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Bad limes, and toilets that don't flush in Montco restaurants

There were some familiar names this time around - Friendly's, Red Lobster, Collegeville Diner, and Bryn Athyn College.

Montgomery County Clean Plates
Montgomery County Clean PlatesRead moreGetty

Health inspectors in Montgomery County rarely order eateries to close, but they do dole out plenty of citations and threaten to issue fines if a business doesn't address sanitation concerns.

Clean Plates looked at restaurants that had six or more serious violations since July 16. There were some familiar names this time around — Friendly's, Red Lobster, Collegeville Diner, and Bryn Athyn College.

Every inspection is generally regarded as a "snapshot in time," and not necessarily a reflection of day-to-day conditions.  Most violations were fixed immediately on site in the presence of an inspector.

To look up reports on a specific Montgomery County restaurant, or to check out a Philadelphia, Bucks or Gloucester County eatery, or read more in the Inquirer's Clean Plates series, visit philly.com/cleanplates.

Biryani Bowl Indian Cuisine 
1100 N Broad St.
Lansdale
21 violations, 9 serious
Debris was found in the microwaves; food items were stored uncovered in the walk-in cooler, walk-in freezer, and dry storage area; the restaurant did not have a date/time log for items on the lunch buffet with recorded temperatures; food debris was found on the door to an unused walk-in cooler, at the bottom of prep coolers; on food equipment, including the tandoori oven, fryer and ice machine; the dishwasher was not working at the time of the inspection. Inspected on August 3.

Desi Grocery & Halal Meat 
135 S Main St.
Hatfield
23 violations, 8 serious
Raw meat, packaged in the facility and offered for retail sale, was not correctly labeled; a stroller and child's stroller, table and chair were found behind register near entrance to prep area where nonemployees are not permitted; chemical items were stored above foods on retail shelves; a bug zapper was found directly on a table storing whole produce for sale; food boxes were stored on floor in retail area.
Inspected on August 10. The health department will re-inspect the facility on August 24.
Rocco's New York Oven
201 2nd Ave.
Collegeville, 19426
14 violations, 8 serious
An employee washed their hands but did not use soap; there was an employee's drink stored in ice machine; there were open bags of pasta items that should have been stored in sealed containers; the shelves in pasta cooler had a rust-like build-up on them and a dust build-up was found on fan guards. Inspected on August 3.

Michael's Bar & Grill at Westover Country Club 

401 S Schuylkill Ave.
West Norriton
18 violations, 8 serious
Open packages of lunch meat stored in walk in refrigerator; bulk flour and sugar were stored in reused chemical buckets on dry storage shelf and needed to be discarded; two gallons of milk were beyond the sell date; food including tuna salad, coleslaw, rice pudding, whipped cream, mayonnaise, and assorted cheeses were kept at improper temperatures and were discarded; the soda gun nozzle at the bar area was not clean; splash guards inside three ice machines were not clean; cutting boards at prep units were discolored and had grooves; the chemical sanitizing dish machine was not recording proper sanitation levels and needed to be repaired; the facility had to receive written permission from the health department before it could be used.
Inspected on August 2; re-inspection needed on or after Aug 16.

Sheba Deli Corp.
101 Fitch Road
Hatboro
28 violations, 8 serious
Mouse-like droppings were found throughout facility; there was an open bag of food crumbs located in deli area; raw eggs were improperly stored on counter in back room; deli meats lacked proper dates indicating when the original package was opened; thermometers were missing in several cooling units; the facility lacked a written procedure for managing fecal or vomiting incidents. Inspected on July 18.

Friendly's
200 Shoemaker Road
Pottstown
13 violations, 8 serious
Food was uncovered throughout the refrigeration units; liquid eggs were not kept at the proper temperature; the cook's line equipment had food and grease buildup; food workers were seen changing tasks without washing hands and changing gloves in between; used gloves were found scattered on a cutting board; food workers were not using the proper gloves when handling raw shelled eggs to avoid contamination; the floors and walls in cooking area and under equipment were not clean. Inspected July 13.

