McLean Restaurant Inspections: Diners Report Roach, Food Poisoning

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.

In Fairfax County, inspectors from the Virginia Department of Health 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."

Since our last round-up, the following McLean restaurants have been inspected by the Virginia Department of Health. The full reports can be accessed on the health department's website.

Amoos House of Kabob, 6271 Old Dominion Dr.

• Critical: A food handler was observed drinking from an uncovered beverage container while in the kitchen.
• Critical: The inspector bserved raw chicken being prepped over cooked lamb.
• Critical: The inspector observed no sanitizer for the 3-vat sink in the facility.
• Critical: The inspector observed no advisory on the menu for raw shell egg served with rice. 

T.G.I. Friday's, inside Tysons Corner Center

• Critical: There was no certified food manager present at the beginning of the inspection.
• Inspector's Note: "The purpose of this visit was to respond to a complaint received by the Health Department on November 14, 2012. The complainant alleged seeing a roach on a table. Spoke to the person in charge, was unaware of a roach complaint. Upon investigation of the seating area, under cushions on seating booths, the cooking area, the dry storage area, no dead or live roaches noted. The complaint is not confirmed."

Spring Hill Carryout, 1038 Spring Hill Road

• Critical: The inspector observed carrots stored next to raw pork in the walk in cooler.

Red Tomato Pizzeria, 1327 Chain Bridge Road

• No critical violations
• Note: A health inspector conducted two follow-up inspections on Oct. 26 and Nov. 16, after citing the pizzeria with 11 critical violations on Oct. 25.  No critical violations were found on either follow-up inspection.

Good to Go, 8008 Westpark Dr.

• Critical: One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete.
• Critical: Milk was stored at an unsafe temperature.
• Critcal: The concentration of the quaternary ammonia solution exceeds the approved limits for use with food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils in a foodservice establishment.

The Greek Taverna, 6828 Old Dominion Dr.

• Critical: Pastitsio was being held at an unsafe temperature.
• Critical: The concentration of chlorine solution exceeds the approved limits for use with food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils in a foodservice establishment.
• Inspector's Note: "The purpose of today’s visit was to conduct a Risk Factor Assessment in conjunction with the investigation of a foodborne illness complaint received on November 19. 2012."

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