WEST CHESTER, PA — A round of county health inspections has uncovered a wide range of food safety and sanitation violations at several West Chester restaurants, offering a snapshot of conditions inside busy kitchens and dining rooms across the borough.
The Chester County Health Department released inspection reports from Thursday, January 29, detailing violations observed at multiple licensed food establishments. Officials emphasized that inspections reflect conditions at the time they are conducted and may not represent an establishment’s long-term compliance history.
Among the locations cited was Osteria Ama in West Chester, where inspectors documented multiple issues, including unclean squeeze bottles, an ice machine in need of cleaning and sanitizing, and food stored uncovered in both dry and cold storage areas. Inspectors also reported failures to properly date-label time and temperature controlled foods, unlabeled squeeze bottles, stained ceiling tiles, missing floor tiles near the kitchen entrance, and employee personal items stored near food preparation equipment. Improper mop storage was also noted.
At Tsunami Asian Fusion, also known as Tsunami Sushi and Asian Café, inspectors recorded a lengthy list of violations spanning food storage, sanitation, and facility maintenance. Issues included food equipment stored near a handwashing sink where it could be splashed, the reuse of cardboard boxes and single-use containers for food storage, unlabeled food containers, and sushi mats not being cleaned or sanitized at required intervals. Inspectors also found blocked handwashing sinks, missing soap dispensers, heavily soiled non-food contact surfaces, walls and cove base in disrepair, and missing documentation verifying required freezing of raw fish for parasite destruction. Several corrective actions were taken during the inspection.
A follow-up inspection at West Chester Pizza Cafe LLC documented continued concerns, including dirty dish racks, food stored directly on the floor in a walk-in refrigerator, and sliced deli meat held above the required cold-holding temperature. Inspectors also found ready-to-eat foods held beyond allowable date limits, missing floor tiles near fryers, deeply scored cutting boards, and an ice machine that was not clean to sight and touch. Some potentially hazardous foods were voluntarily discarded on site.
Health department officials reiterated that inspections are intended to protect public health and encourage compliance, not to serve as a final judgment on a business.
Residents who witness unsanitary conditions or believe a food facility requires investigation are encouraged to submit an environmental health complaint through the county’s confidential reporting system at https://www.chesco.org/5843. Anyone who becomes ill after eating at a food establishment is advised to call the Chester County Health Department directly at 610-344-6225 rather than using the online form.
The county conducts routine inspections of restaurants, bars, grocery stores, convenience stores, school cafeterias, and other food-dispensing facilities to monitor compliance with health and safety regulations.
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