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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.
Pittston Six Packs to Go, 308 Route 315, Pittston, Nov. 16. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: A working container of cleaner was stored above and alongside canned beverages on shelves in back storage area. Container was moved. Observed cases of beer cans stored in the employee toilet room, a prohibited area for food storage. Person in charge moved cases from area. Observed cases of beverages stored directly on the floor in multiple areas, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. Pre-packaged hoagies and pizza slices produced at Bobby O’s in Dupont lack proper labeling. Labels lack location of producer. Also, the term “wheat flour” must appear on label. Observed buildup of old powder residue on cappuccino dispensers. PIC cleaned dispensers. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink in the employee rest room. PIC provided paper towels. Observed a buildup of dust on the fan guard in the walk-in cooler. Observed 50-plus rodent-like droppings along wall in back storage area on food-store side of facility.
Price Chopper #222, 245 Wilkes-Barre Township Blvd., Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 16. Follow-up inspection; in compliance.
Rehoski’s Market, 201 Foote, Ave., Duryea, Nov. 16. Follow-up inspection; in compliance.
Smoke Rings Cigar Bar, 1008 N. Vine St., Hazleton, Nov. 16. Opening inspection; in compliance.
Tommy’s Pizza Corner, 619 Market St., Kingston, Nov. 16. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Working spray bottle containers in prep area, used for storing sanitizer taken from bulk supplies, were not marked with the common name of the chemical. The bottle was labeled during this inspection. The blade of the post can opener, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. The post can opener was cleaned and sanitized during this inspection. Observed a buildup of static dust on the fan guard in the Pepsi cooler in the customer service area.
CK’s Cantina & Grille, 63A Gerald Ave., Dallas, Nov. 15. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Shrimp and onion rings in the reach-in freezer area stored open with no covering. The foods were covered during this inspection. Low temperature, chemical sanitizing bar glass washer is showing 25 ppm residual chlorine in final rinse. This was corrected during this inspection and a new container of sanitizer was applied to the dish machine.
Curry Donuts, 733 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, Nov. 16. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employee observed in service area not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats or beard covers. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Buildup of black mold-like grime in the corners of all compartments of the three-compartment sink. Sink not being maintained in a sanitary manner. Mechanical ware-washing equipment had buildup of grease/grime observed inside all three compartments and on back splash. Buildup of dried icing/batter on floor stand mixer under mixer head and on framing. Buildup of splatter on underside and back splash of cappuccino machine. Observed a buildup of dried food residue on and around the handles of the proofing box in the prep area. Observed cracked floor tiles or areas where the grouting is missing in the area in front of the bain marie in the service area and is not smooth or easily cleaned. Observed a buildup of grime on light switch/switch covers throughout facility.
Deli in the Dairy, LLC, 588 Susquehanna Blvd., Hazle Township, Nov. 16. Opening inspection; in compliance.
El Aguila, 80 N. Wyoming St., Hazleton, Nov. 16. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violations: Facility does not have a food employee certification for manager/owner/staff person. Inspector left copy of warning letter and phone contact for classes. Hole observed in ceiling material in deli. Rear store room is cluttered with unused equipment, boxes, shelving.
El Patio, 550 Alter St., Hazleton, Nov. 16. Follow-up inspection; in compliance.
Gertrude Hawk, 29 Wyoming Valley Mall, Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 16. Regular inspection; in compliance.
Joyce & Bill’s, 181 S. Wyoming St., Hazleton, Nov. 16. Follow-up inspection; in compliance. Violation: No approved hood system in place above stove.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, 523 Wyoming Ave., Kingston, Nov. 16. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Observed a buildup of tan and pink slime on the drip edge of the ice deflector inside of the ice machine. The drip edge was cleaned and sanitized during this inspection.
LIU 18 – Alternative Learning Center, 33 W. Carey St., Plains Township, Nov. 16. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food employees observed in prep area not wearing proper hair restraints, such as nets, hats or beard covers. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Test strips have been ordered. Employee toilet room is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkins. Observed too numerous to count rodent-like droppings along walls and on shelves in dry storage/prep area.
