The following are recent Luzerne County restaurant inspection reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. According the agency: “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 site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.” The information is taken from the inspection database at www.eatsafepa.com. Postal addresses used here are as listed on the state’s website, and may not correspond to the municipalities in which facilities are physically located.
Freeland Senior Center, 701 Chestnut St., Freeland, Jan 4. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Gramma Aita’s Kitchen, 1081 Wyoming Ave., Exeter, Jan 4. Regular inspection; in compliance.
La Cortina, 666 Alter St., Hazleton, Jan 4. Change of Owner inspection; in compliance. Violations: No calibrated metal stem thermometer is available to monitor food temperatures. No thermometers visible in all in-use refrigeration units. No single use hand towels available at food prep hand wash sink. Several ceiling tiles in food prep area are water marked, exhibiting open holes in surfaces material.
Little Caesar’s, 550 W Broad St. Hazleton, Jan. 4. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Hood system over conveyor oven has buildup of static dust.
Primo Hoagies, 33 B West Side Mall, Kingston, Jan 4. Complaint inspection; in compliance. Violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food (deli meats and cheeses), located in the walk- in cooler, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened. Employee stated that the deli meats and cheeses were sliced yesterday and that morning. The meats and cheeses were date marked during this inspection. Water, as observed at hand wash sink located in the prep area, is not under pressure during inspection. The water has been turned off due to a leak at the sink. The facility has another hand wash sink that is functioning in the dish wash area. Observed cases of water stored directly on the floor in office/storage area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Cases moved from ground during inspection.
Quick Shop, 411 W 3rd St. Nescopeck, Jan. 4. Change of owner inspection; in compliance.
The Vitamin Shoppe, 280 Mundy St., Wilkes-Barre, Jan 4. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed cases of water stored directly on the floor in office/storage area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Cases moved from ground during inspection.Past Inspection(s)
Uni-Mart, 903 Route 940 Hazle & Ridge St., Freeland, Jan 4. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Three quarts of 2% milk offered for retail sale are showing expired sell by dates. Removed from sale. Evaporator fan guards in walk-in cooler have buildup of mold.
General Store, 154 State Route 239, Shickshinny, Jan 5. Follow up inspection; in compliance. Violation: Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.
The Gluten Free Basket and Country Basket, 3283 Memorial Highway, Dallas, Jan 5. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Party Cakes, 740 N. Alter St., Hazleton, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Ceiling tiles in rear store room are water marked.
Cafe Toscana, 1 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: A section of wall tiles are missing behind grill, stove and fryers.Food stains & particles interior of small kitchen box freezer.
Center City Cafe, 2 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Interior of microwave has food stains and food particles. Panini grill including handle was covered in grease & food particles. Kitchen wall & metal shelf behind panini grill has an accumulation of grease stains. Small section of kitchen floor tiles are cracked and breaking away and must be replaced.
China Green, 636 State Route 93, Conyngham, Jan 6. regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: No thermometers visible in all in use refrigeration units.
Daily Donut, 600 Carey Ave, Wilkes Barre, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Dollar General #11232, 295 S. Main St., Wilkes Barre, Jan. 6. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Hazleton Food Supermarket, 57-59 N. Wyoming St., Hazleton, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Ground beef ground exclusively from primal cuts is labeled as 95% lean. Discussed labeling and all product was accurately relabeled. Three-compartment sink has rough welded seams and cracked side walls in basins. Discussed replacement within 180 days. Beater bar in grinder has deteriorated food contact surfaces. Discussed cleaning and use of mineral oil to retain surface integrity. No thermometers visible in all i-use refrigeration units. Florescent light tubes in produce and dairy coolers are not shielded. Evaporator fan guards in walk-in cooler have buildup of static dust.
Jackie’s Restaurant, & Deli, 1 W. County Road, Sybertsville, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: No thermometers visible in all in-use refrigeration units.
