Two West Chester food establishments passed Chester County health inspections with no violations on Tuesday, Aug. 4, while a Malvern restaurant drew citations for a kitchen-wide cockroach infestation and a disabled handwashing sink.
Riggtown Oven, the family-run sandwich and pizza shop at 551 S. Matlack St., and Square Bar both cleared the county's Aug. 4 inspection round without a single citation, according to results published by the Chester County Health Department.
Conditions at House of Biryanis & Kebabs, 309 Lancaster Ave. in Malvern, told a different story. Inspectors reported cockroaches throughout the kitchen, inside refrigeration equipment, near the mop sink and walk-in cooler, in light fixtures, on walls and across the warewashing area. An inspector noted that a cockroach fell from a refrigerator when the unit was opened; both juvenile and adult roaches were present, indicating a multi-stage infestation.
The restaurant's only handwashing sink had been turned off because it leaked. The report stated employees had not been washing their hands. Cooked tofu measured at 80 degrees, well below the 135-degree minimum. Raw animal products sat above ready-to-eat food, biryani rice cooled at room temperature without documentation, raw chicken was being thawed improperly, an overflowing grease trap backed up and dirty dishes filled all three compartments of the warewashing sink.
Inspectors also found pesticides, fogging products and a can of household insecticide inside the facility. Because they could not determine whether the products had been used, the department directed the restaurant to discard opened food and single-use items, sanitize exposed surfaces and remove the chemicals. The person in charge did not demonstrate adequate food-safety knowledge, according to the report.
The health department ordered House of Biryanis & Kebabs to obtain professional pest-control service, remove cardboard, seal openings and deep-clean the kitchen. The report did not state that the restaurant was closed. No re-inspection date has been publicly scheduled.
Who passed
Twelve facilities cleared the Aug. 4 round. In addition to Riggtown Oven and Square Bar, the compliance list included Festival Dairy Queen and Walmart No. 2167 in Exton, Aneu Catering/Fresh Ideas and Elegance Cafe/Tredyffrin in Paoli, Highgate at Paoli Pointe Assisted Living, Bravo Pizza of Avondale, Coventry Café in Pottstown, Guatemala El Buen Vestir in Oxford, Kolb's Farm Store in Spring City and Wholly Grounds in Oxford.
The health department notes that an inspection reflects conditions observed at a particular date and time and may not represent a facility's long-term performance. Residents can file confidential complaints at chesco.org/5843 or call 610-344-6225 if they become ill after eating at a food establishment.
