Restaurant Inspection: Blimpie and Beulah Cafe

From Jan. 3-15, the state health department inspected a few restaurants in the Kingstowne 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.

Dera Restaurant
7030 Spring Garden Drive
Date of inspection: Jan. 15
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee was observed handling sliced tomatoes using their bare hands.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Unwrapped or uncovered food in the inside of prep unit where the food is subject to contamination.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Raw animal food holding in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were found hot holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.

Dera Sweets & Snacks
7022 Spring Garden Drive
Date of inspection: Jan. 15
Critical (corrected during inspection): 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.

Tippy’s Taco House
7004 Spring Garden Rd
Date of inspection: Jan. 15
Critical: 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): Unwrapped or uncovered food in the inside of walk-in cooler where the food is subject to contamination.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Observed three pots of chili, potentially hazardous food being held for more than seven days at 41 degrees.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.
Non-critical: There was no temperature measuring device located in 1dr prep cooler.
Non-critical: The door gaskets of 1dr prep unit are damaged or missing.

Beulah Cafe
6476 Landsdowne Centre
Date of inspection: Jan. 14
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee failed to wash his or her hands before engaging in food preparation, before and after putting on gloves or after engaging in any activity that could contaminate the hands.
Critical (corrected during inspection): A 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.
Non-critical: Water from the handwashing sink in the kitchen was measured at a temperature less than 100 degrees.
Non-critical: Absence of no-smoking signs or international no-smoking signs in non-smoking area.

Bungalow Billiards & Brew
7003-C Manchester Boulevard
Date of inspection: Jan. 14
Critical: When tested, the chlorine-based sanitizing solution was observed to be at a concentration less than what is required for effective sanitization of food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils. Observed the sanitizing solution in the bar dish machine with a concentration of 0 ppm total chlorine.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device
Critical (corrected during inspection): Working containers of poisonous and toxic materials are not properly labeled with a common name: 3 spray bottles of cleaning solutions.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands is not provided at all handwashing sinks used by food employees: men and women's bathrooms.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.

Dunkin Donuts
7001 Manchester Blvd
Date of inspection: Jan. 14
No violations were found during the inspection.

KFC
5890 Kingstowne Centre
Date of inspection: Jan. 14
No violations were found during the inspection.

Manchester Bagel
7001-K Manchester Blvd
Date of inspection: Jan. 14
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): First Aid Supplies are not being stored in a kit or container.
Non-critical: Soda crates found used to hold up single serve utensils off the ground.
Non-critical: Manufacturer containers were observed reused for the storage of drink mixes.
Non-critical: 2dr MaxxCold prep cooler is not operating properly and is unable to maintain cold food at or below 41 degrees. Maintenance called.
Non-critical: Observed that wall and ceiling vents are in need of cleaning.

Baja Fresh Mexican Grill
7003-A Manchester Blvd
Date of inspection: Jan. 11
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee failed to wash his hands after handling raw chicken and before putting a new gloves.
Non-critical: Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.
Non-critical: The door gaskets of 2 doors on 3dr prep cooler is damaged.

Blimpie Subs & Salads
6464 Landsdowne Center
Date of inspection: Jan. 11
Critical: 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): Open drinking containers stored in a manner that may contaminate food, food contact surfaces or utensils.
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee failed to wash his or her hands before engaging in food preparation, before and after putting on gloves or after engaging in any activity that could contaminate the hands.
Critical (corrected during inspection): When tested, the chlorine-based sanitizing solution was observed to be at a concentration less than what is required for effective sanitization of food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils. Observed the sanitizing solution in the wiping cloth bucket with a concentration of 0 ppm total chlorine.
Non-critical: There was no temperature measuring device located in the refrigerated prep/drawer unit.
Non-critical: Employees observed working in the food service area without proper hair restraints.
Non-critical: Food storage containers were found stacked while wet after cleaning and chemical sanitization.
Non-critical: The nonfood-contact surface of some equipment is not corrosion resistant, nonabsorbent, and/or smooth.
Non-critical: The door gaskets of the walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler are missing or damaged.
Non-critical: There is no test kit located in the facility for monitoring the concentration of the chemical sanitizing solutions.
Non-critical: Absence of no-smoking signs or international no-smoking signs in non-smoking area.

Genghis Grill
7001 Manchester Blvd
Date of inspection: Jan. 11
Critical (corrected during inspection): Raw animal food holding in a manner that may cause cross contamination of ready-to-eat food.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Critical: When tested, the quaternary ammonium compound-based sanitizing solution was observed to be at a concentration less than what is required for effective sanitization of food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils. Observed the sanitizing solution in the 3-vat with a concentration of 150 ppm total quaternary ammonium compound.
Critical: When tested, the chlorine-based sanitizing solution was observed to be at a concentration less than what is required for effective sanitization of food-contact surfaces of equipment and utensils. Observed the sanitizing solution in the chlorine with a concentration of less than 50 ppm total chlorine.
Non-critical: Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.
Non-critical: Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use.
Non-critical: Refrigeration unit is not operating properly and is unable to maintain cold food at or below 41 degrees.

Mulu Cafe
6691 Frontier Dr
Date of inspection: Jan. 11
No violations were found during the inspection.

Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits
8326 Old Keene Mill Rd
Date of inspection: Jan. 11
No violations were found during the inspection.

Douglas Crab Cakes
7011C Manchester Blvd
Date of inspection: Jan. 10
Critical (corrected during inspection): There is no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection.

Johnny’s NY Style Pizza
7011-G Manchester Boulevard
Date of inspection: Jan. 9
Critical (corrected during inspection): Unwrapped or uncovered food in certain locations where the food is subject to contamination.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Poultry item was not cooked to a sufficient temperature and/or time to eliminate pathogenic bacteria.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Pesticides labeled for residential use were observed in the facility and are being applied by the operator to control pests: pest spray - manager discarded.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Dispensing and/or in-use utensils improperly stored between use.
Non-critical: The nonfood-contact surface of some equipment is not corrosion resistant, nonabsorbent, and/or smooth.
Non-critical: There is no cover to the feminine napkin refuse container in the ladies room stall.

Lucky’s Sports Theatre & Grill
7027-B Manchester Boulevard
Date of inspection: Jan. 9
Critical (corrected during inspection): An employee was observed eating in an area other than designated break area while preparing/handling food or contacting clean food contact surfaces. Observed several open drinks at server area.
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee was observed handling bread using their bare hands.
Critical: Fish offered for service or sale in the ready-to-eat form was not frozen to ensure parasite destruction.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that hand soap was not provided at each handwashing sink located at prep area.
Non-critical: Some food items that are not easily identified by appearance were observed without a label.
Non-critical: Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.
Non-critical: The door gaskets of the 1dr freezer and walk-in cooler are damaged.
Non-critical: There is no cover to the feminine napkin refuse container in the ladies room stall.
Non-critical: Trash and litter were observed adjacent to the refuse container outside the facility.
Non-critical: Observed air vents on front of grill hood, inside walk-in freezer and dry storage area walls are in need of cleaning.

Jerry’s Subs & Pizza
7001-L Manchester Blvd
Date of inspection: Jan. 9
Non-critical: Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.
Non-critical: Walk-in freezer door does not close tightly.
Non-critical: There is no cover to the feminine napkin refuse container in the ladies room stall.

Pizza Hut
7013-H Manchester Boulevard
Date of inspection: Jan. 8
Critical (corrected during inspection): 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.