Microtel Inn & Suites, 1165 Route 315, Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 17. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Working container of cleaner in kitchen area was not marked with the common name of the chemical. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.
Wendy’s #312, 980 Schechter Drive, Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 17. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: A working container of degreaser was stored alongside equipment in the kitchen area. Person in charge moved container. Observed cases of food stored directly on the floor in walk-in freezer area, rather than 6 inches off of the floor as required. PIC moved cases off the floor. Temperature measuring device for ensuring proper temperature of equipment is not available in multiple refrigeration units. PIC has ordered thermometers. Observed a buildup of pink mold-like residue on edge of deflector plate in ice machine. PIC cleaned during inspection.
The Dough Company, 570 Kidder St., Wilkes-Barre, Nov. 17. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Bulk food ingredient storage container in the dry storage area not labeled with the common name of the food. Person in charge labeled container. Food dispensing utensil in bulk food observed stored in the food and not with handle above the top of the food and the container. PIC moved scoop. Doors on ice machine are cracked and in need of repair. Interior of one microwave, a food contact surface, was observed to have food residue and was not clean to sight and touch. PIC cleaned microwave. Observed a buildup of residues on exterior surface around doors of the ice machine. PIC cleaned area. Observed a buildup of rust on interior ceiling of ice machine. Observed an accumulation of old food residue and debris in the corners and along the edges of bain marie units. Observed an accumulation of old syrup residue on surface above and behind dispensing nozzles on beverage machine. PIC cleaned surfaces. Observed an accumulation of dust on pipes and vent above mechanical dishwasher. Observed an accumulation of old food and debris on floor in storage area and the walk-in units. Wall in the storage area has a hole or is broken and in need of repair.
Dugan’s Pub, 385 S. Main St., Luzerne, Nov. 17. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violations: Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration. Observed a buildup of tan/black residue on edge of deflector plate inside of the ice machine. This was corrected during this inspection. Observed dried food residue on the blade of the post can opener, a food contact surface. The blade was cleaned and sanitized during this inspection. Grease buildup on side of pizza oven by deep fryers. Observed a buildup of a yeast like residue on the ceiling and fan housing of the walk-in cooler. Observed a tan, yeast-like buildup on the ceiling and rack under the condenser in the walk-in keg cooler located in the basement. Multiple floor tiles are cracked/broken in the food prep area, not smooth and easily cleanable.
Family Dollar #3157, 562 Union St., Luzerne, Nov. 17. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: The employee restroom is not provided with a covered waste receptacle for sanitary napkins.
Fetch’s Smokehouse Meats, 180 Wyoming Ave. Wyoming, Nov. 17. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate sanitizer concentration.
KJ’s Pickle Barrel LLC, 506 Main St., Kingston, Nov. 18. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: Missing end caps on light shield in the Miracool reach-in refrigeration unit in the customer self-service area
Seattle Style Coffee, 45 Laural Mall, Hazle Township, Nov. 18. Change of owner inspection; in compliance. Violation: Floor covering deteriorated/missing sections of surface material. Wall covering underneath three-compartment sink is peeling.
Sugarloaf Child Care, 98 W. County Road, Sugarloaf, Nov. 18. Regular inspection; in compliance. Violation: No thermometer visible in all in-use refrigeration units.
Vive Health & Fitness, 500 Third Ave., Suite 100, Kingston, Nov. 18. 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. The facility does have an employee that is currently certified but the certificate was not available during this inspection. The employee will email to this inspector or fax to the Region 3 Office a copy of this certificate within seven days. Observed a buildup of a mold-like substance on the fan guard inside the Beverage Air refrigerator at the Health Bar. No sign or poster posted at the hand-wash sink in the ladies restroom to remind food employees to wash their hands. A sign was posted during this inspection. The automatic soap dispenser was not functioning at the time of this inspection. The battery was replaced and dispenser is now functional.
