Every year, the Chester County Health Department inspects every institution serving food to the public in the county. Last month, 11 West Chester-based institutions were out of compliance. This includes one confirmed complaint.

Nudy’s Cafe, 300 W. Market St., out, 13 violations, including an employee eating chips intended for a customer. “EHS asked him to stop,” the report reads. He then reached back in the bag and began plating chips for customers. The chips were discarded. Another food employee was later seen eating and returning to prep tasks without first washing his hands. Perhaps not surprisingly, employees reported not knowing who in the restaurant was in charge of food safety. Also, there were several foods in the warming area not being kept hot enough to avoid bacterial growth; several others in the bain-marie area, not being kept cold enough; and ground beef stored above ready-to-eat foods, risking contamination in the cooler. All compromised foods were voluntarily discarded.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard, 1302 Paoli Pike, out, 2 violations. Freddy’s was inspected after a customer complaint alleging poor sanitation and improper hot dog temperatures. The Chester County Health Department found the complaint valid, leading to the failed impromptu inspection.

Patelmo’s Pizzeria, 1530 Paoli Pike, out, 15 violations including cheese observed in the walk in cooler with mold, an employee handling pizza slices with bare hands, grilled chicken held at 90° F rather than 135° F as required, pizza prep top foods found at 53°F not 41°F, and two housemade sauces containing mayo left out at room temperature. These were discarded on site. Floors in the prep and storage areas, as well as beneath the dishwasher and warewashing sinks, were all in need of cleaning, as were the shelves in the walk-in cooler. Two cans of Raid were found and removed during the inspection. Update: A follow-up inspection was conducted on June 4. Most violations were corrected, but the pizza place remains out of compliance.

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