Fly strips, fish wrapped in rags and other violations cited at Montco eateries

Fish and meat wrapped in rags, cooked peeled potatoes stored on the floor, a child in the kitchen, and, of course, mold, rodent droppings, and flies are some of the violations Montgomery County health inspectors found in eateries last month.

The Montgomery County Health Department rarely orders eateries to close, but they do dole out plenty of citations and threaten to issue fines if a business doesn't address sanitation concerns.

We looked at restaurants that received seven or more food-borne illness risk violations in October.

Every inspection is generally regarded as a "snapshot in time" and not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions. Most violations were fixed immediately on site in the presence of an inspector.

To look up reports on a specific Montgomery County restaurant or a Philadelphia, Bucks or Gloucester County eatery, or read more in the Inquirer's Clean Plates series, visit philly.com/cleanplates.

Magerks
307 Horsham Rd, Horsham
30 violations, 15 food-borne illness risks
Open loaves of lunch meats lacking all date marking; open container of sauce, marked "refrigerate after opening" stored at room temperature; raw shrimp and fish stored under raw beef, which requires higher cooking temperature; can opener blade and mount had dried food accumulation; creamers not maintained at adequate temperature in ice bath at rear waitstaff station; walk-in shelves with mold accumulation; mold accumulation and debris in door jamb of front barware washing machine; employee beverages not in a proper cup with lid, and straws were stored at waitstaff stations with single use items.
Facility has been scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Oct. 26.

Osaka
1598 Sumneytown Pike, Lansdale
35 violations, 14 food-borne illness risks
Rag wrapped around several meats and fish inside reach-in cooler; heavy grease debris on sides of fryer; employees changing tasks without changing gloves; certified Food Sanitation Manager Certificate not posted; employee beverage stored on food prep surface; milk product had an expired sell by date or use by date; food uncovered throughout refrigeration units; several lights out in kitchen area; dish machine not sanitizing correctly.
Failure to correct and maintain any and all violations may lead to legal action, citations, and/or closure.

Buona Via Ristorante (Spiga Inc.)
426 Horsham Rd, Horsham
30 violations, 12 food-borne illness risks
An employee was garnishing drinks with lemons without wearing gloves; a can opener blade had dried accumulation; date markings lacking on food that was held longer than 24 hours; bulk ingredient containers of white powdery substances not labeled with common name in basement storage area; line cooks lacking hair restraint; there was no soap at the cooks hand sink.
Facility has been scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 9. Should facility not be in compliance at the time of re-inspection, they will be required to attend an administrative conference and will receive an additional re-inspection.

Smokey Bones 
230 Montgomery Mall, #2004, North Wales
23 violations, 10 food-borne illness risks.
Facility does not have a Certified Food Safety Manager; debris on ledge inside left side prep cooler, on outside of ice machine, on undersides (near nozzles) of soda fountain machine in kitchen, on wall behind heat lamp in assembly area; food and grease debris found on top of six drawer cooler under grill tops; employee beverages stored at three basin sink near clean utensils and inside prep cooler with consumer food items; employee purse stored on shelf with food items; chemical spray bottle stored with food on shelf in wait staff area in kitchen, and hanging from utensil storage rack at bar.
Facility has been scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Oct. 31 due to number of violations.

Red Lion Diner
1520 Easton Rd., Horsham
33 violations, 10 food-borne illness risks
Excessive amount of drain fly insects were found in the basement storage area; food, including cole slaw, refried beans and tomato sauce, not stored at proper temperatures; room in basement where large ice machine is kept had excessive debris on the floors, unused equipment scattered throughout room as well; plastic wrapped around bottom of faucet to spray nozzle at warewash machine; can opener blade unclean; floor drain on prep line at walk-in refrigerator/freezer units not draining at time of inspection; cooked, peeled potatoes stored in milk crates and not elevated a minimum of six inches off ground level in walk-in refrigerator.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Oct. 24.

Cheeburger Cheeburger
180 Mill Rd, Oaks
11 violations, 10 food-borne illness risks.
Shelves at milkshake counter with food like debris, shelves in bain-marie with rust like debris; multiple food items on top of bain-marie held at improper temperatures; interior of microwave unclean; can opener blade unclean; Slicer unclean.
Facility will have re-inspection on or after Oct. 17.

