Restaurant Inspections: Ledo Pizza and Su Pollo

From Dec. 7 to Dec. 19, the state health department inspected a few restaurants in the Greater Alexandria area. For prior restaurant inspection reports, click here.

In Virginia, restaurant inspection reports aren't quite as simple as getting a letter grade or an easy-to-see number rating to post in the front window.

That said, we all want to know how our favorite restaurants stack up on cleanliness and sanitation. Inspectors grade restaurants based on critical and non-critical violations.

A "critical violation" is one that "poses a direct or immediate threat to the safety of the food being served." Non-critical violations are generally related to cleaning or maintenance.

"Ideally, an operation would have no critical violations, or none which are not corrected immediately and not repeated. In our experience, it is unrealistic to expect that a complex, full-service food operation can routinely avoid any violations," according to Virginia Department of Health's website.

The site continues: "Keep in mind that any inspection report is a 'snapshot' of the day and time of the inspection. On any given day, a restaurant could have fewer or more violations than noted in the report. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term cleanliness of an establishment."

Below, find the latest restaurant inspection from the Virginia Department of Health. These inspections reflect visits from inspectors during the last few weeks. Some of the violations were corrected immediately during the recent inspections.

The full reports can be accessed on the health department's website.

Ledo Pizza & Pasta
7475 Mount Vernon Square Center
Date of inspection: Dec. 18
Critical (corrected during inspection): The person in charge failed to state the minimum cook temperatures and times for potentially hazardous foods.
Critical (corrected during inspection): A food employee failed to wash his or her hands after coughing, sneezing, or after engaging in any activity that could contaminate the hands.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Some equipment/utensils were observed soiled to sight and touch.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that paper towels were not provided at each handwashing sink.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed the handsink by the dishmachine being used as a dumping station.
Non-critical: Surfaces of ice bins and enclosed components of equipment are not being cleaned as required.
Non-critical: Absence of no-smoking signs or international no-smoking signs in non-smoking area.

Su Pollo
8741 Richmond Hwy
Date of inspection: Dec. 18
Critical (corrected during inspection): There is no Certified Food Manager present at the beginning of the inspection.