Ewww…I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older and more “fuddy duddy” or what…but I’m taking more and more notice to the quality, or lack there of, when I go out to eat. The bathrooms are an issue in themselves – I’ve stopped using them before I eat because 9/10 times there’s something that’s disgusting enough that could turn me off from a meal. Mind you, I don’t eat out that much, the meals on average are maybe $10-$20 a person so I guess you could say you get what you pay for, but still. As any woman who has been pregnant knows it’s not really a choice to forgo using the bathrooms, so I’ve visited plenty in my time.
Aside from bathrooms there’s things like the cleanliness of the dishes, silverwear, table. I understand that sometimes the dishwasher doesn’t work 100%, sometimes you forget to wipe the table after you eat…but when you’re at a location that you’re paying to eat at I assume those are always things that are triple checked. But then again in today’s world I find more and more that customer service has gone to all hell, products are made cheaply and are expected to break and the majority of companies would rather lose a customer then fix the problem at hand.
Anyway, back to the food. The Pocono Record had an article recently on local restaurants that are out of compliance. You can see the list here: http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/cwp/view.asp?a=3&q=137994
Currently out of Compliance:
China Pearl
BLAKESLEE PLAZA BLAKESLEE, PA 18610
Comfort Inn
Route 611 BARTONSVILLE, PA 18321
MARITAS II SW BAR & GRILL
RTES 940 & 423 POCONO PINES, PA 18350
Sammy Boy’s Pizza Plus
222 Eagle Valley Mall EAST STROUDSBURG, PA 18301
Now the disclosure says:
Food Safety Inspections Disclosure
Please remember that any inspection is a “snapshot” of the day and time of the inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment. Also, at the time of the inspection, violations are recorded but are often corrected on the spot prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.
But some of these are multiple offenders and just plain nasty…and these are only excertps…
Maritas
Date: 04/13/07
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Food storage room used as a break room, ash tray with numerous cigarette butts on the table. The owner stated that he will address the issue with his employees and there will be no smoking in the food prep and service areas.
Date: 02/11/09
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Black residue observed on the interior of the ice machine bin on the break plate.
Date: 02/11/09
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Sheetpans in walk-in used as shelving have mold-like growth on them.
Date: 02/11/09
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Rice/ chili was held at 98/120 degrees F rather than 135 degrees F or above as required.
Date: 04/13/07
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Old food residue on cook line shelves and tables; on the bottom of the ccok line bain marie by the stove; on the bottom, doors and shelves of the bain marie by the fryers. *Mold/dirt on the divider in the ice machine.
Date: 05/24/07
Purpose: Follow-up
Comments: Mold/dirt on the divider in the ice machine.
Date: 03/26/08
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Old dried food and grease residue is covering the exterior of bulk tortilla chip cotainers, interior of reach-in refrigerator units on hot line, on the floor of the walk-in, on storage shelves, on an out of use fryer, and in the out of use bar reach-in interior.
Date: 02/11/09
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Shelving under prep tables and attached to walls through out kitchen are not clean to sight and touch.
Date: 02/11/09
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Exterior of food storage bins (approx 5 each)are not clean to sight and touch.
Date: 02/11/09
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Black residue observed on the exterior of metal pots and pans.
China Pearl
Date: 10/17/06
Purpose: Complaint
Comments: The handsink in the kitchen was blocked by a used cloth hamper. A handwashing sink shall be accessible at all times for employee use.
Date: 10/17/06
Purpose: Complaint
Comments: There is no sign or poster at the kitchen hand wash sink to remind employees to wash their hands. §46.941(e)
Date: 11/15/07
Purpose: Regular
Comments: The handwash sink in the kitchn area was blocked by boxes and not accesible at all times for employee use.
Date: 10/22/08
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Electric drill and other construction related equipment was stored in hand sink. Faucet on sink is not operational. No running water. Owner set up temporary sink.
Date: 10/22/08
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Chicken, shrimp, and other PHF was held at 45 degrees F rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. PIC iced PHF to bring paramenters . All products no needed for lunch moved into walk in cooler.
Date: 10/22/08
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Potentially hazardous ready to eat food, prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the walk in cooler, was not date marked.
Date: 11/15/07
Purpose: Regular
Comments: Knives and / or cleavers stored between table edges which are not easily cleaned and sanitized.
Comfort Inn
Inspector Comments: Soap was not available at the handwash sink in the kitchen area. No sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the kitchen area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Paper towel dispensor empty at the handwash sink in the kitchen area.
Inspector Comments: Temperature measuring devices for ensuring proper temperatures of equipment are not available or readily accessible in all refrigeration equipment.
Sammy Boys
Inspector Comments: Raw meats/poultry above RTE foods in reach-in cooler. Raw beef stored on top of bread in reach-in freezer.
Inspector Comments: Black residue, pink slime observed on the interior of the ice machine bin around ice forming tray.
Inspector Comments: Floor mixer has old dried food residue on dough arm and inside of attachment hole. PIC states he is unable to remove arm from mixer.
Inspector Comments: Butcher block table has dried food residue on food contact surface.
Inspector Comments: Observed staff cleaning wares in 3 compartment sink without setting sinks up: wash, rinse, sanitize. Staff failed to sanitize.
Inspector Comments: Debris and dried food residue on the gasket of display case and on the lips of ss bread drawers.
Inspector Comments: Potentially hazardous ready to eat food, prepared in the food facility and held for more than 48 hours, located in the walk-in and reach-in coolers, were not date marked.
Inspector Comments: Proper cooling methods were not used for potentially hazardous foods. PIC states that sauce is cooled at room temperature to approximately 70*F and then placed in walk-in cooler in plastic 5 – 10 gallons tubs.
Inspector Comments: Single use forks and spoons are stored in a manner to allow employees to touch the food contact portion of untensil.
Well, now that you’ve probably lost your appetite for lunch, or dinner, it gives you something to think about the next time you’re eating out.
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