China Wok Garden
2646 Egypt Rd., Norristown
22 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Child in the kitchen at the time of the inspection; hand sink blocked by items in basin and by trash can; no soap or single use paper towels at the hand sink; no date markings on prepared foods in two-door reach-in cooler; both front and back doors open at time of inspection, some flies present in kitchen; hair restraints lacking for food handlers; debris found on door gasket of pasta prep cooler, gaskets cracked and accumulating debris.
Facility was inspected on Oct. 25 and is scheduled for a re-inspection.

Asian Cafe Hatboro LLC
47 S. York Rd., Hatboro
32 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Rodent droppings found on lids to bulk dry storage containers; egg rolls stored in non-food grade wire baskets in walk-in cooler; mold growth on door gaskets of prep cooler and walk-in cooler; facility has four tables with 16 chairs but is licensed as a "B" facility with take-out only; facility must place a sign in the seating area informing customers that tables are for waiting purposes only, sit down dining is not permitted; raw chicken stored above buckets of sauce inside of walk-in cooler; cell phone stored on shelf above prep cooler.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Oct. 31 due to number of violations and repeat violations.

Bernie's
58 S. York Rd., Hatboro
26 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Rodent droppings found on floor around floor mixer and on stand of floor mixer; fruit-fly or drain fly insects seen in basement near utility area and employee restroom; thermometers lacking for ice cream freezer and chest freezer; employee clothing item hanging from utensil storage shelf; employee beverages stored in prep areas in basement and at bar; cell phones stored on prep counters/tables in basement prep area and kitchen; debris on floor below fryers.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Oct. 31 due to number of violations.

Champps
51 Town Center Drive, Store G-5, Collegeville
16 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Hot honey sauce held past use date; fish thawing in original packaging; can opener blade unclean; facility lacking a current Certified Food Sanitation Manager certificate; no visible accurate thermometers in service bain-marie; pasta stored in open bag; hood filters with grease like build up on main cook's line; dented cans observed on storage shelf.
Facility must correct and maintain all noted violations.

Five Stars Family Restaurant
42 E. Lincoln Ave., Hatfield
21 violations, 8 food-borne illness risks
Facility lacks a Montgomery County Certified Food Safety Manager certificate; employee beverage stored on table with food items; employee had bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat sandwich; raw meat stored above ready to eat foods in walk-in cooler; debris inside microwave oven; raw eggs and butter stored at room temperature; egg container re-used to catch batter debris under waffle maker; rust build-up on shelves inside prep cooler; grease and food-like debris on table/shelf directly below grill.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Oct. 17 due to number of violations and repeat violations.

The Market at Four Falls
300 Four Falls, Conshohocken
11 violations; 8 food-borne illness risks
Facility lacking a current license to operate a food establishment from Montgomery County Health Department; raw shelled eggs over ready to eat food items; sauce and meatballs in the steam table not properly reheated to required temperature; open logs of lunch meat and cheese lacking date markings; boxes of single service containers on the floor behind the counter; no soap at front hand sink.
Inspected Oct. 18.

Happy Garden
10 Allison Rd., Oreland
23 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Live roaches found at hand sink area of kitchen on floor; dead insects trapped in light shields; cooked egg rolls were stored in exposed wire baskets in walk-in refrigerator, baskets not approved for secondary food storage; foods being thawed under running water in ware wash sink; food including garlic not stored at required temperatures, date markings lacking for food stored inside of walk-in cooler in bulk containers; the facility may not use pesticides of any kind and must have a professional pest control operator treat facility.
Facility must correct and maintain all noted violations. Failure to correct and maintain any and all violations may lead to legal action, citations, and/or closure. Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 10.

Bistro Sensations – King of Prussia Plaza
160 N Gulph Rd, #3215, King Of Prussia
14 violaitons, 7 food-borne illness risks
Rodent droppings found on floors and front cabinets; wet wiping cloths not stored in a sanitizing solution; rusty shelves in walk-in refrigerator; ice machine cover missing; filters above cookline equipment unclean; floors throughout facility unclean; display cold unit not keeping proper cold holding temps; while waiting for repair, facility was using ice to keep food items at proper temperatures; facility lacking Montgomery County Certified Food Safety Manager certificate.
Facility has 30 days to submit paperwork or legal actions may be taken.

