Delaware County restaurant inspections: Food sitting in containers on the floor and just how old is it anyway?

Dec 01, 2023

Food-safety inspections conducted last week by the Delaware County Health Department of establishments with liquor licenses and only those that had violations, which this week was all of them:

Ballroom at Ellis Preserve, 3821 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square:

• Establishment does not have procedures for employees to follow when responding to discharging of vomitus or fecal matter.

• A sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at all handwashing sinks used by food employees.

• Date marking is not on all food items.

• Food storage containers are not labeled.

• Food stored in an unapproved location on the floor of the walk in refrigeration units.

• In-use wiping cloths are not stored properly.

• Outside waste receptacle lid/cover not properly secured.

Charlotte's Restaurant, 3207 West Chester Pike, Newtown Square:

• Establishment does not have procedures for employees to follow when responding to discharging of vomitus or fecal matter.

• Liquid hand soap not provided at the hand washing sink.

• Disposable paper towels not provided at the hand washing sink.

• A sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at all handwashing sinks used by food employees.

• Potatoes stored below raw beef.

• Can opener is not clean to sight and touch.

• Slicer is not clean to sight and touch.

• Ice machine is not clean to sight and touch.

• Date marking is not on all food items.

• A thermometer is not provided in all refrigeration units.

• Food stored in an unapproved location on floor of storage area.

• In-use wiping cloths are not stored properly.

• Soil residue present on air vents in refrigeration units.

• The women's restroom lacks a covered receptacle for disposal of feminine hygiene products.

Fresh Grocer of Upper Darby, 421 S. 69th St., Upper Darby:

• Food stored in an unapproved location on floor in aisles.

• Mop was found stored incorrectly in-between use.

Hayes Lounge, 201 Hayes St., Chester:

• Liquid hand soap not provided at the hand washing sink.

• Disposable paper towels not provided at the hand washing sink.

• A sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at all handwashing sinks used by food employees.

• Observed spray bottles with orange liquid not properly labeled.

• A thermometer is not provided in the coolers and freezers.

• Chlorine test kits or other devices are not available to the employees to measure sanitizing solution concentration.

• The women's restroom lacks a covered receptacle for disposal of feminine hygiene products.

Pica's Italian Restaurant Inc., 7803 West Chester Pike, Upper Darby:

• Hand washing sink not located in the pizza prep area.

• Thermometers not observed in cold holding units/ freezers.

• Nonfood-contact surfaces of the walk-in have rusted or are no longer easily cleanable.

• Fan covers attached to [wall/ceiling] in walk-in coolers soiled and not easily cleanable.

Sam's Brick Oven Pizza, 2626 E. County Line Road, Ardmore:

• Can opener is not clean to sight and touch.

• Mop was found stored incorrectly in-between use.

Many of the violations are corrected on the spot and others might require follow-up visits.

There were only six inspections by the county last week and all found violations.

The number of inspections has been declining recently.

In food inspections reported through the state Department of Agriculture, there were none listed by the townships in Delaware County that conduct their own inspections.

An expansion of the search parameters to include businesses in Chester County within a few miles of Delaware County showed the Chester County Health Department conducted an opening inspection at Margie's Cuisine LLC, 880 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford.

The inspection showed:

• Changing pad in restroom must be non-absorbent. Use plastic or disposable covers.

• No hood is supplied. A review of the menu found that ground beef, chicken and other items were being cooked/sauteed on induction burners. Cooking these items can produce grease and smoke which requires a hood. You may not continue cooking these items in pan on burners. Alternate cooking methods must be used (oven) or precooked meats used and heated oven. You must submit a copy of your menu and indicate how you will change your process or alter your menu. Submit within 7 days.

It was unclear if Margie's possesses a liquor license. The state website doesn't account for that distinction.

Governmental entities are not obligated to report inspections to the news media or the public, the agricultural department has said.

Here are last week's inspections in Delaware County.

This is the food inspections file for Montgomery County as reported by sister publications to the Daily Times in that county. A few of the establishments are within proximity of Delaware County.

This is the most recent inspections for Berks County.

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