CHESTER COUNTY, PA — Chester County health inspectors documented persistent roach activity at a West Chester restaurant and temperature-control, sanitation and equipment problems at four Exton-area establishments during inspections conducted Aug. 10, according to the Chester County Health Department.
The department cautions that inspection reports represent conditions observed at a specific date and time and may not reflect an establishment’s long-term sanitation or food-safety status.
At Rey Azteca Mexican Restaurant, 1257 West Chester Pike in West Chester, inspectors conducting a follow-up visit reported that roach activity had decreased but remained present.
The Health Department directed the restaurant to continue weekly service from a certified pest-control operator until the activity is eliminated and to provide pest-control reports to the agency. Inspectors also instructed the restaurant to eliminate standing water, keep food covered, remove cardboard boxes and inspect incoming shipments for pests.
Inspectors additionally found gaps at the lower corners of an exterior kitchen door that could allow pests to enter and ordered repairs.
At Magerks, 174 Eagleview Blvd. in Exton, inspectors documented several food-safety violations, including raw shrimp carrying an Aug. 8 use-by date. The shrimp was discarded during the inspection.
Inspectors also reported that short-rib meat intended for hot holding had been reheated only to 120 degrees rather than the required 165 degrees for 15 seconds. Because it had been in the steam table for less than an hour, employees reheated it on the stove to the required temperature before returning it to hot holding, according to the department.
A salad preparation refrigerator at Magerks contained foods measuring between 49 and 51 degrees, above the required maximum of 41 degrees. Foods recently placed in the unit were moved back to the walk-in refrigerator, while time- and temperature-controlled foods that had remained in the unit overnight were discarded, inspectors reported.
The department ordered the salad unit taken out of service until it can maintain food at 41 degrees or lower.
Inspectors also cited Magerks for uncovered and improperly stacked food containers, inconsistent date marking, unlabeled dry-food containers and a mechanical warewashing temperature of 116 degrees rather than the required minimum of 120 degrees.
Sanitation concerns included what inspectors described as mold covering the pre-rinse sprayer at the dishwasher, mold or debris on a beer shelf and black mold on the ceiling of the beer walk-in. The dishwasher sprayer was ordered cleaned immediately, while the other areas were given seven days for correction.
At Timothy’s Lionville, 120 Eagleview Blvd. in Exton, inspectors found ready-to-eat foods that had been held longer than 24 hours without required date markings and several uncovered food pans.
The department also documented cheese and sauce held at 45 degrees in a pizza-preparation unit, with the lower portion of the unit registering an air temperature of 48 degrees. Inspectors ordered the equipment taken out of service until it can maintain food at 41 degrees or below.
The kitchen’s low-temperature dishwasher produced no detectable chlorine sanitizer during its final rinse, rather than the required 50 to 100 parts per million, according to inspectors. The dishwasher was ordered out of service until repaired.
Other Timothy’s violations included an inaccurate dishwasher temperature gauge at the bar, a leaking pre-sink, a nonworking hood light and the absence of sanitizer test strips for the three-bay sink.
At KFC/Taco Bell, 104 N. Pottstown Pike in Exton, inspectors found chicken in a walk-in cooler held between 40 and 45 degrees and ordered the unit repaired and removed from use until it can maintain food at 41 degrees or below.
Inspectors also ordered cleaning of floors, walls, equipment areas, ceiling tiles and light fixtures in portions of the kitchen. Cutting boards at the service line were cited as being in disrepair, while the chicken walk-in cooler itself required repairs to its walls and door.
A hot-holding cabinet at the service line was also out of order, according to the department.
At LongHorn Steakhouse, 100 Bartlett Ave. in Exton, inspectors reported bar mixes held at 45 degrees instead of 41 degrees or below and directed the restaurant to adjust storage or move the products to another cooler.
The restaurant was also cited for grease accumulation on its hood system and cook line, along with multiple areas requiring additional cleaning. Inspectors reported inconsistent date marking of ready-to-eat foods, wet stacking of cleaned food equipment and several equipment and facility repairs.
LongHorn was also instructed to relocate its Chester County certified food manager certificate and license to operate to a location visible to customers.
Four other facilities inspected Aug. 10 were listed as in compliance:
- Dutch Valley Market, 1205 Pottstown Pike in Glenmoore;
- Domino’s, 253 Schuylkill Road in Phoenixville;
- St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 121 Church St. in Phoenixville; and
- Tacos El Guzano, 2724 Schuylkill Road in Spring City.
Residents who observe unsanitary conditions or believe a food facility requires investigation can submit an Environmental Health Complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843. The Health Department instructs anyone who became ill after eating at a food establishment to call 610-344-6225 instead of submitting the online form.
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