Philly restaurant inspections: 'Heavy mouse infestation' shuts a frequent violator

It's been a rough year for Chun Hing. The Sichuan Chinese restaurant near the Belmont Reservoir was shut down by the Philadelphia health department in February and again in May for a "heavy mouse infestation." And foot traffic at the eatery reportedly has fallen off after the Pathmark supermarket, the anchor of the Monument Road shopping mall, was permanently closed.

Last week, Chun Hing's fortunes took a turn for the even-worse. Three failed inspections in a row have kept the local favorite shuttered since last Wednesday, when it was cited again for yet another "heavy mouse infestation."

Manager Harvey Chen said he hoped to have the eatery reopened sometime Tuesday, though he was not optimistic.

Mice have been the restaurant's most acute worry. But Chun Hing has been bedeviled by scores of lesser violations, accruing a staggering 71 citations in less than six days. Most of those were repeat offenses.

According to health department inspection reports, management at Chun Hing lacked basic knowledge about food safety, edibles were left unprotected against contamination, and employees weren't washing their hands between performing different tasks.

Since Aug. 23, more than a dozen city eateries were ordered to temporarily close to straighten out health code violations. With the exception of a single Chinese food cart, Center City restaurants dodged the shame of the garish, yellow-striped posters that announce a forced closure by the health department.

The Best of Both Worlds, a corner store in Moyamensing, was shut twice for mice, roaches, and flies. Dragon City, a Chinese takeout in the Oxford-Levick strip mall, was also closed down twice for operating without a valid food license and infestation with an array of pests. Other closed frequent offenders included the Rosado Mini Market at Seventh and Porter Streets in South Philadelphia, the Treo Sports Bar at Germantown and Roberts Avenues,  and the Mr. Chicken and Bernice Bar at Dennie and Clarissa Streets in North Philadelphia.

If you suspect you've contracted food poisoning at a Philadelphia eatery or have a sanitation complaint, contact the health department at 215-685-7495.

The eateries listed below were inspected between Aug. 24 and Sept. 12. Each inspection is generally regarded as a "snapshot in time," and not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions at the business.

Included with each listing is an edited selection of infractions noted by health department sanitarians. Click on the restaurant's name or date of inspection to see a detailed report.

To look up a restaurant, or read more in the Inquirer's Clean Plates series, visit Philly.com/cleanplates.

Chinese Food Cart
109 S SEVENTH ST 19103
8 violations, 2 serious.
No hot water; food held at hazardous temperatures; mouse droppings; floor and walls not clean. Asked to voluntarily close on Sept. 12.

Bizini's
1800 LINDLEY AVE 19141
16 violations, 1 serious.
No food safety certified person present; insufficient thermometers; house flies, roaches, mouse feces; grease, dust and mouse feces on food prep surfaces. Asked to voluntarily close on Sept. 12.

Edgar Mini Market
2970 N ROSEHILL ST 19134
16 violations, 5 serious.
Food safety certificate expired in 2012; food held at hazardous temperatures; mouse droppings in retail and back spaces; flies; no handwash sink in prep area. Ordered to cease and desist on Sept. 12.

The Best of Both Worlds
2601 S EIGHTH ST 19148
12 violations, 4 serious.
Rodent-gnawed bags of rice; mice feces in retail area; loose rodentcide in basement, under shelving and backyard; roaches and flies in kitchen. Previously ordered to close on Sept. 9. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Sept. 12.

Chun Hing
4160 MONUMENT RD 19131
14 violations, 5 serious.
Employees drinking in food prep area; accumulated food residue on slicer;  chemicals stored with bowls on kitchen shelf; insufficient thermometers. Previously found to be operating without a food licence in Aug. 2010, Mar. 2013, May 2013, and Sept. 2014. History of being ordered to cease operations: closed Mar. 27, 2015; Feb. 16, 2016; May 12, 2016; and Sept. 7. and Sept. 9, 2016 (see below for details). Ordered to cease operations again for 48 hours on Sept. 11. 

Fernandez Food Market
600 S 51ST ST 19143
9 violations, 3 serious.
Food safety certified person not present, repeat violation; foods not held at 41 degrees or lower; Armorall car cleaner stored on sleeves of sliced bread; general cleaning needed. Ordered to cease operations on Sept. 9.

Chun Hing
4160 MONUMENT RD 19131
27 violations, 10 serious.
Mouse infestation, repeat violation; no Health Awareness Reporting Procedure for food employees; food safety trained person lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses, symptoms, and reporting practices. No signs reminding employees to wash hands after using toilet, repeat violation; uncovered foods in refrigerators and freezers, repeat; fresh mouse droppings; spider webs in walk-in refrigerators; house flies in kitchen; black mold and dirt build-up in ice machine; foods held at hazardous temperatures; general cleaning required. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Sept. 9.

Texas Wieners
1426 SNYDER AVE 19145
15 violations, 4 serious.
No hot or cold water at handwash sink; gnawed bag of bread crumbs; mouse droppings throughout restaurant,  in food, on counters, shelves and floors; foods held at hazardous temperatures; flies throughout establishment. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours Sept. 9.

Potito's Italian American Pastries
1614 RITNER ST 19145
12 violations, 4 serious.
No soap or paper towels at handwashing sinks; mouse droppings on food equipment, on storage containers and kitchen shelves; accumulated food debris on slicer; live mouse in basement food prep area. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Sept. 8.

