Imperial Inn, Cavanaugh's Rittenhouse, Plaza Garibaldi, others shut for health violations
Infestations of roaches, mice and flies plagued several Philadelphia restaurants during the past two weeks, leading the health department to close them for at least 48 hours.
Imperial Inn, the Cantonese eatery at 146 N. 10th Street, was playing host to numerous cockroaches when an inspector dropped in on Aug. 23. The next day, a yellow-striped cease-and-desist poster was pasted on the front doors of the Chinatown business. Underneath the city's official order, a smaller, fuchsia-colored sign read Close For Repair The Power. Imperial's owner could not be reached for comment.
"It's an old building, we were coming out of a heat wave, and there's a construction site right around the corner that was driving pests our way," said Cavanaugh's Rittenhouse co-owner Kenneth Hutchings. "We did everything necessary to fix the problem and we're good to go now."
In South Philadelphia, Plaza Garibaldi waged a lengthy struggle with cockroaches. The beloved Mexican restaurant, at 935 Washington Avenue, was first cited for an infestation on Aug. 12. On Aug. 19, a reinspection turned up more of the bugs crawling on containers and basement walls. By Aug. 22, the restaurant had declared victory. An inspector ruled Plaza Garibaldi was in compliance and cleared it to reopen.
"We were closed 11 days just to make sure we had everything under control. We had the exterminator come three times," said owner Raul Castro. "I don't want this to ever happen again."
Other notable establishments ordered to temporarily cease operations included a McDonald's at 52nd and Chestnut Streets (flies and inadequate hand washing); Revolution Diner at Third and Chestnut Streets (inadequate hot water, roaches and flies); and Toast at 12th and Chestnut Streets (no food safety certified person on the premises.)
Each inspection is generally regarded as a "snapshot in time" and is not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions at the business. Most violations were corrected immediately on-site.
Included with each listing is an edited selection of infractions noted by health department sanitarians. Click on the restaurant's name to see a detailed report.
To look up a restaurant or read more in the Inquirer's Clean Plates series visit Philly.com/cleanplates.
142 N 10TH ST 19107
6 violations, 1 serious.
Live roaches on can openers, cutting board, under food prep table in kitchen; grease and food debris on food equipment. Previously ordered to temporarily cease operations on Mar. 22. Ordered to cease again for 48 hours on Aug. 23.
Dely Delight Inc
1903 E WASHINGTON LN 19138
10 violations, 3 serious.
Insufficient hot water; soap not available at hand washing sink; food held at hazardous temperatures; mouse feces on retail shelves and floor perimeters; food employees not wearing hair restraints; floor and ceiling not clean. Inspected Aug. 22.
700 W PORTER ST 19148
Live roaches on kitchen counters, walls and ceilings; numerous house flies and fruit flies; Food held at hazardous temperatures; dead roach on slicer; thermometers. Previously ordered to temporarily cease operations Aug. 18. Ordered to cease operations again for 48 hours on Aug. 22.
4420 GERMANTOWN AVE 19144
2 violations, 1 serious.
No food safety certified person on premises. Previously ordered to temporarily close on June 1. Ordered to cease operations again for 48 hours on Aug. 22.
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2054 DENNIE ST 19140
35 violations, 10 serious.
Operating in severe unsanitary conditions; open employee beverage in food prep area; severe fly infestation; food not protected from contamination; food contact surfaces extremely soiled with food debris, roaches, surrounded by mouse feces; utensils not sanitized; food being thawed using unapproved method; missing thermometers; rodent and insect activity. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 19.
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2219 S 7TH ST 19148
5 violations, 2 serious.
Person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of Pa. food code; person in charge had expired food safety certificate; house flies in trash and coffee area; roaches in rear employee storage room on walls and at seams of sink; no mop sink. Inspected Aug. 19.
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2229 CECIL B. MOORE AVE 19121
15 violations, 6 serious.
Person in charge not present; market does not have health awareness reporting procedure; dirty dishes in prep sink; improper hand washing, employee did not wash hands between changing tasks; severe link at sink; food stored at hazardous temperatures; inadequate refrigeration; domestic microwave; foul odor from leaking sink pipes. Inspected Aug. 19.
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1823 SANSOM ST 19103
8 violations, 4 serious.
