Not sure if you all noticed, but now all of DC restaurants’ health inspections are available online, in a searchable database. I thought I could do the legwork for you and show you how U Street area restaurants fared.

Now, a note before I present you with this information: a lot of these are years old, so please don’t judge the restaurant solely based on these reports. I haven’t included restaurants that passed their health inspections with no violations (most restaurants listed below passed their inspections unless noted).

  • Al Crostino – In May 2008, the restaurant was cited for one critical violation: raw eggs stored above cheese and one noncritical violation: food preparers weren’t wearing hair nets.
  • Alero – In March 2010, the restaurant was cited for four critical violations and three noncritical violations (unfortunately I can’t really read the person who wrote the report’s handwriting so I can’t tell you what they are).
  • Bar Pilar – In June 2010, the restaurant was cited for one critical violation: the food contact surfaces weren’t being  cleaned and sanitized and other (nonspecified violations): floor under cooking units contain dirt and food debris and mold on the ice chute.
  • Cafe Nema – In May 2008, the restaurant was cited for three critical violations: no employee handwash facilities, food not separated, segregated or protected, and no certified food manager on premises, and one noncritical violation: foil laid out on shelves instead of a clean surface. They were given 5 days notice to fix some violations and 45 days to fix others. 
  • DC Noodles – in July 2010, the restaurant was cited with the following violations (no indication if critical/noncritical): raw chicken being thawed at room temperature, food preparers weren’t wearing hair nets, and there were no chemical test strips provided to measure the concentration of sanitizing solution.
  • Eatonville – in September 2009, the restaurant was cited two critical violations: for lack of pest control (fruit flies) and food contact surfaces being clean and santized. The restaurant received a clean health inspection in June 2010.
  • JoJos – in May 2008, the restaurant was cited for two critical violations: food not segregated, separated, and protected and food contact services not clean and sanitized.
  • Local 16 – in May 2008, the restaurant was cited for two noncritical violations: garbage disposal broken and walls surrounding garbage disposal dirty. The restaurant was given 45 days to fix these violations but a report in June 2008 indicated they hadn’t.
  • Sala Thai – In March 2010, the restaurant was cited for two critical violations: food not covered and food not marked for date of consumption and two noncritical violations: no label on condiments of “common names” and missing handle on walk-in freezer. The restaurant resolved the violations within 5 days except for fixing the handle on the freezer.
  • Station 9 – In December 2009, the restaurant was cited for five critical and 10 noncritical violations. For brevity, here are the critical violations: no handwashing facilities, food not segregated, separated, or protected, food contact surfaces not cleaned or sanitized, food not marked with date for consumption, and no valid DC CFM ID.
  • Tabaq Bistro – in March 2010, the restaurant was cited for four critical and 10 noncritical violations. For brevity, here are the critical violations: food not separated, segregated or protected, oysters had no labels/tags, rodent activity at outside of rear premises, and food not marked with date for consumption. The restaurant resolved the violations in July 2010.
  • The Islander – in April 2008, the restaurant was cited for two critical and six noncritical violations. For brevity, here are the critical violations: food not separated, segregated or protected and food not marked with date for consumption.
  • Ulah Bistro – in June 2010, the restaurant was cited for two critical violations: food-contact surfaces not cleaned and sanitized and food not marked with date for consumption. The health inspector followed up but the report doesn’t seem to be available.