Essie's Pizza & Steaks
407 E PENN ST 19144
12 violations, 4 serious.
No food safety certified person on premises; operating without a valid food license. Asked to voluntarily close on Sept. 8.

Whirled Peace Frozen Yogurt
4321 MAIN ST 19127
12 violations, 3 serious.
No food safety certified person on premises; no soap at handwashing sink; frozen yogurt thawing in stagnant water; waffle cone bowls not protected from customer contamination; buildup of white residue in ice machine; general cleaning needed under yogurt machines. Asked to voluntarily close Sept. 7.

Chun Hing
4160 MONUMENT RD 19131
30 violations, 9 serious.
Heavy mouse infestation; person in charge lacks basic knowledge regarding food safety, contamination and cross contamination; food safety trained individual lacks knowledge of foodborne illnesses, symptoms, and reporting practices; employees not washing hands between changing tasks; no sign posted in men's toilet reminding to wash hands; uncovered food in refrigeration units; food not protected against mouse contamination; house flies in kitchen; fresh mouse droppings on shelves, counters and floors; accumulated food debris on slicer; utensils improperly cleaned and stored; food held at hazardous temperatures; employees not wearing hair restraints; filthy dish rack. Ordered to cease operations Sept. 7.

The Best of Both Worlds
2601 S EIGHTH ST 19148
25 violations, 5 serious.
Handwashing sink not accessible; houseflies on food, floors and vegetables; accumulated food residue on slicer; dead roaches on floors; heavy grease on equipment; old mouse feces on floors, shelves and counters. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Sept. 6.

Super China Restaurant
6623 WOODLAND AVE 19142
13 violations, 2 serious.
Food not protected from contamination; fresh mouse feces on floors and shelves; employees not wearing hair restraints. Ordered to close by Court of Common Pleas on Sept. 1.

Wildcat Ventures 2 LLC/Kennett
848 S SECOND ST 19147
20 violations, 7 serious.
Food safety certified person not on premises; soap and towels not available at handwashing sink; sale of unapproved food (Bloody Mary mix); spoiled pepperoni and shredded carrots in walk in refrigeration unit; ice machine not clean; mouse droppings on pizza prep table, counters, shelves and floor; flies on food prep surfaces. Ordered to cease operations on Aug 31. Permitted to reopen Sept. 2.

Klade Food and Catering Services
6600 ELMWOOD AVE 19142
30 violations, 9 serious.
Person in charge not on premises; expired food safety certificate; handwashing sink blocked by food; empy paper towel dispensers; food on floor; no chemical sanitizer used for utensils; food held at hazardous temperatures; mouse feces; cockroaches. Asked to voluntarily close on Aug. 31.

Crab and Claw Seafood
7801 OGONTZ AVE 19150
14 violations, 4 serious.
Mouse infestation; food safety certified person initially not on premises, presented an expired certificate; no sign posted reminding employees to wash hands; cooked crabs stored with live crabs. Asked to voluntarily close Aug. 30.

Dragon City Restaurant
923 LEVICK ST 19111
17 violations, 3 serious.
Operating without a food license; dented food cans in prep area; numurous live and dead cockroaches; flies in prep area; dining room and restroom. Previously found to be operating without a licence and ordered to close on Aug. 25. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours again on Aug. 30.  Permitted to reopen Sept. 1

Rosado Mini Market
700 W PORTER ST 19148
11 violations, 4 serious.
Insufficient hot water; gnawed bag of Dipsy Doodles; dead roaches in refrigerator; old mice and animal feces under retail shelving; mice feces on shelving; can of Goya beans used to support drain pipes. Previously ordered to close Aug. 18, Aug. 22, Aug. 25; Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours Aug. 29. Permitted to reopen Sept. 5.

Mr. Chicken and Bernice Bar
2054 DENNIE ST 19140
21 violations, 4 serious.
Mouse, roach and fly infestation; cigarette butts in bar area; soap and paper towels not provided at handwashing sinks; roaches and dead flies inside refrigerators and freezers; accumulated grease on bar floor. Previously ordered to close Aug. 19, Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 29. Permitted to reopen Sept. 1

Treo Sports Bar Cafe
4420 GERMANTOWN AVE 19144
17 violations, 5 serious.
No soap or towels at bar handwash sink; food held at hazardous temperatures; open poison on bar floor; lack of thermometers; insufficient refrigeration; floor cleaning needed throughout. Previously asked to close June 1 and Aug. 22. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 25.

Dragon City Restaurant
923 LEVICK ST 19111
32 violations, 10 serious.
No food certified person on premises; no soap and paper towels at handwashing sinks; insufficient hot water; flies on uncovered food in food prep area and  walk-in refrigerator; raw chicken stored over ready-to-eat foods; rodent feces on equipment surfaces; live cockroaches on floor; dead baby mice on glue trap; flies throughout prep area. Ordered to cease operations for 48 hours on Aug. 25.

Dwight's Southern Bar B Que
700 W PORTER ST 19148
7 violations, 4 serious.
Insufficient refrigeration; food held at hazardous temperatures; grime covers all flooring. Previously ordered to cease and desist Sept. 4, 2014. Asked to voluntarily close on Aug. 25 until refrigerators are repaired.

Save A Lot
2201 OREGON AVE 19145
4 violations, 1 serious.
No hot water; flies in warewashing area. Asked to discontinue food operations on Aug. 24 until hot water resumes.