

• Core Item: Observed that the physical structure in the location is in need of cleaning. Foul odor emitting from the floor drain.
• Core Item: Observed that inadequate lighting was provided in the food preparation areas. Four burnt lights in both hoods.

Dave & Chung's Chinese Restaurant, 362 S. Pickett St, Oct. 10

• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils. An open soup container was used a cup in the cooking area. The container was discarded during the inspection.
• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Foundation Item Repeat: A food employee was observed cleaning their hands in a food preparation sink. Corrected after instruction.
• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Item Repeat: Observed food employees using improper handwashing procedures. Employee failed to wash her hands for 20 seconds. Corrected after instruction on proper handwashing.
• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Item Repeat: Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in the walk-in refrigeration unit. Raw chicken and shrimp were improperly stored above washed produce. Several foods were rearranged during the inspection.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: walk-in refrigerator and in the dry storage area. Food were covered during the inspection.
• Priority Foundation Item Repeat: The following equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch: the grill (cooking area), the smoker, the reach-in refrigeration units, and the stainless steel measuring bowls.
• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Item Repeat: The following food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: fried rice. Fried rice was placed into a warmer during the inspection.
• Priority Item Repeat: The following food item(s) were measured at improper temperatures: steak, chicken, shrimp, beef, and eggs. Use an ice bath under PHFs or move PHFs to a colder refrigeration unit.
• Priority Item Repeat: Observed that poisonous and toxic materials are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items. A spray bottle of cleaner is improperly stored with soy sauce. The soy sauce was relocated during the inspection.
• Core Item Repeat: The premises is not being routinely inspected for the presence of insects, rodents, and other pests. I observed mouse droppings at the front bar area. Have the pest control treat for mice and flies in the establishment. Retain invoice for my review.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Food stored on the floor and/or food stored less than 6 inches off the floor. Numerous foods were stored on the walk-in refrigerator and freezer floors. Foods were relocated during the inspection.
• Core Item: Employees observed working in the food service area without proper hair restraints
• Core Item: Sheet were found stored on the floor.
• Core Item: Manufacturer containers were observed reused for the storage of cooked food. Cardboard boxes and single service containers were discarded during the inspection.
• Core Item: Repeat Single service items were observed stored with the food-contact surface facing upward.
• Core Item Repeat: The following mechanical refrigeration unit is not currently operating as required to cold hold food at a temperature of 41°F or less: the reach-in refrigeration units.
• Core Item: Unprotected plastic waste bags used to store miscellaneous refuse are stored unprotected from pests and rodents outside the establishment. Trash was improperly placed on the ground and outside of the dumpster.
• Core Item: Observed that items that are unnecessary to the operation or maintenance of the establishment are being stored on the premises. Remove waste oil in the cooking area.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item: Observed that the area designated for employees to eat, drink, and use tobacco is not located to protect food, equipment, linens, and/or single-service items from contamination. Employee's food and bottled water were improperly placed on the clean drainboard at the dish machine. Employee's belongings were relocated during the inspection.
• Core Item: Observed employee clothing and other possessions stored in areas that may contaminate food, food-contact surfaces of equipment, single-service items, or single-use items. Employee's jacket was improperly placed on the slicer. The jacket was removed during the inspection.
• Core Item Repeat: Light bulb(s) in the kitchen are not covered by a protective shielding.

Thai Lemongrass, 506 C & D S. Van Dorn St., Oct. 10

• Corrected During Inspection, Priority Item Repeat Raw animal food stored over ready-to-eat food in the refrigeration unit. Steak and chicken are improperly stored above produce in the reach-in refrigerator. The raw meat was relocated during the inspection.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Unwrapped or uncovered food in the following location where the food is subject to contamination: reach-in refrigerator. Covered during the inspection.
• Priority Item: Due to improper operation of the low temperature chemical sanitizing mechanical warewashing machine, equipment food-contact surfaces and utensils are not sanitized after cleaning.
• Priority Item: Observed that poisonous and toxic materials are not properly stored to prevent the contamination of food, equipment, utensils, linens or single service items. Limes are improperly stored with dish machine chemical.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item: An exterior door is blocked open. This may allow the entry of insects or rodents. The door was closed during the inspection.
• Corrected During Inspection, Core Item Repeat: Food stored on the floor and/or food stored less than 6 inches off the floor. Rice and onion are stored on the floor. Food was elevated during the inspection.

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