Posted on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 3:25 p.m.
Restaurant inspections in Washtenaw County for December 2011
By Washtenaw County Public Health
Photo by Flickr user SMcGarnigle.
Why do we inspect?
Inspections help to ensure that safe food is served to the public. Sanitarians (otherwise known as health inspectors) use the Michigan Food Law of 2000 and the 2005 FDA Food Code when doing the inspections and are looking for critical and non-critical food safety violations.
How frequent are inspections?
Routine inspections take place twice per year, or once per year if the business is only open seasonally. Routine inspections are unannounced. Environmental Health will initiate additional inspections if a foodborne illness or other substantial complaint is reported.
Each inspection is a snapshot in time, and conditions found at the restaurant are not necessarily the conditions that could be found in the restaurant at other times. Sanitarians ask many questions about the menu, operations and procedures to get the best possible idea of the day-to-day conditions of the restaurant.
Critical vs. non-critical violations
Sanitarians are looking for critical and non-critical violations during inspections. Critical violations can lead directly to food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately. Examples of critical violations include an employee not washing hands before preparing food, storing food at improper temperatures and a dish machine not properly sanitizing dishes.
Non-critical violations may not directly lead to food-borne illness but are important to the overall safety and sanitation of the facility. Non-critical violations must be corrected within 90 days of the routine inspection and include items such as employees not wearing hats or hairnets, not covering food during storage and dirty floors.
What if I have a complaint?
Environmental Health responds to general restaurant complaints as well as food-borne illness complaints. Please call our office at 734-222-3800 to file a complaint or to report a suspected food-borne illness.
December Inspections:
| Inspection Summary Report | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Address | City | Inspection Date | Critical | Non Crit. |
| A.D.P. NETWORK | 175 JACKSON PLAZA | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| ABE'S CONEY ISLAND RESTAURANT | 402 W. MICHIGAN AVENUE | YPSILANTI | 12/02/2011 | 2 | 5 |
| ALPHA CONEY ISLAND | 7049 DEXTER-ANN ARBOR ROAD | DEXTER | 12/05/2011 | 4 | 6 |
| AMERICAN LEGION POST 557 | 8225 DEXTER-CHELSEA | DEXTER | 12/20/2011 | 2 | 4 |
| AMER'S | 312 S. STATE STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/08/2011 | 3 | 11 |
| ANGEL FOOD CATERING | 6 W. MICHIGAN AVENUE | YPSILANTI | 12/08/2011 | 3 | 7 |
| ANN ARBOR EAGLE #2154 | 7881 JACKSON RD | ANN ARBOR | 12/05/2011 | 1 | 2 |
| ANN ARBOR ELKS LODGE #325 | 4420 JACKSON ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/08/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| ANN ARBOR PIZZA AND SUB'S | 2111 PACKARD, SUITE D | ANN ARBOR | 12/08/2011 | 5 | 6 |
| ARBY'S ROAST BEEF # 538 | 3021 WASHTENAW | ANN ARBOR | 12/13/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| ARBY'S ROAST BEEF #615 | 3015 WASHTENAW | YPSILANTI | 12/06/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| ASIAN LEGEND INC | 516 E. WILLIAM | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 3 | 5 |
| AUT BAR | 315 BRAUN COURT | ANN ARBOR | 12/13/2011 | 1 | 7 |
| BASKIN ROBBINS | 2731 PLYMOUTH ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/02/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| BEARCLAW COFFEE CO. (CHELSEA) | 12855 EAST OLD US. 12 #8 | CHELSEA | 12/29/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| BIG BOY | 3611 PLYMOUTH ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/15/2011 | 1 | 4 |
