Mice feces in sugar containers, hot dog machines close Philly eateries

Philly restaurants ended 2017 with mouse droppings inside a hot dog machine, pink slime on a fountain soda machine, freezer burnt foods and unapproved Igloo coolers. Here is hoping the New Year brings fewer health violations and more food safety certified persons at their posts.

Between Dec. 16 and Dec. 31, Philadelphia Department of Public Health inspectors temporarily closed 12 restaurants, markets and stores.

The inspectors visit nearly 1,000 eateries and food retailers every two weeks. Each inspection is generally regarded as a snapshot in time, and not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions.  Most violations were corrected immediately in the presence of an inspector.

To look up reports on a specific Philadelphia restaurant, or a Montgomery, Bucks or Gloucester County eatery, visit philly.com/cleanplates.

A list of eateries that were closed, or are facing court dates, follows:

Plaza Pizza
337 Spring Garden St.
23 violations, 4 serious
Mouse droppings were found in the food preparation, warewash and storage areas; a live roach was found on the dough mixer in the warewash area; food and grease were found in and on tape holders and underneath food equipment; grease had accumulated on and between equipment; the slicer had an accumulation of food residue on the food contact surfaces; food including lettuce, beef, grilled onions were not held at proper temperatures; there was no thermometer in refrigerator; a cat in a cage was observed in rear hallway between facility and dumpster area; there was no utility sink in the facility; the outdoor dumpster didn't have a lid.
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected Dec. 29.

Bourbon & Branch
705 N. 2nd St.
45 violations, 13 serious
Mouse droppings were found on a cutting board, on the food preparation table in the kitchen and basement food preparation area, on plates in the food storage area, in a pot in the basement, and in the bin with onions, on the canned tomato sauce and Crisco shortening; a live cockroach was seen on the basement floor near the prep table; there were severely dented canned items in the basement; the ceiling and floor surfaces in the beer walk-in cooler were not clean; debris and dust accumulation were found on the basement walk in cooler; food debris and grease accumulation were found under the griddle; a food safety certified person was not present; the facility was preparing food in the basement; the outdoor smoker needed to be removed; food including juice, eggs and grits were held at improper temperatures.
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours.

Jake's Sandwich Board
122 S 12th St.
9 violations, 3 serious
Mouse droppings were found under wire shelving near the soda dispenser and between ice machine and wall; a food safety certified person was not present; food including beef, pork and coleslaw were held at improper temperatures; the employee prepping food was not wearing a beard guard; working containers in warewash and soda dispenser area, that were used for storing degreaser and Windex taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical; cutting boards had deep scratches and scoring that did not allow for effective cleaning and sanitizing.
Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected Dec. 27.

Tasties Soul Food
5241 Germantown Ave.
28 violations, 9 serious
Facility was unable to properly sanitize dishes and utensils due to a severe leak at the basin of the warewashing sink; foods including potato salad, chicken and cheese held at improper temperatures; raw fish was found thawing in standing water; a defective and unapproved igloo cooler was found in the food prep area; there was inadequate lighting observed in the food prep area; the facility lacked a utility rack; mouse droppings were found along the floor perimeters throughout the food prep and warewashing areas, and on shelving and plastic container lids in the food prep and service counter areas; exhaust hood filters had an accumulation of grease.
Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment has agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected Dec. 27.

Super Crown Fried Chicken
5441 N 5th St.
33 violations, 12 serious
Pink slime was found on the food contact surfaces of the fountain soda machine; the can opener had an accumulation of food residue on the food contact surfaces; there was visible evidence of rodent activity observed throughout the establishment including on the shelving in the warewashing area; on the shelving in the basement area, on the shelving in the front service area and on the tray rack in the walk-in freezer; dirt and other debris was found along the floors in the walk-in box; personal items were found throughout the food prep area.
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected Dec. 26.

Golden Dragon Restaurant
5260 Rodman St.
32 violations 14 serious
Employee seen wiping nose while handling foods; mice feces found in the bulk sugar container, on the microwave shelf, on the table where a domestic rice cooker is stored; a dead roach was found in the microwave and on food preparation table shelf where soy sauce is stored; the toilet was soiled and debris and mice feces were found on the floors; foods including shrimp, chicken nuggets, eggs, rice, egg rolls were held at improper temperatures; employees were not wearing or wearing ineffective hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard restraints; several freezer burnt foods observed in the deep freezer.
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected Dec. 21.

Charles Young American Legion Post #682
159 E Sharpnack St.
21 violations, 9 serious
The facility was operating in unsanitary conditions; there was a severe mouse and fly infestation; mouse droppings were found inside of the hot dog machine, on shelving in the kitchen and bar areas, prep tables, dishes, inside defective refrigerator, refrigerator gaskets, cabinets, and storage closets; there was a pungent odor inside refrigerator in the kitchen; expired food items including pork loin, sausages, milk, and cole slaw were found inside of the refrigerator; food including eggs and deli meat held at improper temperatures; a food safety certified person was not present during the inspection.
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected Dec. 21.

Fatso Foggerty's
2655 S 18th St. 19145
0 violations, 0 serious
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. The establishment could not operate until the required fee is paid and the establishment is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected Dec. 21.

New Mandarin House
6351 Germantown Ave.
1 violation, 1 serious
The food safety certified person was not present.
Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected Dec. 20.

No. 1 China Yan's Restaurant
72 S 52nd St.
26 violations, 9 serious
Live roaches found crawling on and in the microwave, in the cold-holding unit, on food preparation table, and warewashing sink; dead roaches seen on food prep tables; in the warewashing sink, in the cold-holding unit and microwave; Mice found on several food contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces including on a vegetable on a shelf in the storage area; freezer burnt foods found in the deep freezer in the storage area and food preparation area; the hood filters have a heavy accumulation of static dust and grease; dust found in the make-up air vents and vents inside both refrigerating units in the front service area; reused single-service plastic containers observed stored on the drying rack above the warewashing sink.
Due to imminent health hazards observed during this inspection, the establishment was issued a Cease Operations Order and must discontinue food operations immediately. The establishment could not operate for a minimum of 48 hours. Inspected Dec. 19.

Philly Sweet Tooth
630 S 4th St.
10 violations, 4 serious
Mouse feces was found on the floor; dirt/debris found on the floors in prep storage area under stationary equipment; there was no soap or paper towels at the handwash sink in the warewashing/prep area; there was no sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the restroom area to remind food employees to wash their hands; a food safety certified person was not present at the time of inspection.
Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected Dec. 19.

Sultan, Micheal/Say Cheese Philadelphia/#V-07063
1201 W Norris St.
5 violations, 3 serious
The person in-charge was observed drinking coffee inside the food truck; hot water was not available at the handwash sink; the cutting boards had deep scratches and scoring that did not allowing for effective cleaning and sanitizing; the hood filters had an accumulation of static dust and grease.
Due to conditions observed during the inspection, the establishment agreed to discontinue food operations and voluntarily close until it is approved by the Department to resume operations. Inspected Dec. 16.

Eateries scheduled for hearing in the Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 4
Dalessandro's Steaks, 600 WENDOVER ST.; Edenis Super Market Inc., 1501 N 57TH ST.; Haagen Dazs #440, 242 SOUTH ST.;
Smokin' Betty's, 116 S 11TH ST.; New Star Express Pizza, 5202 LANCASTER AVE.; Good Flavor, 2439 S 12TH ST.; Spears Personal Care Home; 62 W HARVEY ST.; Tasties Soul Food, 5241 GERMANTOWN AVE.; Pho 20, 234 N 10TH ST.