WEST CHESTER, PA — Chester County health inspectors cited 10 food establishments on Aug. 26 for violations ranging from unsafe food temperatures and inadequate sanitizing to rodent and cockroach evidence, with inspectors ordering food discarded at several restaurants to address immediate food-safety risks.
The Chester County Health Department cautions that inspections represent conditions observed at a specific time and may not reflect an establishment’s long-term sanitation or food-safety record.
Among the most extensive findings were at La Cabra Brew Pub in Berwyn, where inspectors reported mouse-like droppings in multiple areas and observed a live mouse run from behind an upstairs bar into an opening in a wall.
Inspectors also reported mouse droppings on food-contact equipment in the basement, mold-like buildup inside an ice machine and on other surfaces, inadequate handwashing between employee tasks, missing soap at several hand sinks and food in drawer coolers at 53 degrees. The refrigerated food was voluntarily discarded, and the coolers were ordered out of use until repaired.
The inspection also cited La Cabra for a dishwasher with no detectable sanitizer, reduced-oxygen food packaging without documented safety controls, hot-water problems, cleaning deficiencies and pest-control devices containing old or decaying insects.
At Sitara Indian Cuisine in Malvern, inspectors conducting a change-of-owner inspection reported evidence of cockroaches and deceased cockroaches throughout the kitchen.
The facility was directed to obtain professional pest-control service, remove insects, deep-clean and disinfect surfaces, close pest entry points and discard cardboard left by the previous owner. Inspectors also cited unavailable soap and thermometers, food-contact surfaces requiring cleaning and sanitizing, holes in kitchen walls and a leaking hood system.
Several establishments were cited for foods being held outside required temperature ranges.
At China Garden in East Marlborough Township, inspectors found shrimp, chicken, beef and cooked vegetables between 45 and 53 degrees after employees arrived to find several electrical breakers turned off. Rice in two warmers measured between 114 and 117 degrees.
Because employees did not know how long the equipment had been without power and had not checked food temperatures, the affected foods and rice were discarded during the inspection. Refrigeration units returned to below 41 degrees within about 20 minutes after power was restored.
China Garden was also cited for improper food-storage containers, personal food stored near restaurant supplies, porous and water-stained ceiling tiles, a gap below an exterior kitchen door and other equipment and sanitation issues.
At El Rinconsito Restaurante in Kennett Square, inspectors ordered food discarded after a cook-line refrigerator measured 48 degrees and foods inside registered 50 to 52 degrees.
Pans of cooked rice, beans and meats were also found above 70 degrees more than two hours after preparation and were discarded because they had not cooled quickly enough. Inspectors additionally cited raw meat storage, food thawing on the floor, non-food-grade bags and containers, a broken refrigerator and an 80-degree hot-water reading at a restroom hand sink.
Green Street Grill in Downingtown was cited after poached eggs were found at 128 degrees instead of the required minimum 135 degrees, a repeat violation. Employees increased the holding unit setting and the eggs subsequently reached 138 degrees.
Inspectors warned that the unit cannot be used if eggs are again found below 135 degrees during a follow-up inspection.
Green Street Grill also had mixed raw eggs at 65 degrees, ham at 56 degrees and cheese at 55 degrees. Employees moved the ham and cheese into refrigeration because they had been out for less than an hour.
Other findings there included ground beef thawing at room temperature, improper spinach cooling, plumbing leaks, insufficient hot water at a handwashing sink and no sanitizer in the three-bay warewashing sink. Inspectors also repeated a requirement dating to 2023 that the facility install a mop or utility sink.
At Han Dynasty in Exton, a follow-up inspection found cooked chicken, egg rolls and tofu between 65 and 71 degrees and raw chicken at 55 degrees, instead of 41 degrees or below.
Inspectors also observed an employee switching tasks without proper handwashing, wiping cloths being used across multiple tasks, raw chicken stored above beef and a bucket containing cigarette ash and a cigarette butt at the cook line.
The person in charge was cited for inadequate food-safety knowledge, and the department directed employees to complete food-handler training and submit documentation.
Moca Asian Cuisine in Malvern was cited for raw fish stored above ready-to-eat foods, a missing raw-sushi consumer advisory, mold-like buildup inside an ice machine and insufficient hot water at the three-compartment sink.
Inspectors also found escolar listed as “white tuna” on the menu and directed the restaurant to identify the fish accurately. Other deficiencies included improper handwashing, missing soap and paper towels, improperly stored employee belongings and medication, and refrigeration units lacking thermometers.
Chester Valley Golf Club in Malvern, inspected as a follow-up, was cited for a low-temperature dishwasher that was not producing the required chlorine sanitizer concentration. Inspectors directed the facility to have the machine serviced.
The golf club also received citations involving date control for prepared foods, unavailable chlorine test strips, a worn walk-in cooler door sweep and residue on soda-gun nozzles. The nozzles were cleaned and sanitized during the inspection.
Three Brothers Grill in Phoenixville remained out of compliance during a follow-up inspection. Findings included inadequate food-safety knowledge by the person in charge, employees without proper hair restraints, improperly stored wiping cloths, unavailable sanitizer test strips and equipment that was unplugged and not functioning.
Thai Orchid in Berwyn received three findings during a follow-up inspection involving a burned-out cook-line light, certified food-manager documentation and kitchen floors requiring replacement. The facility was directed to submit a floor-repair plan by its next annual inspection in 2027.
Eight other facilities inspected Aug. 26 were listed as in compliance:
- Afford’ACup USA at the Phoenixville Commissary,
- Bistro 24 in Exton,
- C&L Premier Catering Trailer in Phoenixville,
- Duling Kurtz House in Exton,
- Giant Food Store #6051 in West Whiteland,
- Sam’s Pizza Shop in Downingtown,
- The Nutrition Group at Renaissance Academy in Phoenixville, and
- Wawa #8211 in Parkesburg.
Residents who observe potentially unsanitary conditions can submit a confidential Environmental Health Complaint at https://www.chesco.org/5843. People who become ill after eating at a food establishment are instructed to call the Chester County Health Department at 610-344-6225 instead of using the online complaint form.
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