| BIG BOY REATAURANT #386 | 497 N. ZEEB RD. | ANN ARBOR | 12/14/2011 | 0 | 8 |
| BIGGBY COFFEE | 3354 WASHTENAW AVE | ANN ARBOR | 12/01/2011 | 1 | 5 |
| BIGGBY COFFEE STORE 291 (ATOS, LLC) | 1171 S. MAIN ST. STE # 1 | CHELSEA | 12/02/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| BLUE NILE | 221 E. WASHINGTON | ANN ARBOR | 12/01/2011 | 2 | 5 |
| BOBBER DOWN | 8475 MAIN STREET | WHITMORE LAKE | 12/28/2011 | 4 | 3 |
| BROWN JUG RESTAURANT | 1204 S. UNIVERSITY | ANN ARBOR | 12/01/2011 | 2 | 2 |
| BRUEGGER'S BAGEL BAKERY | 2260 S. MAIN STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/28/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| CADY'S GRILL | 36 E. CROSS STREET | YPSILANTI | 12/21/2011 | 0 | 5 |
| CAFE AMBROSIA | 326 MAYNARD | ANN ARBOR | 12/12/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| CAFE JAPON INC | 113 E. LIBERTY ST. | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 0 | 10 |
| CAFE MARIE | 1759 PLYMOUTH ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/05/2011 | 1 | 7 |
| CHELSEA GRILL | 1120 S. MAIN STREET | CHELSEA | 12/05/2011 | 0 | 5 |
| CHINA CHEF RESTAURANT | 2870 WASHTENAW | YPSILANTI | 12/07/2011 | 8 | 12 |
| CHRISTIAN'S CATERING | 45 TOLAN | MILAN | 12/16/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| CITY'S PIZZA & SUBS | 3148 PACKARD | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| CONTEMPO SALON AND CAFE | 2699 OAK VALLEY DR | ANN ARBOR | 12/21/2011 | 1 | 3 |
| COTTAGE INN PIZZA | 512 E. WILLIAM | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 1 | 6 |
| COTTAGE INN PIZZA | 244 JOE HALL | YPSILANTI | 12/01/2011 | 1 | 9 |
| CUPPY'S BEST SOULFUL DELI | 1396 E. MICHIGAN AVENUE | YPSILANTI | 12/16/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| DEBAJO DEL SOL | 208 W. LIBERTY | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| EMMANUAL LUTHERAN CHURCH | 201 N. RIVER STREET | YPSILANTI | 12/13/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| ETCS AT ANN ARBOR CHURCH OF CHRIST | 2500 S. MAIN ST. | ANN ARBOR | 12/02/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| ETCS SENIOR NUTRITION PROGRAM | 775 S. MAIN STREET | CHELSEA | 12/13/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| FAIRFAX MANOR | 1900 PROSPECT ROAD | YPSILANTI | 12/22/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| FAIRFAX MANOR | 8100 GEDDES ROAD | YPSILANTI | 12/22/2011 | 1 | 0 |
| FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | 300 N. WASHINGTON | YPSILANTI | 12/13/2011 | 1 | 3 |
| Inspection Summary Report | |||||
| Establishment | Address | City | Inspection Date | Critical | Non Crit. |
| FLAT TOP GRILL | 3275 WASHTENAW AVE | ANN ARBOR | 12/19/2011 | 1 | 9 |
| FOOD GATHERS - OZONE DROP IN | 102 N. HAMILTON | YPSILANTI | 12/22/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| FRASER'S PUB | 2045 PACKARD | ANN ARBOR | 12/19/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| GODAIKO JAPANESE RESTAURANT | 3105 OAK VALLEY DRIVE | ANN ARBOR | 12/08/2011 | 2 | 5 |
| GOLDEN FOX CLUBHOUSE | 8500 N. TERRITORIAL ROAD | PLYMOUTH | 12/14/2011 | 2 | 4 |
| GOOD TIME CHARLEYS | 1140 S. UNIVERSITY | ANN ARBOR | 12/09/2011 | 3 | 13 |
| GOOGLE-CONTINENTAL DINING SERVICES | 401 E. LIBERTY ST | ANN ARBOR | 12/01/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| GOURMET CHOCOLATE CAFE | 312 N. MAIN STREET | CHELSEA | 12/09/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| GOURMET GARDEN | 2255 W. STADIUM BLVD | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 5 | 4 |
| HOLIDAY INN NORTH GUY HOLLERIN | 3600 PLYMOUTH ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/27/2011 | 6 | 5 |
| HOLIDAY'S RESTAURANT | 2080 W. STADIUM BLVD | ANN ARBOR | 12/22/2011 | 1 | 3 |
