Eat safe, read the inspection reports

November and December inspections show mixed results for area food establishments.

By Will Collette

This is the fifth in an on-going series of Progressive Charlestown articles that track how well local food establishments do when inspectors swoop in with white gloves, thermometers and magnifying glasses. I’ve tried to keep up with all 93 establishments listed for the 02813 zip code in the Health Department database, plus a sampling of other popular spots around the area. This article covers inspections done in November and December 2013.

You can use this database to check any business anywhere in Rhode Island that serves or sells food. I would urge you to use your own good judgment and common sense when evaluating your choice of where to spend your food money. I generally have lower expectations for places that offer cheap eats than I do for fancy joints with high prices, though you’d be surprised at how some high-priced establishments have had alarming inspection results. You’ll see one prime example in this article.

In this article, I cover:

Charlestown:

• Charlestown Rathskeller
• Downey Weaver Post #34
• General Stanton Inn
• Kingston Pizza

Westerly (which has an amazing 309 food establishments):

• Dunn’s Corner Pizza
• Haversham
• Ocean House
• Wal-Mart

Wakefield:

• Belmont Marketplace
• Cap’n Jacks
• Hanson’s Pub
• Kabuki

The venerable Charlestown Rathskeller underwent total renovation to reopen after years of absence from the local food scene only a few months ago, but from the get-go, they’ve had serious sanitation problems. Their famed French fries were being produced in an unclean way, according to Health Department inspectors who dinged the Rathskeller with nine violations in August and three more in September. In December, they were hit with one violation for unsafe thawing of beef. Better, but still not right.

The Downey-Weaver Post makes its first appearance in my reviews after their December 16 inspection turned up eight pretty serious health concerns over contamination and sanitation. If you visit, you may want to stick to beer and shots until they get a clean inspection report.

The General Stanton Inn received a clean inspection report after Janice Falone’s major renovations of Charlestown’s historic center prior to selling the Inn. The restaurant is expected to reopen when Janice closes the deal with the new owners.

Kingston Pizza had a very bad year in 2012 with four visits from the Health Department inspectors that yielded 37 violations, most of them of the type that would make me nervous. However, they only had one inspection in 2013, but that inspection showed little improvement. On November 26, inspectors wrote them up for eight more violations for sanitation and contamination.

In Westerly, neighborhood favorite Dunn’s Corner Pizza was inspected the same day as Kingston Pizza, but with very different results. A couple of minor violations for facilities issues.

The Haversham’s most recent inspection on December 13 drew three violations, but they seemed to me like serious food safety issues. You should read the report (below) and judge for yourself. This came just two weeks after the clean inspection Haversham’s had on November 30.

I decided to check out the Ocean House’s record because their restaurant, the Seasons, just won a four-diamond rating from AAA for the fifth year in a row. They’re also one of the fanciest and most expensive restaurants in our area, so you’d expand their record to be squeaky clean. Well, not quite. They had two recent inspections. The first, on November 13, was clean.

The second, on December 9 yielded three violations. One was for barehanded handling of food. The second was for rabbit and beef that was unsourced – i.e. the Health Department didn’t know where it came from, and they’re supposed to get the invoices. The third was issued when the inspector found a whole lot of frozen food that had been vacuum packed by Ocean House without first filing a HACCP (safety) plan and getting Health Department. These violations struck me as a peculiar lapse from such a classy establishment.

Wal-Mart had a recent inspection. They were dinged for a food safety problem in their deli freezer. I’d hate to think any Progressive Charlestown reader would shop at a corporate predator like Wal-Mart.

In Wakefield, shoppers at the newly renovated Belmont Marketplace, which is one of the favorite haunts of new CCA Party appointee to the Charlestown Zoning Board Cliff Vanover, should take note. During a January 2 inspection, Belmont was cited for seven Health Department violations that looked pretty serious to me.

Two popular Wakefield restaurants, Cap’n Jack’s and Hanson’s Pub, recently had Health Department inspections. Both of them won clean reports. Hanson’s had a disastrous inspection on October 24 with 16 serious violations, but now they’ve had two clean inspections in a row.