Chinatown
1626 Cowpath Road
Hatfield
15 violations, 7 serious
Cigarette smoke evident in employee restroom and ashes were found in the hand sink; an employee beverage was stored in prep cooler; the toilet in employee restroom did not flush; a tray of noodles covered the hand sink next to the walk-in cooler; cooked noodles and raw eggs were stored at room temperature without a date/time marking or log; cut lettuce was not stored at the correct temperature; mold-like growth was found on the door gaskets of walk-in cooler and prep cooler. Inspected August 10.

Collegeville Diner
290 E. Main St.
Collegeville
24 violations, 7 serious
Dead insects were found in the front counter display: raw meat, chicken and eggs were improperly stored; there were open bags of pasta and baking items observed in bakery area; modeling chocolate was stored on top of oven; the ice machine had a rust-like build-up on the upper backsplash; shelves in walk-in main kitchen not clean; employee's drink was stored in the ice machine. Inspected on August 4.
Staybridge Suites
88 Anchor Parkway
Royersford, 19468
15 violations, 7 serious
The company does not have a Certified Food Safety Manager. The chicken and taco meat sauce were not being defrosted properly; can opener blade was not clean; the sides of the interior backsplash of the ice machine had a mold-like growth; the dishwasher's temperature gauge was not working properly, all dishes needed to be rewashed once the unit was repaired. Inspected August 1. Scheduled for a reinspection on August 15.

Perkiomen Pizza & Pasta 

800 Main St.
Schwenksville
18 violation; 7 serious
Ventilation hood and filters had greasy debris; greasy build-up found under the fryer; several meats in cooler in prep area and a gallon of milk in walk-in cooler were beyond the expiration date; food stored at improper temperature; food stored in cooler units was not covered; unauthorized pesticides stored near food items; flying insects in the storage area; fans in walk-in cooler found with a dust-like debris; floors in back storage area had cracked or missing tiles; ceiling tiles missing and in need of repair.
Inspected August 1.

Brother Pauls
3300 Ridge Pike
Eagleville
18 violations, 7 serious
A cutting board at the cook line was discolored and had grooves; the can opener piercing point was not clean; the sides of deep fryer were not clean; no dates were marked on prepared food items and open packages of lunch meat; a cup was used as a scoop stored in sauces at cook line and dry goods; the health department food license was not posted in public view; dented food cans were stored on dry storage shelf; back door in kitchen was open to outside and at upstairs storage area; food handler did not have hair/beard restraint. Another inspection is set for or after August 11.

Red House
2636 W Mt. Carmel Avenue
Glenside
17 violations, 7 serious
Raw beef stored above ready-to-eat vegetables at prep refrigerator; no date markings on cooked egg rolls and fried chicken; pH meter not functioning properly at time of inspection and the restaurant voluntarily discontinued preparation of sushi with rice; cooked egg rolls stored in wire baskets; rodent droppings on the floor under bulk dry good containers in back area; grease accumulation and food debris found on the floor under cooking equipment; drain under prep sink partially clogged;  no soap at hand sink in employee restroom; hand sink had utensils and a can in the basin; wet mop was stored in bucket with standing soiled water. Inspected July 18.

Zoto's Diner 
1100 Bethlehem Pike
Line Lexington
24 violations, 7 serious
Mold-like growth on top edge inside ice machine and splash guard of ice machine; food stored at improper temperatures; WD40, Aloe Vera, and Bactine stored on the same shelf as equipment used to prepare food; crab meat stored in opened and original can; paint was chipping on metal shelves inside walk-in cooler; food debris found on shelves inside prep cooler station. Inspected on July 12.

Little Philly
569 W High St.
Pottstown
18 violations; 6 serious
Mouse-like droppings were found in the rear of the kitchen; Grease-like food debris on floor under fryer
Foods in walk in cooler and top of pizza Bain-Marie cooler not stored at proper temperatures; thermometers were lacking in several coolers; pipe leaking water onto floor under rear hand sink; foods in the secondary containers and lunch meats in walk-in cooler lacked dates. Inspected August 11. A reinspected is set for August 25 or later.