| HUNGRY HOWIE'S | 215 S. FORD BLVD | YPSILANTI | 12/15/2011 | 3 | 5 |
| HUNGRY HOWIE'S/MILAN PIZZA | 6 W. MAIN STREET | MILAN | 12/02/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| HURON VALLEY TENNIS CLUB | 3235 CHERRY HILL/BOX | ANN ARBOR | 12/13/2011 | 1 | 1 |
| IHOP | 4221 ELLSWORTH RD | YPSILANTI | 12/01/2011 | 2 | 10 |
| JIMMY JOHN'S | 929 E. ANN STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/28/2011 | 1 | 1 |
| JIMMY JOHN'S GOURMENT SANDWICHES | 342 S. STATE STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/12/2011 | 2 | 3 |
| JOE'S JAVA | 5333 MCAULEY DR | YPSILANTI | 12/12/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| KFC #322061 | 2245 W. STADIUM BLVD. | ANN ARBOR | 12/05/2011 | 1 | 5 |
| LA PITA FRESH | 529 E. LIBERTY | ANN ARBOR | 12/13/2011 | 2 | 10 |
| LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA | 1783 WASHTENAW | YPSILANTI | 12/06/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| LITTLE CAESAR'S PIZZA TREAT | 1944 W. STADIUM BLVD | ANN ARBOR | 12/19/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| MAC'S IN SALINE LLC | 104 E. MICHIGAN AVENUE | SALINE | 12/06/2011 | 2 | 10 |
| MANCHESTER ATHLETIC BOOSTER - GYM | 20500 DUTCH DR. | MANCHESTER | 12/02/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| MANCINO'S PIZZA & GRINDERS OF SCIO | 355 S. ZEEB RD. | ANN ARBOR | 12/16/2011 | 1 | 0 |
| MARY'S FABULOUS CHICKEN | 3220 PACKARD | ANN ARBOR | 12/19/2011 | 3 | 1 |
| MASCO - STERLING SERVICES | 4600 ARROWHEAD DRIVE | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| McDONALD'S #10950 | 2310 W. STADIUM BLVD | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 1 | 9 |
| McDONALD'S #13841 | 3001 LOHR ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/02/2011 | 1 | 8 |
| MESSIAS TEMPLE CHURCH | 200 HARRIET STREET | YPSILANTI | 12/21/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| MICHIGAN COMMUNITY THEATER | 603 E. LIBERTY | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| MILAN CONEY ISLAND & RESTAURANT | 1152 DEXTER | MILAN | 12/16/2011 | 1 | 7 |
| MO MO TEA | 1213 S. UNIVERSITY | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 1 | 2 |
| MR. GREEK'S CONEY ISLAND | 215 S. STATE STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 3 | 11 |
| MR. PIZZA | 800 ECORSE ROAD | YPSILANTI | 12/15/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| MR. PIZZA | 1484 WASHTENAW | YPSILANTI | 12/15/2011 | 0 | 3 |
| NEW ZOO PLAY CAFE (THE) | 1834 WHITTAKER RD | YPSILANTI | 12/30/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| NICK'S ORIGINAL HOUSE OF PANCAKES | 3030 LOHR ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/19/2011 | 1 | 7 |
| NOODLES & COMPANY | 3601 WASHTENAW, SUITE A | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| NU WAVE FISH & CHICKEN | 1800 E. MICHIGAN AVENUE | YPSILANTI | 12/13/2011 | 0 | 3 |
| OLD TOWN TAVERN | 122 W. LIBERTY | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 3 | 6 |
| ORIENTAL EXPRESS | 707 PACKARD | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 2 | 7 |
| Inspection Summary Report | |||||
| Establishment | Address | City | Inspection Date | Critical | Non Crit. |
| PALIO'S/QUALITY BAR | 347 S. MAIN STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 1 | 6 |
| PARADISE ASIAN CUISINE | 883 W. EISENHOWER PKWY | ANN ARBOR | 12/12/2011 | 2 | 3 |
| PIZZA HUT | 2160 RAWSONVILLE ROAD | BELLEVILLE | 12/07/2011 | 3 | 12 |
| POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS | 980 W. EISENHOWER (SUITE C) | ANN ARBOR | 12/29/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| POWERHOUSE GYM YPSILANTI | 1326 ANNA J. STEPP | YPSILANTI | 12/30/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| QUALITY 16 THEATRES | 3686 JACKSON ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/05/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| RAY'S RED HOT'S | 629 E. UNIVERSITY | ANN ARBOR | 12/20/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| RED HAWK | 316 S. STATE STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/12/2011 | 1 | 3 |