Finally, there’s Kabuki. This used to be a treat – a terrific but very expensive sushi and Japanese cuisine restaurant that was perfect for a celebratory dinner. But as I reported in my last health inspection article, Kabuki had back-to-back inspections on October 21 and 22 and drew a total of 24 violations, most of the type that you don’t want to see in a sushi joint, and certainly not at their prices.

Kabuki’s owners apparently don’t have the same learning curve as Hanson’s Pub because on December 9, they drew 13 more of the kinds of violations that would make me reluctant to eat their sushi. People who know me, know that I’ll eat just about anything.

It’s really too bad but there’s no excuse. For a similar kind of high-end sushi experience, you could try Shogun in South County Commons which has had clean inspection reports. But for great sushi at great prices – plus clean Health Department inspection reports – my favorite is the New China Pavilion in Westerly.

NOTE: this article only covers those establishments inspected in November and December. If you don’t see one of the spots mentioned in my earlier articles, that means they weren’t inspected during this period.

For your convenience, I have cut-and-pasted the inspection reports cited in this article below. Again, you can do your own easy research using the Health Department’s database. Click here.

CHARLESTOWN RATHSKELLER TAVERN  489 A OLD COACH RD CHARLESTOWN, RI 02813 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/16/2013
# Violation 33 Approved thawing methods used Inspector Comments Beef was observed thawing at room temperature. Potentially hazardous foods must be thawed in one of the following ways: under refrigeration (41 degrees F or less), completely submerged under running water, as part of the cooking process, or in the microwave if cooked immediately after thawing.
DOWNEY-WEAVER POST NO 34 20 WHIPPLE AVENUE CHARLESTOWN, RI 02813 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 11/26/2013
# Violation 8 Adequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible Inspector Comments The bar down stair and upstairs does not have a handsink that is conveniently located and/or readily accessible. Handsinks must be located to allow convenient use by employees in food preparation, food dispensing and warewashing areas. 9 Food obtained from approved source Inspector Comments Pickled eggs being sold at the bar are from an unknown source. Disposal completed. 14 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized Inspector Comments The inside of the ice machine had an accumulation of food and debris. The food contact surfaces of equipment must be clean to sight and touch. 34 Thermometers provided & accurate Inspector Comments Thermometers are lacking in the refrigeration unit(s). Cold holding equipment used for potentially hazardous food must have at least one thermometer that is located to allow easy viewing of the temperature display. 37 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display Inspector Comments Food and serving equipment are stored on the floor in upstairs and downstairs storage areas. Food must be stored at least 6 inches above the floor. 45 Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used Inspector Comments Beverage tubing was observed in contact with ice used for drinks at the bar. Beverage tubing and cold plate beverage cooling devices must not be installed in contact with stored ice. 52 Garbage & refuse properly disposed: facilities maintained Inspector Comments The outside dumpster is not covered. Receptacles and waste handling units for refuse, recyclables and returnables shall be kept covered. 53 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean Inspector Comments Floor tiles are missing in the bar upstairs. Hole in upstairs women's bathroom wall must be repaired.
GENERAL JOSEPH STANTON INN 4115 AB OLD POST ROAD CHARLESTOWN, RI 02813 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/16/2013
No violations were marked out on this inspection.
KINGSTON PIZZA OF CHARLESTOWN INC 4159 OLD POST ROAD CHARLESTOWN, RI 02813 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 11/26/2013
# Violation 14 Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized Inspector Comments The deli slicer and can opener had an accumulation of food and debris. The food contact surfaces of equipment must be clean to sight and touch. 26 Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used Inspector Comments Working containers, used for storing chemicals taken from bulk supplies were not marked with the common name of the chemical. 37 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display Inspector Comments Large containers of cheese were not covered during storage. Bottled beverages are stored on the floor in the storage area. Food must be stored at least 6 inches above the floor. 37 Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display Inspector Comments Employee using trash can as table for prep pan. 43 Single-use & single-service articles: properly stored & used Inspector Comments Single service items such as to-go containers and utensils were not stored to protect the food/lip contact surface. 45 Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used Inspector Comments Door to the basement is in poor repair. 47 Non-food contact surfaces clean Inspector Comments The nonfood-contact surfaces of the racks and fans in the walk-in; the inside of the refrigerator; the gaskets and handles of units; have an accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue and other debris.
DUNNS CORNER PIZZA 271 POST ROAD WESTERLY, RI 02891 Facility Type: Seats - Less than 50 Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 11/26/2013
