Only two health inspections were released by Darien Health Department, with one restaurant getting a “C” rating, the worst in the town A-B-C ratings system, and the other receiving an “A”.
The inspections were done on Feb. 9 and Feb. 13.
Most Recent Inspection Results
Town Health Department ratings certificates are supposed to be displayed prominently, like this one at the Frosty Bear Cafe at Darien Library.
Here’s an alphabetical list of the most recently released health inspection results (an explanation for each part of the list, including links, is just below the list).
Keep in mind that a food-serving establishment with a history of good ratings may occasionally get a poor inspection rating, occasionally the best do, and every restaurant normally gets a few things wrong (an explanation of how this list is put together is immediately below it):
—Blue Wave Taco — 205 Post Road — Feb. 13 — Town Rating: C — State Score: 87 — Inspector’s Remarks: “Chicken in ROP [reduced oxygen packaging] bag at 130 degrees, rice at 108 [degrees] in ROP bag and expanded bag of beans in water not holding (unit set on low) *** large pot of water being used to re-thermalize product; small bain marie with large shredded cheese bags and other PHF [potentially hazardous foods]; held at 47 to 49 degrees; items stored in the hand sink; dish machine not sanitizing–empty and, when refilled and primed, still not sanitizing; multiple utensils stored unclean (scoops, ladles, juicer, knives); labeling violations–items not in original containers must be labeled; ice scoop handle stored in the ice; no test strips available for quat or bleach.” — Inspector’s Comments: “Using cell phoen to text and then put on gloves to make order–no hand washing; ROP [reduced oxygen packaging] of all foods coming from commissary kitchen in Greenwich, per employees, reheating-thermalizing bags on-site.”
Image from Darien Health Dept. website
Part of the inspection report for Blue Wave Taco on Feb. 13, 2018.
—Koko’s Gelato & Cafe — 841 Post Road — Feb. 9 — Town Rating: A — State Score: 98
Dates link to the food establishment’s inspection report referenced here (when available, sometimes it takes a while to get posted online), and Darien’s own A/B/C ratings link to a Web page showing several of the restaurant’s recent inspection ratings.
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See also:
- Our previous article showing restaurant inspection ratings (Feb. 9)
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For restaurants and other food-serving establishments rated “C,” and for some others of interest to the public (like schools) additional information is given. When we provide that information here, then words within brackets (“[ ]”) have been added for clarity by Darienite.com; semicolons (“;”) separate individual comments by the inspectors. Each comment separated by semicolons is about a particular violation that triggers a deduction of one or more points from a perfect state score of 100.
How Darien’s Food-Serving Places Are Rated
Restaurants in town are rated under the Darien Health Department’s own A/B/C ratings system. Health inspectors also use the state health code regulations to score restaurants, with a perfect score set at 100, and demerits (of 1 to 4 points each) for various code violations.
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The Darien system takes into account problems that are ongoing, so a restaurant scoring higher than others on the state scale may actually get a lower score on the Darien scale.
The “A”, “B” and “C” letter grades a restaurant gets in its last inspection will be prominent on these certificates, which must be posted where customers can see them, and you can use your phone and the “QR” code to the right of the letter grade to get to the department’s ratings website for more information.
You can find the past several inspection ratings under the Darien ratings system for food-serving establishments along with copies of inspection reports, including state health code scores on this website.
Any establishment actually deemed unsafe can be closed by the town Health Department until violations are fixed. Town Health Director David Knauf says that has never happened in the time he’s been with the department.