Pho spot shut down over food safety violations. Here are restaurant scores for Sept. 3

Comments are taken directly from the latest Thurston County Public Health and Social Services (PHSS) inspection reports, which are available for each food establishment, at the Thurston County Environmental Health Office and their website. For questions concerning these reports, contact the health office at 360-867-2667.

Report restaurant, grocery store, deli or bakery complaints online via the complaint form here: https://www.thurstoncountywa.gov/phss/Pages/eh-problem.aspx.

Reading inspection scores:

Attention should be given to the type of violation (red versus blue) and whether the establishment has a history of red violations or repeat violations.

Red violations are those most likely to cause food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately if feasible or according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: not keeping food at the right temperature.

Blue violations relate to the overall cleanliness and condition of operation and must be corrected according to a compliance schedule established by the health officer. Example: a worn floor that needs replacing.

If red points exceed 45, the county will require a reinspection within 10 business days. A reinspection also is required if total red and blue points exceed 65.

If red points exceed 100 and there’s a lack of managerial control, the county may shut down the establishment. The establishment may reopen after the person-in-charge develops a written course of action to correct all violations and demonstrates corrective action during a pre-opening inspection. Closures also may occur if there is an imminent health hazard, regardless of the total inspection points. The length of a closure may vary depending on the violation and timeframe for corrective actions.

Some common abbreviations: PHF/TCS is potentially hazardous food/time control for safety; RTE is ready to eat; PIC is person in charge; FWC is food worker card; CDI is corrected during inspection.

Pho Hoa Noodle Soup Olympia

2615 Capital MalL Drive SW, Unit 4 and 5, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 29: 140 red points; 20 blue points.

Comments:

• No certified food protection manager was on staff, with multiple high-risk factors during the inspection.
• Inadequate hand washing. Employees were seen handling raw meat with gloved hands and then handling cooked meat without removing the gloves and properly washing hands.
• The establishment had inadequate hand washing facilities as well. The prep area hand sink was blocked with a tray and not stocked with paper towels.
• Improper separation of raw meats and ready-to-eat foods. Raw beef was stored above onions in the walk in. Raw meats have to be stored according to cooking temperature and RTE foods stored above any raw meats.
• Improper cooling procedures not in compliance with the business’ permit. Broth was cooling in depths greater than 2 inches in the walk-in at 45 degrees when they must be cooled in 2-inch depths or less and uncovered. The broth was discarded.
• Improper hot holding of TCS foods. Rice was being held at between 117 and 154 degrees, when all TCS foods must be kept at or above 135 degrees.
• Cooked pork was at 91 to 115 degrees, when TCS foods have to be kept out of the danger zone of 41 degrees or below, or 135 degrees or above.
• Improper cold holding temperatures. Various TCS foods were above 41 degrees, when all TCS foods must be kept at or below 41 degrees.
• Improper date marking. No foods were adequately marked with the prep date or discard date. TCS foods that are kept for longer than 24 hours must be adequately labeled to ensure they are discarded within 7 days.
• Potential food contamination during storage. Egg rolls in a metal container were resting on an unapproved bin, and lettuce was stored in take-out bags.
• Wiping cloths were improperly stored and not placed in the in-use sanitizer in between uses.
• The establishment did not have the proper chlorine test strips to ensure the sanitizer concentration is adequate.

Thurston County staff reported that the eatery was shut down over the violations, but was allowed to reopen Tuesday, Sept. 2, after making improvements.

Mt. Fuji

7914 Martin Way E., #3, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 25: 40 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• The person in charge was not performing duties to maintain active managerial control. A Certified Food Protection Manager was not on staff.
• Improper employee handwashing.
• Inadequate handwashing facilities. The sink in the kitchen did not have paper towels.
• Warewashing facilities were being improperly used. Sanitizer test strips were absent, utensils were being improperly washed in the food prep sink under running water, and no sanitizer was used.

Mekong

119 Columbia St. NW, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 26: 40 red points; 3 blue points.

Comments:

• No certified food protection manager certificate had been obtained.
• Spring rolls and cooked noodles were being improperly cooled. Foods have to be cooled at 2-inch depths, uncovered, in the reach-in cold hold until 41 degrees or below.
• There was no vomit or diarrhea clean-up plan or kit at the establishment. All facilities must have both on site.
• Raw meat was thawing in the prep sink. Raw meat must thaw in cold running water or under refrigeration.

Fire Creek Ale House at Capital City Golf Course

5225 Yelm Highway SE, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 28: 40 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• There were repeat violations from the last inspection that were not addressed. The person in charge must demonstrate active managerial control and conduct person in charge duties as required by WAC 246-215.
• The sausage gravy cooked the morning of inspection was cooling uncovered in the walk-in at 63 to 68 degrees. TCS foods have to be cooled at a 2-inch depth, uncovered until 41 degrees or below.
• Liquid egg was also being held too warm, at 50 degrees. TCS foods have to be cold held at 41 degrees or below.

Tumwater Chevron

7160 Capitol Blvd. SE, Tumwater

Grocery/Deli

Aug. 27: 20 red points; 10 blue points.

Comments:

• The person in charge did not demonstrate knowledge and did not perform the duties to maintain active managerial control.
• The thin-tip probe thermometer and unit thermometers were absent.
• No in-use sanitizer solution was prepared.
• Food contact surfaces were not easily clearable and were covered in tin foil and cardboard.
• Toxic substances were not being properly stored. Cleaning and mechanical chemicals were above food and food contact surfaces.