# Violation 45 Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used Inspector Comments Wood is used in the construction of board attached to the wall at the 3 bay sink in the food prep area. Non food contact surfaces of equipment that are exposed to splash, spillage or other food soiling or that require frequent cleaning must be constructed of a nonabsorbent and smooth material. 53 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean Inspector Comments The ceiling in the walk-in area has an accumulation of dust. The physical facilities shall be cleaned as often as necessary to keep them clean.
BELMONT MARKET PLACE 608 KINGSTOWN ROAD SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02879 Facility Type: Cash Registers - 6 or more Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 01/02/2014
# Violation 13 Food separated & protected Inspector Comments Raw eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods (cooked eggs) in the refrigerator. Raw animal foods must be separated from raw ready-to-eat food such as vegetables during storage. 19 Proper hot holding temperatures Inspector Comments Beef, Meatballs, and other PHF was held between 117 and 121 degrees. Potentially hazardous food must be maintained at 135 degrees F or above except during preparation, cooking or cooling. Food was recently added to hot hold unit, corrective actions taken. 26 Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used Inspector Comments Working containers, used for storing chemicals taken from bulk supplies were not marked with the common name of the chemical. 45 Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used Inspector Comments The plumbing to the 3 bay sink near dish machine located in the prepared foods area was not in good repair. Plumber has already been called. 46 Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips Inspector Comments The facility is lacking test strips to measure the concentration of the quaternary sanitizing solution for the 3 bay sinks. 49 Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices Inspector Comments The pre-flush spray hose at the 3 bay sink in the prepared foods sextion is hanging below the flood rim. A plumbing system shall be installed to prevent backflow of a liquid or gas contaminant into the water supply by providing an air gap or installing an approved backflow prevention device. 53 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean Inspector Comments The floor in the food prep area near the rotisserie is in poor repair. The physical facilites must be maintained in good repair.
CAPN JACKS RESTAURANT 706 SUCCOTASH ROAD SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02879 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/19/2013
No violations were marked out on this inspection.
HANSON'S PUB 210 SALT POND ROAD SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02879 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/05/2013
No violations were marked out on this inspection.
KABUKI 91 OLD TOWER ROAD SOUTH KINGSTOWN, RI 02879 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/09/2013
# Violation 4 Proper eating, tasting, drinking or tobacco use Inspector Comments An open employee's beverage container was observed in a food preparation area. Employees shall not drink from open beverage containers in order to prevent contamination of their hands, the container and exposed food. 7 No bare hand contact with ready to eat (RTE) foods. Inspector Comments An employee was observed touching ready to eat food (Avocados for sushi)with bare hands. Food employess must not touch exposed, ready-to-eat food with their bare hands and shall use suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, single use gloves or dispensing equipment. Disposal completed. 8 Adequate handwashing facilities supplied and accessible Inspector Comments The handsink at the bar was lacking paper towels. 12 Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction Inspector Comments Raw fresh fish is used to prepare sushi. Raw fish that may contain parasites must be frozen before service or sale in a ready-to-eat form (-4 degrees F or below for 7 days, -31 degrees F or below for 15 hours or -31 degrees F or below until solid and then stored at -20 F or below for 24 hours) before service. Proof of parasite destruction required for fish to be served raw from Ocean Pacific Seafood Group. 13 Food separated & protected Inspector Comments Raw tuna was stored above ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in refrigerator such as vegetables. Raw animal foods must be separated from raw ready-to-eat food such as vegetables during storage. 