Lasaka
2500 W Moreland Rd., Ste 3068, Willow Grove
20 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Mouse droppings found on the floor under three-compartment sink, in back area under soda syrup boxes, and under shelving near rear entrance; fly strips with dead flies hung on the ceiling near refrigeration units and soda syrup boxes in back area; inadequate pH recordings for acidified sushi rice; walk-in refrigerator floor with excess food debris under shelving; cigarettes stored on shelving above prep refrigerator; employee's cup stored on cutting board of prep refrigerator; can opener piercing point observed accumulating dried food debris.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 7 due to number of violations and repeated violations. Inspected on Oct. 24.

Audubon Ale House
2812 Egypt Rd., Audubon
14 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Raw shelled eggs stored over food items in walk-in refrigerator; food items held in steam table observed with internal temperature that did not meet requirements; open packages of food and sliced lunch meat in walk-in refrigerator and three-door reach-in lacking date markings; spray bottle stored at bar area not labeled; outside trash dumpster lids open; potatoes stored on shelving in walk-in refrigeration area stored under air conditioning unit and next to chemical containers.
Facility must correct and maintain all violations. Inspected Oct. 19.

Carniceria Los Compadres
506 W. Marshall St., Norristown
18 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Opened container of mayonnaise labeled "refrigerate after opening" observed at room temperature on storage shelf in kitchen; several snack items on retail shelf lacking English labeling and ingredient lists; raw shelled eggs stored over ready to eat food in bain-marie in kitchen; half gallon of Lehigh Valley milk past dated; common name label lacking on secondary dry goods containers; ceiling grates in dining area unclean; hot water shut off to hand sink and three compartment sink in meat area; several flies observed in retail area.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 2. Inspected Oct. 19.

Persian Grill
802 S. York Rd., Hatboro
18 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Rodent droppings found in dry storage room on shelving and floor; expired gallon of Lehigh Farms milk found; raw meat stored above ready-to-eat foods in walk-in cooler; fly stick strips found above mop and three-basin sinks; sandals located on bottom shelf of dry storage room; rusty shelving and dirty shelving located inside of walk in cooler; interior of microwaves had debris build-up on inside.
Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 1. Inspected Oct. 18.

Pearl Garden
223 W. Germantown Pike, East Norriton
16 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Dumplings held at steam table did not have required internal temperature; raw chicken wings stored at prep area found with internal temperature greater than required; medicines stored on shelving over two door reach-in refrigerator and prep unit in kitchen; food items stored in basket style containers in walk-in refrigerator; food containers stored directly on floor in walk-in refrigerator; food items stored in open original cans in prep unit and at cook line; hand wash sink in back kitchen area blocked.
Facility must correct and maintain all violations. Facility is scheduled for a re-inspection on or after Nov. 1. If facility is scheduled for an administrative conference and a second re-inspection, facility must pay $315 prior to scheduling inspection. Inspected Oct. 18.

King Buffet
500 W. Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting
28 violations, 7 food-borne illness risks
Rodent droppings found in corner of soda box storage rack in wait station by kitchen; product lacking common name/ingredient labels in both walk-in refrigerators; jacket hung on food storage rack in dry storage room; bowl of washed wooden bamboo skewers on top of the dish machine; food handler lacking hair restraint; food uncovered in both walk-in refrigerator and bins on the prep tables in the kitchen.
Facility will have a re-inspection on or after Oct. 24. Inspected Oct. 18.

Indian Valley Country Club
650 Bergey Rd., Telford
11 violations; 7 food-borne illness risks.
Flying insects observed at bar; milk product had expired sell by date; can opener blade unclean; butter stored on shelf without time stamp; tape wrapped around tongs for identification purpose; employee beverage stored on self without a lid; facility lacking visible accurate thermometers in several cold units; ice machine splash guard was unclean.
Facility must correct and maintain all noted violations. Inspected Oct. 6.