Giovannis Pizzeria LLC
466 Main St.
Royersford
16 violations, 6 serious
Plates found in dry storage with food debris on them and stored with cardboard in between; there was ice buildup in chest freezers; the Bain-Marie slow cooker was not holding a proper temperature and the interior of the unit was not clean; items needed to be stored in sealable containers; the dumpster lids were open at time of inspection; duct tape was found on multiple pieces of equipment. Inspected on August 11.

Giuseppe's Pizza & Family Restaurant
1200 N York Road
Willow Grove
13 violations; 6 serious
An open can of ketchup was found inside of the small food prep cooler in the back room; raw chicken was not being washed in a food prep sink; preparation and expiration dates were missing for items in the walk-in cooler; facility lacks a written procedure for managing fecal or vomiting incidents. Inspected August 7.

China Moon
2830 Shelly Road
Harleysville
15 violations; 6 serious
Food was uncovered throughout the refrigeration units; food was stored on floor in walk-in freezer; there was no time log for the oil and garlic mix stored out of refrigeration or warmers; the can opener blade was not clean; heavy grease build-up on the floors under the cook's line; overflowing trash in women's restroom; heavy greasy liquid on hood ventilation system; heavy dust-like debris on vents and ceiling tiles above the dining area. Inspected August 3.

Huntingdon Valley Country Club
2295 Country Club Drive
Huntingdon Valley
15 violations; 6 serious
Rodent droppings found in small mechanical room and flying insects were found throughout the facility; cutting board at the cook's line had discoloration and deep groves; thermometers missing in units throughout facility; prepackaged food items were stored inside of mechanical room; the hand sink station at bar leaked; the club lacked a current Certified Food Sanitation Manager certificate. Inspected August 1.

Cuisine India
180 Mill road
Oaks
16 Violations; 6 serious
Employee seen straining rice directly into the mop sink; food unprotected at buffet area; food was stored in an opened original can; there was an unlabeled chemical spray bottle in kitchen; the walk-in cooler drain line lacked insulation; soiled wares were stored in food prep sink. Inspected July 28.

Red Lobster #0789
223 Shoemaker Road
Pottstown
13 violations, 6 serious
The limes were in bad condition; there were multiple flying insects found; numerous cutting boards had heavy stains; there was no hot water in the men's restroom sink; the Caesar and blue cheese dressings were kept at improper temperatures; a can opener blade was not clean; food debris on floor and in drains near dish washer. Inspected July 27.

Mario's Pizza
258 Main St.
East Greenville
11 violations, 6 serious
An employee was making the sandwiches without wearing gloves; the ceiling vent above pizza prep station had heavy dust build up; the slicer undercarriage was dirty; the Bain-Marie cooker was not kept at a proper temperature and needed repair; salami was not stored at a proper temperature; a basement window was open; there was heavy ice build-up in the standing freezer prep area. Inspected July 26.

Villa Vito Ristorante Italiano
315 Alumni Avenue
Harleysville
11 violations, 6 serious
Food in the refrigeration units was not covered; the can opener blade was not clean; a can of spray paint was found among food contact items; the vent in the upstairs men's restroom was not secured to the ceiling. Inspected July 26.

Pho Viet Hoa Restaurant
3646 Welsh Road
Willow Grove
9 violations, 6 serious
Raw sprouts, eggs, and garlic in oil were stored at room temperature on the cook's line; raw sprouts were in an ice bath in the wait staff station; sprouts in the bottom of a bin were not stored at proper temperatures; a tube of open caulk was stored on a self above food prep refrigerator. Inspected on July 19.

Swamp Pike Pub
2532 Swamp Pike
Pottstown
11 violations, 6 serious
Can opener blade was not clean; food debris on the dry storage shelves; mold-like debris on the interior back splash of the ice machine; debris on the walk-in cooler ceiling; greasy build-up on the floor underneath fryer; floors near three-bay sink and in the walk-in cooler need repair. Inspected July 17.

SAGE @ Bryn Athyn College
2945 College Dr.
Bryn Athyn
10 violations, 6 serious
A Wawa cup was found stored on dry storage shelf; sanitizer buckets were stored on the food prep cooler cutting boards; an absorbent cloth was stored underneath cutting board; no Certified Food Protection Manager; heated dish machine is working but has a leak in the booster. Inspected July 14.