Ollie’s, 84 S. Wyoming Ave., Edwardsville, Jan 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations; Buildup of grease and food residue on the side of the stove, a non-food contact surface. All shelves on 3 tier cart located next to the stove with dried food residue. Observed a dried food residue on the gear housing of the floor stand mixer. Mixer was cleaned during this inspection. Observed dried food residue on the blade housing and crevasses, non food contact surfaces of the deli slicer. Deli slicer was cleaned during this inspection. The metal surrounding the milk dispensing tube on the milk machine, a non-food contact surface, had a buildup of dried milk on both milk dispensers. The dispensers were cleaned during this inspection. Underside of juice dispenser head, a non-food contact surface, had old dried orange juice residue. The juice dispenser head was cleaned during this inspection. Underside of soda dispenser head, a non food contact surface, had old dried soda syrup residue. Soda dispenser head was cleaned during this inspection. Observed a buildup of a tan colored residue in the corners of the hand wash sink basin. The hand wash sink was cleaned during this inspection. Numerous ceiling tiles throughout food prep area above and around the steam kettles have buildup of dark reddish-brown, grease-like residue.
New Yong Hao Buffet, 252 Susquehanna Blvd., Hazleton, Jan 7. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Food containers are stored on floor in walk-in coolers/walk-in freezers. Surface coating on wire shelving and framework in walk- in coolers (2) is deteriorated/rusting. No thermometers visible in all in use refrigeration units. Wire shelving in walk-in coolers (2) has build up of mold on food contact surfaces and frame work. Rear kitchen storm door is not tight fitting to frame and is exhibiting approximately 1/8” to 1/4” gaps along sealing surfaces. Sealant along back splash to wall junction on three-compartment sink has build up of black residual grime. Walls and floor to wall junctions in kitchen have buildup of splash/grime. One live adult roach and several dead roach casings are observed on floor in NW corner of kitchen. Est. was just serviced on 1-4-2016 by pest control applicator.
Plains Pub, 37 E Carey St. Plains, Jan. 7. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: The Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. The food facility does not have the original certificate for the certified food employee posted in public view. Food in the refrigerator stored open with no covering. Food covered during inspection. Observed raw chicken and beef stored above ready-to-eat food in the refrigerator in the basement. Foods were moved during inspection. Observed plastic container with no handle being used as a scoop in bulk food ingredient container. Plastic container removed during inspection. Observed an accumulation of debris and grime along gasket in Coke cooler at the bar. Observed single-service, single-use articles (cups, napkins) stored directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor. Items were moved off the floor during inspection. No sign or poster posted at the hand wash sink in the men’s restroom to remind food employees to wash their hands. Sign was posted during inspection. Observed a buildup of grease and dust on the ventilation hoods and the pipes above cooking area. Old unused equipment and food stored in basement area, should be removed from food facility. Observed 3 fruit flies in the bar area. Observed too numerous to count old rodent like droppings throughout the facility.
Beijing Chinese Restaurant, 752 Wyoming Ave. Kingston, Jan 7. Regular inspection: out of compliance. Violations: The Person in Charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection. Observed a bucket of chicken stored in the walk-in cooler with no covering. Cutting knives observed with blade stored between two boards forming wooden back splash on stainless prep table. Area is not cleaned and sanitized. The knives were removed, cleaned and sanitized during this inspection. Plastic containers without handles used as scoops and left in dry bulk ingredients with rims in contact with food. The containers were removed during this inspection. Observed 3 stainless steel pans containing food stored directly on the floor of the walk-in freezer, and boxes of produce stored directly on the floor of the walk-in cooler. Observed a bin lined with a non-food grade bag filled with fried Chinese noodles. No chlorine test strips available to verify proper sanitizer concentration when using three-compartment sink. Observed dried food residue on crinkle cutter hanging above stainless prep table. The crinkle cutter was cleaned and sanitized during this inspection. Observed a buildup of grease on the hood filter channels above the cook line. The hand wash sink in the prep area was blocked by buckets on floor and cutting board with pans sitting directly on top of sink basin, and not accessible at all times for employee use. The items were removed from in front and on top of the sink during this inspection. Light cover is missing and exposed florescent lights are not shielded or shatter proof over the bar service area. The door located in the rear of the kitchen has a gap with visible light at the door/floor junction and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals. Heavy grease and food buildup on floor behind 4-burner stove at cook line.
