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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.

Wyoming Area Catholic School, 1690 Wyoming Ave., Exeter, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Towers, 1478 Tomhicken Road, Fern Glen, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible.

Royal Bakery, 1701 Wyoming Ave., Exeter, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: The person in charge does not have adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this non-compliant inspection, food facility using rodent bait placed in bait stations which are not covered and tamper resistant, observed two severely dented canned ingredient items intended for use in the facility. Items were removed from use, observed multiple bulk ingredient containers stored open with no covering, observed bags of flour and sugar stored directly on the floor in processing area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required, temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of refrigeration unit in sales area is broken, observed a build up of rust on the shelves in the cooler in the sales area, the plastic lids on multiple bulk ingredient containers are either cracked and/or have broken pieces, observed food residue on the shelves in the walk in cooler and the cooler in the sales area, observed a build up of food debris on the non food contact surfaces of the mixers, observed a build up of food residues and debris on multiple surfaces (shelves,door handles, racks, exterior of bulk ingredient containers) throughout the facility, observed clean equipment, stored directly on the floor, and not 6 inches above the floor, observed a build up of dust and grime on the floor and under equipment in the processing area of the facility, observed webbing on fixtures above processing area, old unused equipment stored in processing area, should be removed from food facility, mops are not being hung to air dry, food facility is not removing dead or trapped pests from control devices frequently, as evidenced by observed 3 old / decaying mice in pest control device in the baking area, observed 150+ rodent like droppings under equipment and along walls in the baking area.

Ross Elementary School, 5148 Main Road, Sweet Valley, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed a build up of white and green/blue mineral deposits on the outside and inside surfaces of the basin and around the base of the faucet at the hand wash sink in the prep area.

Pat’s on Heights, 440 S. Poplar St., Hazleton, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in food prep area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats.

Nardones Restaurant, 509 Exeter Ave., West Pittston, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Foods are served raw or undercooked to the customer’s request; however, a written consumer advisory (on the menu, table tent, or placard) is not provided to the consumer, loose rubber door gasket observed on the cooler in the front area, observed a build up of rust on the metal shelves in multiple refrigeration units, observed a buildup of food residue on the slicer. Person in charge cleaned slicer, observed a buildup of dust on the pipes above the cooking area, observed clean utensils stored in a drawer that is rusting and not easily cleanable, observed flaking paint on ceiling in kitchen and storage area.

Luigi’s Pizza, 166 S. Mountain Blvd., Mountain Top, Feb. 13, Complaint inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Commercially processed refrigerated, ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food, located in the dessert case, and held more than 24 hours, is not being marked with the date it was opened, person(s) in charge are not monitoring establishment operation for compliance with food code requirements, assorted dairy based cheeses cakes and time / temperature controlled for safety desserts held in refrigerated display case, are in the temperature range between 56 degrees F and 62 degrees F product center. Items are in case for an undetermined amount of time. All items were voluntarily disposed due to time / temperature abuse, refrigerated dessert case is showing 56 degrees F ambient air temperature inside. Unit was emptied of time / temperature controlled foods and is not to be used until able to maintain 41degrees F ambient / product temperature, no thermometer available in refrigerated dessert case.

Lake-Noxen Elementary School, RR 3 Box 270, Harveys Lake, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Ice House Pub, 2658 Nuangola Road, Mountain Top, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in food prep area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers, thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible.

Grotto Pizza, Hillside and Lakeside Drive, Harveys Lake, Feb. 13, Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: Ceiling tiles have been removed in the dough making and dish washing areas following the fire and need replaced. The facility is to replace the tiles over the dough making equipment prior to making dough later today or tomorrow. The remainder of the ceiling tiles to be replaced by the correct by date, the wall surface has been removed from the closet area where the fire occurred to the exterior wall and needs to be replaced.

Dorrance Inn, 7880 Blue Ridge Trail, Mountain Top, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Owner is taking food handler exam in 2 weeks, thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible, basins in three compartment sink have build up of mineral deposits.

Cando Convenience Inc., 410 S. Poplar St., Hazleton, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in food prep area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible.

Cando Beer and Deli, 423 S. Poplar St., Hazleton, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Brews Brothers, 1705 River Road, Pittston, Feb. 13, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed a build up of food debris in the corners of the Bain Marie. Person in charge cleaned area.

Backo’s Mine, 252 Pringle St., Kingston, Feb. 13, Change of owner inspection; in compliance. Violations: The fan guard inside of the two door beer refrigeration unit in the bar area has a build up of grime and static dust, the exit door located on the landing of the basement stairs of the food facility has a gap at the floor/door junction, with visible light, and does not protect against the entry of insects, rodents, and other animals.

Wyoming Valley West Middle School, 201 Chester St., Kingston, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Wyoming Valley Sports Dome, 131 Bear Creek Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Interior of microwave, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. Person in charge cleaned microwave, observed a build up of syrup residue on surfaces behind and around the dispensing nozzles on the beverage machines, observed 15 old rodent like droppings under sales counter. Person in charge cleaned area during inspection.

Third Avenue Elementary School, 131 Third Ave., Kingston, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Teasers/Game Time Sports Bar and Grill, 205 Mundy St., Wilkes-Barre, Feb. 14, Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility has an employee who held a Certified Food Manager certificate; however, the certificate has expired and is no longer valid. Person in charge stated that a copy of a valid Serv Safe certificate will be emailed to inspector when received, chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50-100 ppm as required. Facility will use single service plastic articles for food service until unit is functioning properly. All other equipment will be cleaned and sanitized in 3 compartment ware wash sinks.