| ROD'S DINER | 812 S. STATE STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/05/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| ROGER MONK'S | 5400 PLYMOUTH ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 2 | 5 |
| RON'S ROADSIDE BBQ | 5850 PONTIAC TRAIL | ANN ARBOR | 12/01/2011 | 3 | 3 |
| ROY'S BURGER & BBQ | 25 WABASH STREET | MILAN | 12/13/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| SALVATION ARMY STAPLES FAMILY CENTER | 3660 PACKARD | ANN ARBOR | 12/02/2011 | 2 | 1 |
| SAVA'S | 216 S. STATE ST. | ANN ARBOR | 12/21/2011 | 0 | 7 |
| SEVENS (THE) | 777 EISENHOWER PKWY, SUITE 110 | ANN ARBOR | 12/05/2011 | 0 | 4 |
| SIMPLY SCRUMPTIOUS | 4765 JOY RD | DEXTER | 12/30/2011 | 0 | 3 |
| ST. JOSEPH PARISH HALL | 3470 DOVER STREET | DEXTER | 12/07/2011 | 1 | 1 |
| ST. MARY'S CHURCH | 210 W. MAIN STREET | MANCHESTER | 12/08/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| STARBUCKS COFFEE #2342 | 3597 WASHTENAW | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 0 | 1 |
| STARBUCKS COFFEE #2438 | 133 BRIARWOOD CIRCLE CTR COURT | ANN ARBOR | 12/15/2011 | 0 | 0 |
| STARBUCKS COFFEE #2482 | 1214 S. UNIVERSITY AVENUE | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| SUBWAY | 1156 DEXTER STREET | MILAN | 12/08/2011 | 1 | 0 |
| SUSHI CAFE | 854 BRIARWOOD CIRCLE | ANN ARBOR | 12/02/2011 | 1 | 1 |
| SWEETWATERS CAFE | 123 W. WASHINGTON | ANN ARBOR | 12/08/2011 | 2 | 5 |
| TAP ROOM | 201 W. MICHIGAN AVENUE | YPSILANTI | 12/21/2011 | 3 | 12 |
| TEMPTATIONS - RAINBOW HOSPITALITY | 2876 WASHTENAW | YPSILANTI | 12/06/2011 | 3 | 5 |
| TOTORO | 215 S. STATE STREET | ANN ARBOR | 12/08/2011 | 3 | 7 |
| VICTORY ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL | 1715 E. FOREST AVE. | YPSILANTI | 12/02/2011 | 2 | 1 |
| VILLAGE AT ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL | 5341 MCAULEY DRIVE | YPSILANTI | 12/07/2011 | 0 | 3 |
| VILLAGE TAP | 237 E. MAIN STREET | MANCHESTER | 12/08/2011 | 0 | 2 |
| WENDY'S | 73 S. ZEEB RD. | ANN ARBOR | 12/07/2011 | 1 | 3 |
| WENDY'S | 4020 CARPENTER ROAD | YPSILANTI | 12/09/2011 | 1 | 5 |
| WOLVERINE STATE BREWING COMPANY LLC | 2019 W. STADIUM BLVD. STE 103 | ANN ARBOR | 12/06/2011 | 1 | 8 |
| YPBOR YAN | 4905 WASHTENAW | ANN ARBOR | 12/19/2011 | 1 | 4 |
| YPSILANTI HIGH SCHOOL INDOOR CONCESSION | 2095 PACKARD | YPSILANTI | 12/06/2011 | 1 | 4 |
| YPSILANTI MARRIOTT | 1275 S. HURON | YPSILANTI | 12/02/2011 | 5 | 5 |
| ZINGERMAN'S ROADHOUSE | 2501 JACKSON ROAD | ANN ARBOR | 12/14/2011 | 4 | 11 |
| ZOU ZOU'S | 101 N. MAIN STREET | CHELSEA | 12/12/2011 | 1 | 8 |
Comments
Jimmy McNulty
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 2:26 p.m.
CADY'S GRILL 36 E. CROSS STREET YPSILANTI 12/21/2011 0 5 Did we just flashback 3 years ago to 2009? That's when this restaurant closed.
Kristen Schweighoefer
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 4:55 p.m.
The restaurant at 36 E. Cross Street is still licensed in our database as Cady's Grill. The name on the food license has not changed although the name on the outside of the facility has changed several times.
Freedom68
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 2:37 p.m.
That address is now listed as Woodruff's. I don't know anything about the place but is it owned by the same people as Cady's? Is it possible that it may be operating (DBA) as Cady's for liquor license purposes? Or did computer link the address to the name Cady's and nobody caught it?
Freedom68
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 1:37 p.m.
