Norwalk Restaurant Inspections: April 2013

Additional reporting by Michael Dinan

Inspectors from the Norwalk Health Department regularly visit food service establishments in town to make sure they’re up to state standards in areas such as water supply, food sources, plumbing and vermin control.

To fail an inspection, which would trigger follow-up by the health department (see “excellent improvements made” in one note below), a food service establishment either must be cited for a so-called “4-point demerit” (full list of what those are is available here) or must receive more than 20 demerits overall (out of a possible 100).
 
What follows is information from the most recent inspection report available at the health department for a number of randomly selected food service establishments in Norwalk. Between April 1 and April 19, over 40 restaurants were inspected and below is a partial list reflecting the top 10 highest rated restaurants during that period followed by the top 10 lowest rated. 

Information includes business name as well as total score (that is, 100 minus the total demerits issued) and notes from the inspector for the lowest-rated establishments. Patch will run this information on a regular basis for readers.

Restaurants With the Highest Ratings 

1. 601 Riverside Cafe—99 
2. Don Floro Deli—99
3. American Legion #12
4. Basso Cafe—98
5. Edo Fuji—98
6. A&S Fine Foods—97
7. Rio Border Cafe—97
8. Fat Cat Pie—97
9. Strada 18—96
10. Memo's Restaurant—93


Restaurants With the Lowest Ratings

1. Silver Star—81

"Thermometers, facilities, to maintain product temperature not provided; Toxic items not properly stored, labeled or used, smoking not restricted; wash water not clean or at proper temperature; wiping cloths not clean; improper equipment/utensils storage handling; inadequate plumbing installation or maintenance; unnecessary articles; no written documentation of training program"

2. Estia—83

"Food not in original containers/not properly labeled; smoking not restricted; remove items from the handsink; non-food contact surfaces not properly designed, constructed, maintain, installed or located; wash water not clean or at proper temperature; inadequate santization rinse; wiping cloths not clean; clean interior of reach-in refrigerator, clean interior of microwave, clean and sanitize cutting boards; clean shelves; provide liquid hand-washing soap in kitchen. Provide hand-drying devices in kitchen; clean floors of walk-in refrigerator; provide qualified food operator"
 
3. Casa Blanca—85

"Hold cold food at 45 F or below; provide refriegerate capable of maintaining proper temp; food not in original containers/not properly labeled; do not store raw food above cooked or ready to eat food, smoking not restricted; provide an alternate qualified food operator); no written document of training program"

4. Cosmos Grill—86

"Food not protected during storage, prepartion, display, service or transportation; toxic items not properly stored, labeled or used; smoking not restricted; food contact surfaces of utensils & equipment not clean; non-food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils not clean; improper equipment/utensils storage handling; floor covering not installed or constructed as required, in disrepair or unclean; walls, ceilings, attached equipment improperly constructed, in disrepair or unclean"

5. Red Lulu—86

"Hold cold food at 45 F or below; provide refriegerate capable of maintaining proper temp; provide easily observable thermometers; replace missing light shields and end caps above prep, storage and warewahsing areas, cover all stored foods; provide an alternate qualified food operator; no written document of training program; floor, wall junctured not covered" 

6. Bella Pasta Restaurant—87

"Thermometers, facilities, to maintain product temperature not provided; clean walls; all containers of toxic items must be properly labeled; clean and santize can opener; provide approved running water –dipper well; suitable hand cleaner or sanitary towels or approved hand drying devices not provided; provide hand drying devices in kitchen"


7. Dalton's Deli—87

"Smoking not restricted; non-food contact surfaces not properly designed, constructed, maintain, installed or located; non-food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils not clean; improper equipment/utensils storage handling; hot and cold water under pressure not provided as required; floor covering not installed or constructed as required, in disrepair or unclean; walls, ceilings, attached equipment improperly constructed, in disrepair or unclean; no written documentation of training program"


8. El Mexicano—88

"Provide easly observable thermometers; store all food at least 12” above floor on approved shelving; remove items from the handsink; inadequate santization rinse; clean interior of reach-in freezer; clean sides of equipment; repair or replace broken floor tiles"

9. Hot & Speedy Pizza—89

"Accurate thermometers, dish baskets not provided; inadequate santization rinse; wiping cloths not clean; food contact surfaces of utensils & equipment not clean; non-food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils not clean; improper equipment/utensils storage handling; establishment and premises not free of litter, insect/rodent harborage, unnecessary articles; no written document of training program"

10. Wild Rice—89

"Food not protected during storage, prep, display, service or transportation; food contact surfaces not properly designed, constructed, maintained, installed or located; inadequate santization rinse; wiping cloths not clean; food contact surfaces of equipment and utensils not clean; walls, celings, attached equipment improperly constructed, in disrepair or unclean"

For the past five years, the Norwalk Health Department has awarded restaurants that have received the highest rating possible from their four most recent health inspections with the Lighthouse Awards. In order to qualify:

• The people working in these establishments have exhibited safe food handling practices
• A qualified food operator was always on site.
• A score of 90 or higher without critical violations was obtained for each inspection