13 Food separated & protected Inspector Comments Raw animal foods were not stored properly to prevent cross-contamination. Except when combined as ingredients, different types of raw animal foods must be separated from each other during storage by using separate equipment or arrranging each type of food in equipment so that cross contamination of one type with another is prevented. Raw chicken was stored above raw eggs. 19 Proper hot holding temperatures Inspector Comments Cooked brown rice was held at 116 degrees. Potentially hazardous food must be maintained at 135 degrees F or above except during preparation, cooking or cooling. Disposal completed. 21 Proper date marking & disposition Inspector Comments Prepared vegetables and meats located in the refrigerator, were not marked with the date of preparation. Ready-to-eat potentially hazardous food , prepared in the establishment and held for more than 24 hours, must be marked with the date of preparation. 22 Time as a public health control: procedures & records Inspector Comments Rice logs are not maintained for sushi rice which is held out of temperature at 70*F. 23 Consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods Inspector Comments The consumer advisory provided does not disclose the foods on the menu that are raw or undercooked. Some items are asterisk indicating "*indicates there is no raw fish but may contain tobiko" Items with raw fish are not identified. 33 Approved thawing methods used Inspector Comments Fish was observed thawing on the counter. Potentially hazardous foods must be thawed in one of the following ways: under refrigeration (41 degrees F or less), completely submerged under running water, as part of the cooking process, or in the microwave if cooked immediately after thawing. Package indicates vacuum package must be broken before thawing. COS 39 Wiping cloths: properly used & stored Inspector Comments Wet wiping cloths are not stored in a chemical sanitizer between uses. Wet wiping cloths must be stored in a chemical sanitizer at the appropriate concentration. 41 In-use utensils: properly stored Inspector Comments (Bowls) are being used as scoops in containers of flour, rice, and sugar. Utensils used to dispense non-potentially hazardous foods such as sugar and flour must be stored in the food item with their handles above the top of the food within the container. The (ice scoop) is stored on an unclean surface (top of ice machine) between uses. During pauses in food preparation, utensils must be stored on a clean surface or in a clean protected location.
THE HAVERSHAM 336 POST ROAD WESTERLY, RI 02891 Facility Type: Caterer or Commissary Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/13/2013
# Violation 12 Required records available: shellstock tags, parasite destruction Inspector Comments Shellstock located in the walk-in cooler did not have the proper identification tags attached. Shellstock tags must remain attached to the container in which the shellstock are received until the container is empty. 23 Consumer advisory posted for raw or undercooked foods Inspector Comments The consumer advisory provided does not disclose the foods on the menu that are raw or undercooked. 45 Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used Inspector Comments Food contact equipment(chopper blade) in poor repair and must be properly replaced. PIC has taken the blade out of service during inspection.
THE HAVERSHAM  336 POST ROAD WESTERLY, RI 02891 Facility Type: Caterer or Commissary Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 11/22/2013
No violations were marked out on this inspection.
OCEAN HOUSE  2 BLUFF AVENUE WESTERLY, RI 02891 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/11/2012
# Violation 7 No bare hand contact with ready to eat (RTE) foods. Inspector Comments An employee was observed touching ready to eat food cooked beets with bare hands. Food employees must not touch exposed, ready-to-eat food with their bare hands and shall use suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, single use gloves or dispensing equipment. Beets were disposed of. 9 Food obtained from approved source Inspector Comments Rabbit and ground beef was found in the freezer, it is unclear if the source is approved. Invoices for the last three months must be faxed to RIDOH for rabbit and beef. 27 Compliance with variance, specialized process & HACCP plan Inspector Comments Food was vacuum packed on the premises: beef, pork, vegetables, fruit puree, deli meats, were found in a walk-in freezer in the receiving area. These food items were vacuum packed without a HACCP plan or approval from RIDOH. Items found packaged in this facility using this process were disposed of.
OCEAN HOUSE  2 BLUFF AVENUE WESTERLY, RI 02891 Facility Type: Seats - 50 or More Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 11/13/2012
No violations were marked out on this inspection.
WAL-MART STORES EAST LP NO 1964 258 POST ROAD WESTERLY, RI 02891 Facility Type: Cash Registers - 6 or more Facility Status: Active Inspection Date: 12/10/2013
# Violation 53 Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean Inspector Comments Floor threshold of deli freezer is in poor repair(crack & missing tiles). This must be properly repaired. A serviced call was placed during inspection for repair.