Schuyler Ave Elementary School, 450 N. Schuyler Ave., Kingston, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Primo Hoagies, 33 B West Side Mall, Kingston, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Kennedy Elementary Center, 58 Penn Ave., Exeter, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Blade on post can opener is chipped and needs to be replaced. Can opener was replaced.

Hildebrandt Learning Center, 1150 E. Mountain Drive, Wilkes-Barre, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employee observed storing clean food equipment while wet, and not allowing time for draining and/or air-drying.

Chester Street Elementary School, 110 Chester St., Kingston, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Cabaret, 481 Market St., Kingston, Feb. 14, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was less than 10 ppm, and not 50 to 100 ppm as required. The owner called the service co. and they replaced the sanitizer. The concentration tested at 50 ppm, observed a build up of black mold like residue on the deflector plate inside of the ice machine in the basement. The deflector plate was cleaned and sanitized during this inspection, observed a build up of a tan yeast like residue inside of both soda gun holsters, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. The soda gun holsters were clean and sanitized during this inspection.

Walgreens #12669, 2100 N. Township Blvd., Pittston, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance.

The Cobblers Inn, 334 Main St., Conyngham, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Working containers in bar area, used for storing sanitizer taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical, food employees observed in food prep area, not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats, or beard covers, a female wait staff was observed touching lemons for bar drinks – a ready to eat food – with bare hands, walk in cooler metal racks exhibit some loose rust particles. Walk in cooler wall surfaces beginning to exhibit rust formation.

Old Beijing Chinese Restaurant, 752 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, Feb. 15, Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed containerized food stored directly on the floor in walk-in freezer, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. The container of food were elevated off of the floor during this inspection. There was also a bag of produce on the floor just outside of the walk in cooler. The bag was elevated during this inspection, pork, beef and chicken (Temperature Control for Safety Foods) were held at 46 to 51 degrees F, in the Bain Marie, rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. In and interview with owner it was determined that the food items were taken from the walk-in cooler and placed into the Bain Marie approximately 1 3/4 hours ago. The thermostat in the Bain Marie was set at the coldest setting. All food items were removed from the Baim Marie and placed into the walk-in cooler during this inspection. The owner placed a call to a repairman who said he would try to come out and look at the Bain Marie tomorrow. The owner has agreed and verbalized an understanding that they will not place any food items into the Bain Marie until it is repaired and holding a temperature of 41 degrees F or below. This inspector to follow up, Bain Marie not maintaining food at a temperature of 41 degrees F or below. The thermostat was set at the coldest setting at the time of this inspection, observed common cup used to dispense ingredients from a bulk container. The containers were replaced with handled scoops during this inspection.

Northwest Area Intermediate School, 21 Sunset Lake Road RR1, Hunlock Creek, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Northwest Area High School, 243 Thorne Hill Road, Shickshinny, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Mops are not being hung to air dry.

Northwest Area Primary School, 417 Shickshinny Lake Road, Huntington Mills, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Lee Park Primary, 99 Lee Park Ave., Wilkes-Barre, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Joes Kwik Mart -701, 701 Keyser Ave., Scranton, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Hanover Green Elementary, 561 Main Road, Wilkes-Barre, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; in compliance.

Great Asian Wok 333, 333 W. Broad St., Hazleton, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Refrigerated ready to eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared in the food facility and held for more than 24 hours, located in the walk in cooler, is not being date marked, person(s) in charge are not monitoring establishment operation for compliance with food code requirements, Raid brand insecticide labeled for household use only observed in the food facility, personal medications observed sitting in area of cook line work area, common bowls observed stored in the food and not with handle above the top of the food and the container, knife is stored with blade in crevice between equipment at cook line, frozen shrimp observed thawing in standing water in the sink area, which is not an approved thawing method, plastic crate in walk in cooler used to store food items is not easily cleanable by design as evidence by mold build up on crate frame, thermometers for ensuring proper temperatures of food are not available or readily accessible, single use plastic grocery bags used to store raw frozen foods, knife blade stored in crevice at cook line has build up of old dried food residuals on blade, post can opener blade has old food residue build up, several knives stored on magnetic strip have build up of old dried food residuals on blades / handles. Magnetic strips holding knives have build up of old food residuals / grime on all surfaces, interior surfaces of exhaust hood system above cooking line has heavy build up of grease, droplets of grease, plastic crate holding food in walk in cooler have build up of mold, no water is available at front service area hand wash sink. Handles are stripped, old food residue, dishes and utensils observed in the handwash sink, indicating uses other than handwashing, walls and floors in food prep areas have build up of grease / grime / food splatter, dead roach casing too numerous to count are observed in various location in food prep area. 1 live Adult roach is observed along with dead roach casing in Wok drip pan, old rodent droppings approximately 50 on floor to rear of chest freezer.

Cuz N Joes Place, 291 Main St., Conyngham, Feb. 15, Regular inspection; out of compliance. Violations: Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher was 0 ppm, and not 50 to 100 ppm as required. All equipment and utensils to be subject to a properly mixed chemical sanitizer on exit from unit until repaired, french fry cutter shows old potato residues on cutting surfaces, no sign or poster posted at the handwash sink in the woman’s restroom to remind food employees to wash their hands.

Bettelli’s Villa, 560 Kidder St., Wilkes-Barre, Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Observed holes in the wall under the mechanical dishwasher, observed 25 old rodent like droppings under mechanical dishwasher. Person in charge cleaned area during inspection.

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