Restaurant Inspections: Dead Flies Found in Alexandria Restaurant

The state health department recently inspected a few restaurants in the Alexandria area. For prior restaurant inspection reports, click here.

In Virginia, restaurant inspection reports aren't quite as simple as getting a letter grade or an easy-to-see number rating to post in the front window.

That said, we all want to know how our favorite restaurants stack up on cleanliness and sanitation. Inspectors grade restaurants based on critical and non-critical violations.

A "critical violation" is one that "poses a direct or immediate threat to the safety of the food being served." Non-critical violations are generally related to cleaning or maintenance.

"Ideally, an operation would have no critical violations, or none which are not corrected immediately and not repeated. 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.

The site continues: "Keep in mind that any inspection report is a 'snapshot' of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, a restaurant could have fewer or more violations than noted in the report. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment."

Below, find the latest restaurant inspection from the Virginia Department of Health. These inspections reflect visits from inspectors during the last few weeks. Some of the violations were corrected immediately during the recent inspections.

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

Abi's Restaurant
5838-B North Kings Highway
Date of inspection: Oct. 30
Critical: 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.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows. Observed raw chicken over raw beef inside the beverage air 2dr cooler in the back of the establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Raw animal food holding in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food as follows. Observed raw beef next to fresh pineapple in beverage air 2dr cooler in back of the establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): The following refrigerated, ready-to-eat, potentially hazardous food that is prepared on site is not used or discarded within 24 hours of preparation and was not observed to be date marked. Observed cooked chicken, rice, refried beans, soup and yuca inside the beverage air 3dr cooler without date marking. Observed cooked chicken, beans diced pork, flan, and ceviche inside the beverage air 2dr cooler without date marking.
Critical (corrected during inspection): The concentration of the BLEACH solution was measured at 200ppm. This concentration exceeds the approved limits for use with food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils in a foodservice establishment.
Non-critical: There was no temperature measuring device located in the following cold or hot holding equipment. Did not observe a thermometer inside the beverage air 1dr under counter reach-in cooler at the bar.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that hand soap was not provided at each hand washing sink.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Surfaces of ice bins, beverage dispensing nozzles, and enclosed components of equipment are not being cleaned as required. Observed black growth inside the ice machine along grey plastic.
Non-critical: An accumulation of dead or trapped flies were found in the control devices which were located next to clean storage containers.

Balkan Grill
5902A N Kings Hwy
Date of inspection: Oct. 30
Non-critical: Observed that the 3 compartment sink drains as well as the floor drain in the 3 compartment sink area is in need of cleaning.

New China Taste
5910 North Kings Hwy
Date of inspection: Oct. 30
Critical (corrected during inspection): Different types of raw animal foods stored in such a manner that may cause cross contamination as follows. Observed raw chicken over raw shrimp inside the walk-in cooler.
Critical (corrected during inspection): The food-contact surfaces of the following equipment were not observed sanitized. Observed dishwasher wash and rinse plastic storage containers without sanitizing them.
Critical (corrected during inspection): 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. Observed garlic and oil mixture at cook line stand without time marking.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Restricted, commercial use pesticides present in the facility are applied by the operator who is not a certified pesticide applicator. EHS observed large bottle of black flay pesticide spray under the 3-compartment sink.