Live mouse in basement office; fresh mouse droppings in kitchen, storage, ware-washing and bar areas; fruit flies around ice machine. Previously ordered to temporarily close on Aug. 17. Ordered to cease operations again for 48 hours on Aug. 19.
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935 WASHINGTON AVE 19147
3 violations.
101 S 52ND ST 19139
18 violations, 7 serious.
Person in charge could not name food borne illnesses and symptoms; inadequate hand washing; old food residue (pickles) in hand wash sink; empty paper towel dispenser; uncovered beef patties in cooler; black residue and pink slime inside ice machine bin; flies throughout facility; leaking ice machine; drain emitting odor. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 18.
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239 CHESTNUT ST 19106
15 violations, 3 serious.
Inadequate hot water; dented and swollen can in storage area; black residue inside ice machine; dead roach on vinegar bottle; live roaches in bar area and basement; flies in bar area. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 18.
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700 W PORTER ST 19148
35 violations, 12 serious.
No health awareness reporting procedure for food employees; 25 roaches on kitchen counters, walls and ceiling, in cookware; numerous house flies; fruit flies; empty paper towel dispenser; no soap at hand wash sink in kitchen; dirty container, food debris and roach egg in food prep hand wash sink; rotten vegetables and discolored salami in display cases; accumulated food residue on slicer; deli meats held at hazardous temperatures. Ordered to cease operations for a minimum of 48 hours on Aug. 18.
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6001 LANCASTER AVE 19151
1 violation, 1 serious.
Person in charge not present. Inspected Aug. 17.
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1201 SPRUCE ST 19107
6 violations, 2 serious.
No food safety certified person on premises; expired milk in refrigerator; dead roaches on glue traps; old mouse droppings; hand-wash sink blocked by crates and not accessible. Inspected Aug. 17
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1823 SANSOM ST 19103
12 violations, 5 serious.
Cockroach infestation; live roaches crawling in kitchen and ware washing areas; fruit flies in bar areas; fresh mouse droppings in storage area; person in charge did not know Pa. Food Code; person in charge did not have required food safety certificate; no soap at bar hand wash sink; water dripping from ceiling vent into drinking ice; food held at hazardous temperatures. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 17. Reopened Aug. 22.
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2201 S 23RD ST 19145
18 violations, 7 serious.
Roaches in kitchen and in walk-in cooler; flies throughout; dead mouse on glue trap in kitchen; mouse droppings along wall perimeters; on food storage shelves in storage area and basement; accumulated food residue on can opener; food held at hazardous temperatures. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 16.
3009 N 22ND ST 19132
13 violations, 4 serious.
No hot water; improper handwashing; accumulated food residue on slicer; window in kitchen lacks a screen; mouse droppings along floor perimeters and food prep area. Inspected Aug. 15.
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4000 CHESTNUT ST FL 1st. 19104
23 violations, 9 serious.
Mice and rat observed in traps; mouse droppings, cockroaches, flies and fruit flies throughout facility; knives stored on pipe; food held at hazardous temperatures; dumpster area in need of cleaning. Ordered to cease operations for a minimum of 48 hours on Aug. 15. Reopened Aug. 22.
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1100 S COLUMBUS BLVD 19147
16 violations, 6 serious.
Open employee beverage container in food prep area; severely dented and swollen cans; flies on prep tables and cutting boards in kitchen; food held at hazardous temperatures; 52 fly strips and fly zapper in kitchen; mouse droppings on floor, storage shelves and canned goods; insufficient refrigeration; standing water and grease on kitchen floor. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 15. Reopened Aug. 17
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1927 S 20TH ST 19145
18 violations, 6 serious.
Dead mice in food storage and ware washing areas; mouse droppings on lids of iced tea containers, on lids of bulk food containers, on kitchen counter and shelves, and along floor perimeters; flies in kitchen; dead roach inside food equipment in kitchen; unapproved microwave, rice cooker and hot plate; no food prep sink. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 15.
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5931 W GIRARD AVE 19151
10 violations, 4 serious.
Old and fresh mouse feces; live and dead roaches in kitchen and on retail shelves; cat in retail area; 43 bottles of expired baby food for sale; facility does not have health awareness reporting procedure for employees; dented and swollen canned items on sale. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 15.