Restaurant Inspections: Evidence of Pests Found in Three Arlington Establishments

These Arlington restaurants were recently paid visits by the the Virginia Department of Health. Restaurants are paid periodic visits.

See Clarendon Patch for restaurants in the Clarendon, Courthouse and Rosslyn neighborhoods.

The full reports can be accessed on the state Health Department's website:

Cosi #175
2011 Crystal Drive #100
Date of inspection: Feb 26
Food preparation and dispensing utensils are improperly stored. Utensils observed stored in sanitizer buckets.

Pie-Tanza
2503-B Harrison St.
Date of inspection: Feb 26
Cloths in use for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces are not held between uses in a chemical sanitizer solution of proper concentration.

Thai Noy Restaurant
5880 Washington Blvd.
Date of inspection: Feb 26
The nonfood-contact surface of the bathroom ceiling vent covers are not kept free of an accumulation of dust.

Bailey's Pub & Grille
4238 Wilson Blvd.
Date of inspection: Feb 25
A food employee failed to wash his or her hands before donning gloves for working with food.

Deli Works
2136 Crystal Plaza Arcade
Date of inspection: Feb 25
Philly steak, cooked potatoes, tuna salad and sliced cheese prepared and held in the food establishment for more than 24 hours are not clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold or discarded.

Hunan Village
4775 Lee Highway
Date of inspection: Feb 25
Ready-to-eat food is not protected from cross contamination by separating it from raw animal foods. Raw meat stored above container of tofu in walk in.

Lebanese Taverna Restaurant
5900 Washington Blvd.
Date of inspection: Feb 25
The premises are not routinely inspected for evidence of pests. Old mouse droppings observed on the dry storage shelf in the basement.

Ravi Kabob House
305 N. Glebe Road
Date of inspection: Feb 25
Hand washing soap, window cleaner and bleach stored over clean and sanitized dishes in downstairs storage area.

Rio Grande Cafe
4301 N. Fairfax Drive
Date of inspection: Feb 25
The three-part sink wall juncture is moldy.

Slice & Dice
2175 Crystal Plaza Arcade
Date of inspection: Feb 25
The person in charge did not demonstrate their knowledge of the required temperatures and times for the safe refrigerated storage, hot holding, cooling, and reheating of potentially hazardous food.

Freddie's
555 S. 23rd St.
Date of inspection: Feb 22
Spoons were stored in dirty container with pens, markers, and scissors.

Jefferson Cafe
1421 Jefferson Davis Highway #80
Date of inspection: Feb 22
The person in charge did not demonstrate their knowledge of the required temperatures and times for the safe refrigerated storage, hot holding, cooling, and reheating of potentially hazardous food.

Nam Viet Restaurant
1127 N. Hudson St.
Date of inspection: Feb 22
A food employee did not clean their hands and/or exposed portions of their arms before engaging in food preparation and/or working with clean equipment or after other activities that contaminate the hands. Observed no hand washing during the inspection.

Noodles & Company
4238 Wilson Blvd. #Unit 1130
Date of inspection: Feb 22
Mouse droppings observed in employee's locker area.

Portabellos an American Cafe
2109 N. Pollard St.
Date of inspection: Feb 22
Several foods in the walk in cooler prepared and held in the food establishment for more than 24 hours is not clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded.

Protein Bar
800 N. Glebe Road Ste. 100
Date of inspection: Feb 22
After cleaning and sanitizing, equipment and utensils are not air-dried, adequately drained before contact with food.

China Express
3303 Lee Highway
Date of inspection: Feb 21
Raw animal foods are not separated from each other during storage, preparation, holding, and/or display. Raw chicken and raw eggs stored over raw pork and raw shrimps in the walk-in refrigerator.

El Ranchero Mexican Bar & Grill
4617 Wilson Blvd.
Date of inspection: Feb 21
Employees observed contacting ready-to-eat food (tamales) with their bare hands

Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers #35
5050 S. Chesterfield Road
Date of inspection: Feb 21
Employees observed contacting ready-to-eat food (portioning lettuce for salad) with their bare hands.

Clark Street Grill
2711 Jefferson Davis Highway
Date of inspection: Feb 20
The food establishment is not under the immediate control of a Northern Virginia certified food manager.

Dama Market & Restaurant
1503 Columbia Pike
Date of inspection: Feb 20
The area behind the grill was in need of cleaning.

Grand Hunan Restaurant
5845-N Washington Blvd.
Date of inspection: Feb 20
Employees are not properly sanitizing cleaned multiuse equipment and utensils before they are reused.

Kelly's Cajun Grill
1100 S. Hayes St. M-9
Date of inspection: Feb 20
Food containers of lemon chicken were not arranged to provide maximum heat transfer and/or loosely covered, or uncovered while cooling.

Old Arlington Grill at Arlington Cinema 'N' Drafthouse
2903 Columbia Pike
Date of inspection: Feb 20
A sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at all hand washing lavatories used by food employees and/or is not clearly visible to food employees.

Top Thai Restaurant
523 S. 23rd St.
Date of inspection: Feb 20
Ready-to-eat food is not protected from cross contamination by separating them from raw animal foods.

T.H.A.I. in Shirlington Restaurant
4029 Campbell Ave.
Date of inspection: Feb 20
One kitchen employee was eating in the kitchen.

Boru Asia Bistro
4121 Wilson Blvd.
Date of inspection: Feb 19
Insect, rodent, and/or other pest harborage conditions exist on the premises. Mouse droppings observed around water heater.

~

According to the Virginia Department of Health:

"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."

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."