The Philadelphia Department of Public Health‘s Office of Food Protection inspected various establishments that prepare and serve food on May 15. Details of the inspection at three of the restaurants that were inspected on Thursday are given here. Among the three, two have reinspections mentioned in their respective reports.
Please note that the reports mentioned here are from inspections conducted on May 15 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishments.
Highlights
- One pizza place and a bubble tea brand location in Philadelphia failed the health inspection on May 15.
- The food establishments were cited for various violations, including those concerning cleanliness, equipment, and others.
- Both establishments are scheduled for reinspection to assess compliance with the food code.
Avenue Pizza and Wing
- Where: 3741 Lancaster Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- When: May 15, 2025
Avenue Pizza and Wing or Stacey’s Avenue Pizza offers their signature pizza, sandwiches & other simple bites to guests. The restaurant is family-owned and has a relatively small and compact space.
During the “Change of Ownership Inspection” conducted on Thursday, the restaurant was cited for three risk factor/intervention violations and five good retail practice violations. The establishment was “not in satisfactory compliance,” as per the report.
Food Code Violations Reported
The report began by stating that a prep sink that has a required 1-inch air gap to wash fresh produce was missing at the establishment.
It was pointed out that the dough residue was found in the dirty mixer bowl, and it needed to be cleaned. Food debris was observed in the rubber door gaskets of the cold prep refrigerator.
The report also noted that a can of the pesticide “Raid,” which is not made for food areas, was found in the warewashing area. Evidence of insect activity was noted, with live roaches observed in the ware washing/ prep area and inside the unused steam table.
In cases of improper equipment usage, a garbage disposal was seen installed on a handwashing sink, which is not allowed. Rubber gaskets on a cold prep fridge were damaged and it was also noted. Household freezers and fridges were found being used in the facility. A refrigerator was reportedly being used as a table.
In issues concerning facility maintenance, missing or cracked floor tiles were observed. The ceiling surface over the storage rack in the washing area was found to be damaged by water. Spills and debris were observed on the floor in the basement area.
Bare wooden shelving in the dry storage room and a cardboard-lined shelf in the rear storage area were observed. The facility lacked a mop sink. Brooms and dustpans were seen stored directly on the floor instead of being hung.
The restaurant will have to take action to correct all the issues that remain unresolved, and a reinspection will assess the compliance status, the inspection report stated.
TBaar
- Where: 2842 Saint Vincent St 7133 E. Roosevelt Blvd., Philadelphia, PA 19104
- When: May 15, 2025
TBaar is a bubble tea brand that has one location in Philadelphia. The chain is famous for its Taiwanese bubble teas as well as its other unique and innovative drink creations.
The Philadelphia location of TBaar was reported for two risk factor violations, among other violations. The inspection report said that due to these violations, the establishment had unsatisfactory levels of compliance. Further, all the issues that weren’t solved during the inspection will have to be corrected within the time frames mentioned in the report.
Food Code Violations Reported
The first violation noted in the report was the absence of a proper food preparation sink with an indirect waste drain connection and catch basin or air gap. However, it was mentioned that a variance application was submitted on May 15, 2025. A dedicated prep sink was not observed during the inspection, marking another violation.
The report pointed out sanitation and cleanliness issues, as visible physical evidence of rodent activity, specifically mouse droppings, were found on the floor in the warewashing area. Food debris was observed inside the reach-in refrigerator, and debris and residue were noted on the floor at the mop sink.
A half-cut watermelon, which lacked a date mark, was seen stored in the reach-in refrigerator. Furthermore, bulk containers, such as one holding sugar, were not labeled with the common name of the food.
Improper handling of cleaning supplies and tools was also reported. Moist wiping cloths were seen lying on the counter in the front service area instead of being stored in a sanitizing solution, and a mop was observed sitting in a bucket of water rather than on a drying rack. Clutter was found on a storage table as well.
Structural and equipment-related issues were also reported. A missing splash guard was noted at the handwashing sink in the front prep area. The use of domestic equipment, including a crock-pot and microwave, was also observed.
TBaar will face a reinspection, which will assess and ensure compliance with the food code, as per the inspection report.
The teams at the restaurants will have to start working on fixing all the issues and completing the work as soon as possible. Failing to resolve all the issues may result in their health license being revoked.
