WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County Health Department inspectors documented 22 food safety and sanitation violations at two restaurants on Nov. 4, 2026, including improper food storage, inadequate sanitizing procedures and employee handwashing failures, while nine other food establishments were listed as in compliance.
Amore Pizza & Pasta in North Coventry Township received 11 violations, while VK Brewing & Eatery in Exton received 11, according to inspection reports released by the county.
The findings included food held without required temperature controls, unclean food-contact surfaces, improper shellfish documentation and chemical containers lacking identification.
At Amore Pizza & Pasta, 100 W. Schuylkill Road in Pottstown, inspectors found butter stored at 67 degrees in a drawer. Employees indicated it had remained at room temperature overnight.
The restaurant was using time rather than temperature to control certain foods without the required written procedures or documentation. Inspectors directed that butter held outside refrigeration under this system be discarded within four hours, and the butter was discarded during the inspection.
Inspectors also observed food residue on the ice machine and can opener blade, both of which require cleaning and sanitizing.
The restaurant’s three-compartment warewashing sink contained no detectable concentration of quaternary ammonium sanitizer, although the manufacturer’s instructions required 200 to 400 parts per million. The concentration was adjusted to 200 parts per million during the inspection.
Additional violations included onions, tomato sauce, chicken and other foods stored directly on the walk-in cooler floor instead of at least six inches above it.
Inspectors found unlabeled squeeze bottles containing oil, water and vinegar, along with plastic grocery bags being used as food-contact materials despite not being approved for that purpose.
Other findings involved unprotected preset tableware, prepackaged desserts missing net-weight labels and an unfinished wall repair in the ice machine room that left surfaces difficult to clean.
A gap in the rear exterior screen door also required correction to prevent insects, rodents and other animals from entering.
The restaurant was additionally instructed to apply for Chester County Health Department food manager certification within two weeks for an employee who had completed an approved training course.
At VK Brewing & Eatery, 693 E. Lincoln Highway in Exton, inspectors observed a food employee leave the kitchen through a rear exterior door and return to work behind the cooking line without washing their hands or changing gloves.
Inspectors also found cheese containers stored directly on the walk-in cooler floor and food-contact equipment, including knives, ice buckets and an ice scoop, left unprotected in a basement area with unfinished ceilings and exposed utility lines.
The knives were removed during the inspection, and the restaurant was directed to protect or relocate the remaining equipment.
Shellfish identification tags were missing the dates when the last shellfish from their respective containers had been sold or served. Inspectors instructed the restaurant to begin recording that information immediately.
Two chemical containers near the cooking line lacked labels identifying their contents. Both were labeled during the inspection.
Additional findings included cardboard used to line kitchen shelves, disposable food-service supplies stored directly on the basement floor and a missing employee handwashing reminder in an upstairs restroom.
Inspectors also documented structural and maintenance deficiencies, including holes in a wall beneath a soda machine and in the bar floor, exposed unfinished wood in a basement walk-in cooler and damaged wood beneath an ice machine showing signs of possible mold growth.
Cleaning was required on several surfaces, including walk-in cooler fan covers, floors near the pizza oven, bar coolers, liquor wells, soda gun components and an ice machine drain line.
The restaurant was also directed to correct improper mop storage.
The Health Department listed the following nine establishments as in compliance during inspections conducted Nov. 4:
- Aramark at East Ward Elementary School — 435 Washington Ave., Downingtown
- Hillside Elementary School – Food — 507 Howellville Road, Berwyn
- KinderCare Learning Center – Food — 102 Paddock Lane, West Chester
- La Cabra Brew Pub — 642 Lancaster Ave., Berwyn
- Mercato Ristorante and Bar — 33 W. Market St., West Chester
- P.J. Whelihan’s Pub and Restaurant — 853 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown
- The Pour House — 116 N. Pottstown Pike, Exton
- Ram’s Head Diner — 907 S. High St., West Chester
- UPA Buzz Barn Snack Bar — 619 Byrd Road, Kennett Square
The Chester County Health Department cautions that inspections represent conditions observed at a particular time and may not reflect an establishment’s overall or long-term food safety performance.
Residents who observe potentially unsafe food handling or unsanitary conditions can submit a confidential environmental health complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843.
Anyone who becomes ill after eating at a food establishment should instead contact the Health Department at 610-344-6225.
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