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The following are recent Luzerne County restaurant inspection reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. According the agency: “any inspection is a ‘snapshot’ of the day and time of the inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment. Also, at the time of the inspection violations are recorded but are often corrected on site prior to the inspector leaving the establishment.” The information is taken from the inspection database at www.eatsafepa.com. Postal addresses used here are as listed on the state’s website, and may not correspond to the municipalities in which facilities are physically located.
Convenient Food Mart #3019, 305 N. Main St., Pittston, May 2. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed food ingredient storage containers in the self-serve area not labeled with the common name of the food. Person in charge labeled containers. Prepackaged pizza and hoagies not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 8” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Prepackaged pizza and hoagies are not labeled with a full ingredient statement to include the bread ingredients. Dispensing nozzles on cream machine were observed to be holding product. Person in charge was instructed to cut nozzle at an angle to prevent holding. Plastic shelves in the walk-in cooler observed to have food residue and were not clean to sight and touch. Facility has new shelves and is in the process of replacing them in the cooler. Nozzles on cappuccino machine have food residue and were not clean to sight and touch. Machine was shut off and cleaned and sanitized prior to use. Observed a buildup of dust on the fan guards in the walk-in coolers. Observed a buildup of food residue on surfaces above nozzles on cappuccino and cream machines. Rest room is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkins.
Convenient Mart #3037, 610 S. Main St., Pittston, May 2. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in prep area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets or hats. Prepackaged sandwiches not labeled properly with the full ingredient statement. Prepackaged sandwiches not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 8” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Observed deeply scored cutting boards not resurfaced or discarded as required. Observed a buildup of dust on the fan guard in the walk-in cooler.
Curry Donuts, 216 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., May 3. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: No back flow prevention device on water hose in manual ware-wash sink. Water line on back wall is capped, forming a “dead leg.” Facility does not currently have an employee who holds a Certified Food Manager certificate. Person in charge will provide copy of certificate to sanitarian when received.
Ross Dress for Less, 3330 Wilkes Barre Township Commons, Wilkes Barre, May 3. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Ben & George’s, 194 Oak St., Pittston, May 4. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed scoops stored in ingredient containers with handle in contact with food product.
Elko’s Lanes, 334 Main St., Pittston, May 4. Opening inspection; in compliance.
Lakeside Pizza, 1928 Rte. 29 South, Hunlock Creek, May 4. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: Loose rubber door gaskets observed on the freezer in basement. The facility defrosted the freezer and removed excessive ice buildup; however, there is ice beginning to form inside the freezer. The owner has checked into getting new gaskets for the door; not sure if available. If not, will replace freezer. Both rear entrance doors located in the kitchen and dining areas of the food facility has an approximate ½-inch gap and do not protect against the entry of insects, rodents and other animals. Bilco door to basement area of food facility has several gaps and does not protect against entry of insects, rodents and other animals. Ceiling tiles bulging in the kitchen above prep refrigerator and need to be replaced.
Swizzle Stick, 434 Main St., Edwardsville, May 4. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed a buildup of a white, yeast-like residue on the ceiling surface, condenser housing and fan guards inside the walk-in cooler.
The Hub One, 2 Bear Creek Rd., Pittston, May 4. Opening inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed raw eggs stored alongside ready-to-eat food in the reach-in cooler. Eggs were moved. Prepackaged food is not labeled to clearly indicate any “Big 8” allergen ingredients and/or the allergen warning statement. Prepackaged pizza is not labeled properly with the ingredient statement. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Observed no chemical sanitizer being used on equipment and utensils after washing and rinsing them, and prior to use. Facility provided sanitizer. Toilet room does not have a self-closing door.
The Pour House, 7 N. Main St., Ashley, May 4. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violation: The food facility does not maintain Food Employee Certification records as required. Person in charge has registered for ServSafe class to be held May 16 and will provide copy of certificate when complete.
The Red Mill, 340 S. Main St., Pittston, May 4. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Soda gun, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Nozzle was cleaned. No sign or poster posted at the hand-wash sink in the bar area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Paper towels not available at hand-wash sink in the bar area. Paper towels were provided. Soap was not available at the hand-wash sink in the bar area. Soap was provided.