What the health department deems a critical violation in can many times be insignificant and realistically harmless to diners. An employee drinking soda, coffee or anything out of a cup without a lid is a critical violation. A waitress wearing earrings that dangle to low is a critical violation. A spray bottle of glass cleaner that isn't labeled "glass cleaner" is a critical violation. A waitress with fingernail polish on is a critical violation. So think to yourself- how is that employee drinking coffee out of a coffee cup a danger to you but the person sitting across from you drinking coffee not? Have you ever mistook a bottle of glass cleaner for hot sauce, ketchup or cooking oil? Do the servers earrings present a risk to your health anymore than the earrings your mother, sister, wife or whoever wears when preparing food for you? I can give countless other examples of how silly some of these "critical" violations can be. Without actually seeing what the actual violations are I wouldn't read too much into these. If a restaurant gets inspected in the middle of a busy shift the chances of them not being compliant with the never-ending list of rules the government imposes upon them is high. A good barometer (not a guarantee) of if a restaurant is safe is the cleanliness of the front of house. If the dining area of the restaurant is disgusting the you can probably assume the kitchen is worse. Oh... and how much the person in charge of the restaurant schmoozes with the inspector also plays a HUGE role in the restaurants final report. And yes, I manage a restaurant who happens to get very good inspection results.
DBH
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 5:37 a.m.
@Freedom68, thanks for the advice, but I generally actually do check the most recent Health Department inspection reports before I visit a restaurant, and recommend others do the same. Most recently, in deciding where to eat about a month ago, the reports for November 2011 were published that day ( <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/washtenaw-county-public-healths-environmental/">http://www.annarbor.com/entertainment/food-drink/washtenaw-county-public-healths-environmental/</a> ) and, based on their having no critical violations in November 2011, I decided to take my business to Mi Zarape in Saline. You can read my brief comment, if you choose, regarding my experience on that page. And, just to be clear, there is a difference between being smart and cautious, versus being obsessive, regarding food safety. I see no reason to be the latter; I am, though, going to continue to be the former, since it is my money I am giving to a restaurant. I can't eliminate all risk of food-borne illness, but I can minimize it. Why would I not want to?
Freedom68
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 5 a.m.
@DBH Thank you and remember we get inspected every six months so make sure you diligently keep up with the reports because you may have a reservation on a Friday and its quite possible that the day before that very same restaurant may have forgot to label the blue glass cleaner bottle resulting in a critical violation or may even have a waitress sipping coffee from a cup without a lid resulting in criticals that you might not be aware of! Stay Safe! This suckers out of here!
DBH
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:26 a.m.
@Freedom68, I truly hope you enjoy your meals and, for your sake, that you acquire no food-borne illnesses. There are many restaurants other than those you cited that have 0 critical violations and offer quality fare. I will not patronize those that do not respect their patrons enough to be diligent about avoiding most or all critical violations. But, hey, if that is something that interests you, either in offering to your patrons or in ingesting as a customer, knock yourself out. As the saying goes, there's one born every minute!
Freedom68
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:03 a.m.
@DBH Again you using broad generalizations and not answering any of my questions short of the finger nail polish scenario in which your possible reasoning is incorrect if you're (I'm) to believe what's been taught n the mandatory health department classes. The reasoning for no fingernail polish is because it can chip off and possibly land into food. I have no expertise regarding fingernail polish however I think I can reasonably deduce that colored polish is no more dangerous than clear polish, and if you know better please enlighten me. No, in reality these "critical" violations that I specifically point out are- in my 20 plus years experience- things that get put on the report if there is a less than interested manager or owner in what the inspector is explaining to them as the inspection is being done or if the restaurant has a less than favorable history of repeating the same violations, similar to how being humble towards a police officer when he's telling you what your violation is (I hope I'm not being libelous here) versus treating him as a nuisance- the police officer may not write you up for every little thing he finds. If you have repeated violations of the same nature, you're probably not getting a break from the cop. I hope you enjoy dining at your 43% establishments and enjoy the multiple Starbucks locations, Rods Diner, St. Mary Church (mmm... fish fry), Quality Theaters and the always delicious Powerhouse gym, Noodles and Co., and Sevas. I'll roll with my knowledge of the reality of dining versus the trivial things the health dept. sometimes deems "critical" and I'll enjoy Roger Monks, Zingermans, Blue Nile, Godaiko, Cafe Japon (10 non criticals!), Old Town and more! Bon Appetite!
DBH
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:34 a.m.
