Correction: An earlier version listed Turks Head Cafe as out of compliance, it should have read Turks Head Cart.

At first, I thought this would be an easy month. Then I got to the 19380. Fourteen establishments were out of compliance with the Chester County Health Department at the end of January including one that let an employee handle money and then food without washing his hands, several downtown favorites, and one local church that can’t seem to do anything right. Also, Wasabi is out of compliance – again. Fortunately, this time it’s not our go-to location.

Here’s the full list: 

Capt’n Chucky’s Crab Cake Co. at the Amish Market, 1165 Wilmington Pk., out, 5 violations including an employee handling money and then food without washing his hands, and another with bandaids on her hand and no gloves. Also, bacon-wrapped scallops and Humpty Dumplings Take Homies without ingredient lists on the packaging. 

J&R’s Bakery at the Amish Market, 1165 Wilmington Pk., out, 5 violations including an employee failing to wash her hands for a full 20 seconds, employees eating in the food prep area, and the floors in the back in need of a good cleaning. 

Wasabi II, 1375 Dilworthtown Crossing, out, 6 violations including dirty knives, napkins covering food, sushi-grade tuna being improperly thawed, and walls, floors, and the dishwasher exterior in need of cleaning.  

Greystone Oyster Bar, 7-11 N. Church St. out, 14 violations including raw animal products stored above ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in and beer coolers, and foods including clams, raw shrimp, and various mayonnaise-based sauces held at temps above the required 41 deg. All items were voluntarily discarded. Also, clean linens were stored directly on the floor (they were in bags) and an ice machine, slicer, and can opener were observed with food residue on them. “All ice in use was disposed of and the machine was cleaned immediately,” the report reads. 

Wendy’s, 700 E. Gay St., out, 1 violation. “The mechanical dishwasher is out of order and thus not in use,” the report reads. It also notes there have been no known attempts to repair it. Kind of makes you wonder how things are getting cleaned over there at Wendy’s, doesn’t it? 

Pennwood Elementary, 1470 Johnny’s Way, out, 3 violations including an employee eating in the kitchen area and hot water not getting to either the equipment faucet or the handwashing sink. 

Jersey Mike’s Subs, 323 E. Gay St., out, 6 violations including a walk-in cooler with a door that won’t close and a walk-in freezer with a leak. It’s probably no surprise then that frozen foods were observed covered in ice. Also, a handwash sink was being used for prep work; there was a deli case in need of a “thorough cleaning;” and the walls, ceilings, and light fixtures were covered in dust. 

Turks Head Cart, Church St., out, 3 violations including employees not washing their hands with soap and a hand wash sink with no hot water. 

Atexquita Mexican Restaurant, 237 E. Gay St.. out, 11 violations including cooked items stored in the walk-in cooler uncovered, ready-to-eat foods being stored without date markings, rusting storage racks, and walls and racks of the walk-in cooler still in need of cleaning. This is a follow-up inspection.

Oriental Pearl Restaurant, 1550 Paoli Pike, out, 4 violations including raw chicken and shrimp combined before cooking, raw fish stored above ready-to-eat foods in the sushi cooler and on the cook line prep top. Also, house-made sauces were not date-marked. This is a follow-up inspection.

St. Agnes Elementary School, 211 W. Gay St., out, 7 violations including not having a food probe thermometer, sanitizer test strips, or soap at the handwash sink. Also, there is no certified Food Manager on staff.  

St. Agnes Parish Center, 233 W. Gay St., out, 6 violations including a missing food probe thermometer, no sanitizer test strips as required, and no paper towels in the paper towel holder. Also, there is no certified Food Manager on staff.  

The Social Lounge, 117 E. Gay St., out, 12 violations, including an employee garnishing the poutine with bare hands, eggs stored above raw beef, raw chicken kept next to cooked foods, and wiping cloths in “extremely unclean” condition. Staff was also told to clean the storage shelves, bar coolers, walk-in beer cooler, floor, soda gun holders, handwash sink, and behind the cooking equipment. 

Carlino’s Specialty Foods and Catering, 128 W. Market St., out, 8 violations including cheeses not being properly chilled, tomato pies held at room temperature with no note of for how long, missing thermometers, bakery knives and utensils stored dirty, and a bakery walk-in cooler in need of a good once over. This is a follow-up inspection.

ReMed Recover Centers, 934 N. Chester Rd., out, 9 violations including food containers stored directly on the floor, missing sanitizer test strips and testing kit, a utensil drawer in need of cleaning, and no sign posted to remind employees to wash their hands. This is an opening inspection so hopefully they’ll get things squared away before the big day. 

Don’t worry, it’s not all bad news. Back in compliance are: The Pear, Bagel Bistro, Ground Provisions (just in time for another big honor), Manje Caribbean Cuisine, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, The Mediterranean, LA Fitness’s Apex Fitness Bar, Iron Hill, and Giant. And fellow Husky parents, if you’ve been wondering, Hillsdale is finally back in compliance. 

For more details and a complete list of reports, go to the PA Food Safety website and search by location.

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Originally published on Feb. 7, 2025

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