Polish American Citizen’s Club, 111 Elm St., Dupont, May 5. Opening inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed single-service, single-use articles stored in basement area directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor.
Subway #23606, 396 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, May 5. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food Employees eating in prep area as evidenced by observed partially consumed food on prep table. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available in the refrigeration unit under the counter area. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.Vegetable slicer was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Slicer was placed at the ware-wash to cleaned. Observed a buildup of residue on surface behind ice chute. Surface cleaned. Observed a buildup of residue on the surface above and behind dispensing nozzles on soda machine. PIC cleaned surfaces. Ware-wash sinks have a hose attachment that is hanging below the flood rim of the sink and not an appropriate air gap.
Country Girl Kettle Corn & Sweet Shoppe, 107 E. Carey St., Plains Township, May 5. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Dave’s Catering & Smoked Meats, 584 Cigarski Rd., Shavertown, May 5. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility is using an approved non-public water system, but does not have current laboratory testing results for water potability. Owner unable to locate most recent water test results. He was able to provide documentation that he submitted samples on May 2, 2015, and is awaiting results. The owner will email the results to this inspector upon receipt of results. Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired on March 28, 2016, and is no longer valid. The owner will obtain a valid Food Employee Certification that is good for five years within 90 days.
Dida’s Incredible Edibles, 219 Broad St., Nescopeck, May 5. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility’s person in charge not able to provide documentation that the whoopie pies offered for sale are from an approved source. The owner stated that the unlabeled whoopie pies were purchased from an Amish family, but he does not know the the address, name of the business or the owner. The whoopie pies were removed from sale. Advised owner that any food that is sold through their facility must be from an inspected facility. Owner has agreed to not put out for sale any of the unlabeled whoopie pies that are in the freezer until it can be determined if they were made in an approved kitchen. If it is determined that they were made in an approved kitchen, he will need to obtain their labeling from the manufacturer and place on the food items before offering them for sale. Food facility does not have available quaternary sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate quaternary sanitizer concentration. Facility had only chlorine test strips available. Manual ware-washing sink observed with buildup of mineral deposits and areas of a brown residue in the inside surfaces of all three bays.
Knights of Columbus, 55 S. Main St., Pittston, May 5. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed a buildup of dust on fan guard in cooler behind bar.
Napoli Pizzeria Restaurant, 26 S. Main St., Pittston, May 5. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed a buildup of rust on metal shelving in refrigeration unit in kitchen area. Observed a buildup of dust on the fan guards in the refrigeration unit in the kitchen and in the walk-in cooler. Observed a buildup of dust in the exhaust vent above the pizza oven. Observed pizza boxes stored on the floor in the back area of the facility. Toilet rooms do not have a self-closing door.
Alta Pizzeria, 380 S. Poplar St., Hazleton, May 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Wire shelving in some refrigeration units has deteriorated food contact surfaces. Top exterior surfaces of dish machine over door openings has buildup of grime from backwash.
DeMuro’s Pizza, 10 William St., Pittston, May 6. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed a metal bowl with no handle used as a scoop and stored in bulk container of flour. Bowl was removed.
Pearl at Mohegan Sun, 1280 Rte. 315, Wilkes-Barre, May 6. Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: An employee’s open beverage container was observed on prep table in back kitchen area. Food employees observed in prep area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets or hats. Hats were provided. Observed multiple food ingredient containers not labeled with the common name of the food. Observed a plastic pitcher stored in ice machine. Pitcher was removed. Observed plastic containers with no handles being used as scoops and stored in food ingredients. Containers were removed. Scoop being stored in the ice bin at the bar with handle in contact with ice. Scoop was moved. Fish and lobster observed thawing at room temperature on a chair in the back prep area, which is not an approved thawing method. Foods were placed in walk-in cooler. Interior of microwave, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Microwave was cleaned. Soda gun nozzle, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Nozzle was cleaned. Equipment observed in the hand-wash sink, indicating uses other than hand washing. Equipment was moved. No sign or poster posted at the hand-wash sink in the sushi prep area to remind food employees to wash their hands. Sign was posted. Observed a buildup of grime in the drain under the ice machine.