@Freedom68, I either have to accept that the Health Department (and the state in general) has formulated at least some violations to be critical because (contrary to their stated reason, i.e., that they can lead directly to food-borne illness) they have some other agenda in mind (and you would propose, what, that they just want to hassle the restaurants?) or, alternatively, that they actually do have sufficient and reasonable concern based on experience or knowledge of how food-borne illness is or can be transmitted to label the violations as critical. As I said in my earlier reply, I will go with the Health Department on this. If you want a possible scenario for one of the violations you seem to belittle, wearing colored nail polish (but not clear), I can imagine that a food worker would need to be able to see under their fingernails in order to know if some debris (and I will leave the possible nature of that debris to your imagination) might be lingering there, even after having washed their hands. Having colored nail polish would make that assessment more difficult. Is that not obvious to you? The fact that you manage a restaurant and seem oblivious to this as an obvious critical violation should concern your patrons and your boss, if you have one. Regarding the borderline libelous nature of your accusation that the outcome of the Health Department inspections depend to a HUGE degree on how much schmoozing the restaurant's PIC does with the inspector, if I were an inspector (and I am not) I would consider that a direct attack on my integrity, basically stating that my findings depend to a HUGE degree on how friendly the PIC is to me, rather than on my objective findings. Such an accusation is defamatory from where I stand. If your ethics would imply otherwise, well, they would be your ethics, not mine. I do not find them honorable.
Freedom68
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 8:19 p.m.
Also @DBH although Zingerman's Radhouse is really our competition, I have eaten there a few times and wouldn't hesitate to eat there again. Wish they were just a little cheaper!
Freedom68
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 8:06 p.m.
@DBH and what specifically about the examples I listed which all are "critical" violations would you worry would realistically lead to food borne illness. I take it that you wouldn't eat any food at home if the person who put it on the table was wearing anything other than stud earrings or if they were wearing nail polish (clear is ok, but not colored) or if someone was drinking an uncovered cup of coffee would it put the fear of e coli in you. Also please enlighten me on who I borderline libeled and exactly how many times you've been on the signing end of an inspection.
DBH
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 5:07 p.m.
"Critical violations can lead directly to food-borne illness and must be corrected immediately. Examples of critical violations include an employee not washing hands before preparing food, storing food at improper temperatures and a dish machine not properly sanitizing dishes." I think your inability to make the connection between what are labeled critical violations and how they can lead to food-borne illness is more a matter of either simple ignorance of how food-borne illness can be transmitted in a restaurant setting or a failure of imagination. I'll go with the Health Department on this one. And while I am not naive in terms of what effect friendly relations can have between the regulator and the regulated, to characterize the results of an inspection as being "HUGE"ly dependent on how friendly the inspector and the owner/operator are seems to me to be a statement that is borderline libelous.
grimmk
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 4:56 a.m.
My dad used to love Guy Hollerin's and I was never fond of it as a kid. I can't wait until he see that they have SIX CRITICAL and FIVE non crit. Damn. As Gordon Ramsey says - SHUT IT DOWN!!!
Sallyxyz
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 11:19 p.m.
The link in the article takes you to the Washtenaw county website with links for MI counties and the UM restaurants. However, the link for viewing reports on UM restaurants is broken. This information should be available and it is not.
DBH
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 5:11 p.m.
Sallyxyz, apparently the address for the link changed (I am guessing by UM) and it appears the Health Dept. was not notified after the change. As the previous reply notes, the link is now valid.
Washtenaw County Public Health
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
The link for the UM establishments should take you to this page: <a href="http://www.oseh.umich.edu/food/reports.shtml" rel='nofollow'>http://www.oseh.umich.edu/food/reports.shtml</a>. It is working.
DBH
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 1:03 a.m.
Yeah, it's not working for me either, even though it has been a workable link in the past. I will email the Health Dept. to see if they can repair the link or shed light on why it is not working.
DBH
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 5:04 p.m.
Although I don't know why, there may be an explanation for what often appears to be a disproportionately high number of violations found in Asian-based restaurants. Not a justification, mind you, simply an explanation. By my count, in this month's report over 43% of the eating establishments evaluated had 0 critical violations. All other things being equal, consider patronizing those restaurants with no critical violations. In my opinion, the absence of critical violations shows a significant measure of respect by the owners and operators for their patrons. In that regard, I must profess my disappointment at the violations (15 total, 4 critical) found at Zingerman's Roadhouse. Four critical violations is inexcusable, period. Adding in the eleven noncritical violations suggests to me that someone has dropped the ball over there big time.
Goober
Thu, Jan 26, 2012 : 12:20 p.m.
Zingermans?
Sallyxyz
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 11:21 p.m.
Zingerman's Roadhouse is an overpriced restaurant with very mediocre food. I'm not surprised to see this many violations. I would never eat there.
Emily
Wed, Jan 25, 2012 : 1:55 p.m.
Not that I've ever been been to China Chef before, but I will put on hand sanitizer next time I drive by.