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.
July 28, 2010 at 4:08 pm
Did you happen to check out the most recent one for Jumbo Slice? I don’t know what’s worse, the contents of the report (“kitchen area doors to the outside must be kept close [sic] or screened to prevent pest entry” – even under the new management, they still leave this door wide open during their operating hours) or the fact that there may not have been a follow up visit! http://washington.dc.gegov.com/webadmin/dhd_431/web/?a=pdf&pdfFileID=7958
July 28, 2010 at 4:10 pm
I didn’t include that because Jumbo Slice closed, but yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me if that hadn’t changed with the new management. Ew.
July 28, 2010 at 9:42 pm
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August 2, 2010 at 11:06 pm
I think to be fair to restaurants, it’s best to stick to recent citations. Not that I’m opposed at all to publicizing this info. I don’t think a restaurant’s staff and owner appreciate getting basically called out for a 2008 citation.
Alero’s citations don’t surprise me a bit, and is reflected in crap they serve.
Eatonville needs a new manager.
August 2, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Well if you read what I wrote, that is “a lot of these are years old, so please don’t judge the restaurant solely based on these reports.” I agree with what you’re saying, but this information is available to the public, all I’m doing is aggregating it here.
August 9, 2010 at 7:02 am
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