Boston Harbor Marina

312 73rd Ave. NE, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 29: 25 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Grilled onions were found at a depth of more than 2 inches and covered in the 2-door reach-in fridge without temperature verification. TCS foods have to be cooled at 2-inch depths and uncovered until 41 degrees or below.

7-Eleven #41884A

4044 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey

Grocery/Deli

Aug. 26: 20 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• Food worker cards were unavailable at the time of inspection.
• Inadequate handwashing facilities. Paper towels were absent.
• Improper cold holding of TCS foods. Milk in the cooler was greater than 41 degrees. TCS foods must be cold held at 41 degrees or below.
• The quat sanitizer measured less than 150 ppm and should be between 150 ppm and 400 ppm. If using chlorine, it should be 50 ppm to 100 ppm.

7-Eleven #18653C

6125 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 26: 25 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Chicken skewers in the hot case were found to be between 110 and 115 degrees. They must be hot held at 135 degrees or above.

Charley’s Grilled Subs

Capital Mall, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 25: 15 red points; 8 blue points.

Comments:

• No person in charge was present or available during the inspection.
• Improper cold holding of TCS food. Grilled onions were being held between 42 degrees and 45 degrees, sliced tomatoes and lettuce between 43 and 50 degrees. All TCS foods have to be kept at or below 41 degrees.
• Improper thawing of french fries. French fries from a manufacturer are blanched before frozen, making them a TCS food.
• The 3-compartment sink was improperly drained. Sinks such as 3-compartment and produce sinks have to be indirectly drained to prevent potential contamination of food.

Mi Pueblo Express

7839 Martin Way E., Unit 103, Commissary, Olympia

Mobile Food Unit

Aug. 26: 10 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• Improper cold holding of TCS foods in the 2-door cooler. Tripe was held at 47 degrees and chicken and pork tamales at 46 degrees. TCS foods must be cold held at 41 degrees or less.
• The in-use chlorine sanitizer solution concentration measured below 10 ppm. It must measure approximately 100 ppm.

1889 Prime Steakhouse

410 Fifth Ave. E., Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 26: 15 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Improper cold holding of TCS foods, which were greater than 41 degrees. TCS foods in cold holding have to be at or below 41 degrees.
• Improper consumer advisory. The disclosure was absent for items cooked to order or served raw on the menu.

Loyal Till the End Catering

4520 Intelco Loop SE, Building 4, Commissary, Lacey

Mobile Food Unit

Aug. 28: 10 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Improper cold holding temperatures of TCS foods. Sandwiches, cheese and hard boiled eggs were being held at 52 to 53 degrees. TCS foods have to be cold held at 41 degrees or less.

Original House of Donuts

3813 Pacific Ave. SE, Olympia

Bakery

Aug. 28: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• One food worker card was expired.

Pit Stop

1734 Boulevard Road SE, Olympia

Grocery Stores & Confectioneries

Aug. 28: 5 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Food worker cards were not provided.

Chipotle Mexican Grill

1177 Marvin Road NE, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 27: 0 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• The warewashing machine did not provide any chlorine sanitizer in its final rinse. The establishment had to switch to manually sanitizing all utensils and equipment in the 3-compartment sink.

Cutters Point Coffee

5831 Lacey Blvd, Suite A, Lacey

Coffee Shop

Aug. 27: 0 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• The in-use chlorine sanitizer solution concentration measured below 10 ppm. It must measure approximately 100 ppm.

Samayra Coffee Co.

1500 Cooper Point Road SW, Suite 630, Olympia

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 26: 0 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• The in-use sanitizer chlorine solution measured greater than 200 ppm. It must measure approximately 100 ppm.

Olympic Crest Coffee Roasters

4211 Pacific Ave. SE, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 26: 5 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• One food worker card was expired.
• The in-use sanitizer chlorine solution concentration measured less than 10 ppm. It must measure approximately 100 ppm.

Chambers Center Chevron

5700 Ruddell Road SE, Lacey

Deli, Grocery Stores & Confectioneries

Aug. 26: 5 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• Food worker cards were not available at the time of inspection.
• Quat sanitizer test strips were not available at the time of inspection.

Pints Barn

114 East E St., Tumwater

Food Service Establishment and Drinking Establishment

Aug. 25: 10 red points; 0 blue points.

Comments:

• Invalid food worker cards, with multiple from an unapproved site.
• Improper cold holding of TCS foods. TCS foods must be cold held at or below 41 degrees.

New York Vinny’s Pizza

8205 Martin Way East, Lacey

Food Service Establishment

Aug. 25: 5 red points; 5 blue points.

Comments:

• A Certified Food Protection Manager was not on staff.
• Test trips for the non-quat, non-chlorine sanitizer were unavailable.

No violations

Gull Harbor Mercantile. 4932 Boston Harbor Road, Olympia. Grocery/Deli. Aug. 28.

Dirty Dave’s Gay 90’s Pizza Parlor. 3939 Martin Way E., Olympia. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 28.

AFC Sushi at Safeway #1407. 701 Trosper Road SW, Tumwater. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 28.

Hash. 1807 Harrison Ave. NW, Olympia. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 28.

Arco AM/PM #7035. 2601 Yelm Highway SE, Olympia. Food Establishment/ Gas Station. Aug. 28.

Brewery City Pizza West Olympia. 2705 Limited Lane NW, Olympia. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 28.

Zittel’s Marina. 9144 Gallea St. NE, Olympia. Grocery Stores & Confectioneries. Aug. 26.

Stack 571 Burger & Whiskey Bar. 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 25.

777ish Cookie Desserts. 625 Black Lake Blvd. SW, Olympia. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 25.

Pints & Quarts Ale House. 1230 College St. SE, Lacey. Food Service Establishment. Aug. 25.