Weekly Updates on the DineSafe inspection reports

blogTO provides a weekly report on the inspection report from Toronto. Check them out here:

This week on DineSafe: Aristokrat, Berries & Blooms, Bow Thai, Dragon Dynasty, Subway

Wished I discovered this site earlier. It's a good site to check for good restaurants to dine at.

Update on Congee Town - BANNED

This is an update to the Congee Town - Congee helps with your diarrhea blog post. While browsing around the DineSafe website. I revisited Congee Town's inspection reports:

Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm?show=detail&id=104279

Here are just the SIGNIFICANT AND CRUCIAL infractions:

December 14, 2011 - PASS - 4 significant infractions
1. Fail to provide soap or detergent in food preparation area
2. Operator fail to ensure cover will prevent contamination or adulteration
3. Fail to have test reagent available at place of sanitization
4. Fail to provide accurate probe thermometer

April 25, 2012 - CONDITIONAL PASS - 2 crucial and 1 significant infractions
1. Employee fail to wash hands before commencing work
2. Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration
3. Use basin other than for hand washing of employees

August 29, 2012 - PASS - 1 significant infraction
1. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms

February 27, 2013 - CONDITIONAL PASS - 1 crucial infraction
1. Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration

July 4, 2013 - CONDITIONAL PASS - 1 crucial and 5 significant infractions
1. Fail to protect food from contamination or adulteration
2. Operator fail to clean washroom fixtures
3. Use basin other than for hand washing of employees
4. Operator fail to provide hand washing supplies
5. Operate food premise-mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient material chemical solution rinse
6. Fail to clean multi-service articles after use

It's amazing how I survived my countless visits here. Either I have developed an iron stomach or I got lucky and survived a diarrhea-free dinner.

VERDICT: BANNED! Congee hurts with diarrhea but can also lead to more...

The Burger's Priest - Thou Shall Dine Here

View Larger Map

Date visited: May 10, 2013

Time: 4:00 pm

Party Size: 1

Price: $15.98 plus tax

Website: http://www.theburgerspriest.com/

Food consumed:
- Double cheesburger - $7.99
- Option (Cheese between two portobello mushrooms, breaded and deep fried) - $7.99

Pictures of food consumed: (Click on images to enlarge)

Review of Restaurant:

• What did I think of the burger/service/overall?

Double Cheeseburger was full of beefy goodness. Juice was spilling out even before I ate it. The option, on the other hand, was not worth it. For the same price as the double cheeseburger, I would have gotten another one. Then again, I wanted variety that time. I was still hungry after finishing both, but ran out of cash. This place is cash only, a red flag in my books.

• How did my sensitive stomach feel?
  

My stomach didn't have time to churn. It was too busy digesting the beefy goodness into good protein for my body. Boy oh boy was the double cheeseburger tasty.

City of Toronto Inspection Report

Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm?show=detail&id=105810

I will only mention the significant infractions.

January 19, 2012 - One significant infraction
1. Fail to have reagent available at place of sanitation

July 9, 2012 - Two significant infractions
1. Fail to store food on racks or shelves
2. Fail to provide thermometer in storage compartments

June 27, 2013 - One significant infraction
1. Store utensils in manner not preventing contamination

VERDICT: As expected, why would I get food poisoned from this lovely burger joint. It was so good that I will come back for more burger goodness.

Holy Chuck - Holy Mackerel

View Larger Map

Date visited: May 11, 2013

Time: 2:30 pm

Party Size: 2

Price: $18.98 plus tax

Website: http://holychuckburgers.com/

Food consumed:
- The Cowlorie (double cheeseburger with bacon, caramelized onions, between two grilled cheese sandwiches) - $11.99
- Holy Chuck Fries (bacon & double cheese, smothered in homemade vino chili) - $6.99

Pictures of food consumed: (Click on images to enlarge)

Review of Restaurant:

• What did I think of the burger/service/overall?

Salty, salty, salty. The burger was so salty. I also heard this from my co-worker. They suggested that I try the other burgers which is less salty. I just got a $100 gift card to Holy Chuck so I plan on visiting this joint again in the future to try their other burgers.

• How did my sensitive stomach feel?
  

Stuffed to the max with the double cheeseburger and fries. Luckily I survived this battle and will press onwards with more burger battles at this place.

City of Toronto Inspection Report

Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm?show=detail&id=107447

I will only mention the significant infractions.

September 12, 2011 - Three significant infractions
1. Fail to ensure presence of holder of a valid food handler's certificate
2. Fail to post the eating and drinking establishment license adjacent to the food safety inspection notice
3. Fail to store food on racks or shelves

June 14, 2012 - Two significant infractions
1. Fail to ensure presence of holder of a valid food handler's certificate (How long does it take to get a certificate?)
2. Fail to store food on racks or shelves

June 5, 2013 - Three significant infractions
1. Fail to clean toilets as often as necessary (They were too busy serving the burgers that they forgot to clean the toilets. Normally you would expect this in a Chinese restaurant, not a Western place)
2. Operator fail to ensure cover will prevent contamination or adulteration
3. Operate food premise-mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse

So many infractions but they were mostly corrected during inspection.

VERDICT: My stomach survived for another battle at Holy Chuck.

The County General - Salutes You

View Larger Map

Date visited: February 25, 2013

Time: 6:00 pm

Party Size: 1

Price: $17.00 plus tax and tips

Website: http://thecountygeneral.ca/

Food consumed:
- Peppermint in teapot- $3.00
- County Burger (Mustard, Mayo, Pickle) - $14

Pictures of food consumed: (Click on images to enlarge)

Review of Restaurant:

• What did I think of the burger/service/overall?

Very juicy and delicious. Would return for this burger. Yummy. The bartender was very nice too.

• How did my sensitive stomach feel?
  

Yummy. My stomach survived this delicious burger. No complications experienced.

City of Toronto Inspection Report

Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm?show=detail&id=107014

September 29, 2011 - 2 significant infractions and 4 minor infractions
1. No towel in food preparation area
2. No soap or detergent in food preparation area
3. Operator fail to meet washroom requirements (The washroom is not my favourite place to visit despite spending a great deal of my time there on many occasions)
4. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms
5. Operator fail to properly maintain rooms
6. Operator fail to provide proper equipment

January 11, 2012 - One significant infraction
1. Operator fail to provide separate handwashing sinks (corrected during inspection - did they install a brand new one during the inspection?)

June 8, 2012 - One significant infraction and one minor infraction
1. Operate food premise-mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse
2. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms

September 20, 2012 - 2 significant infractions
1. Fail to equip facility with cloth roller towel, paper towels, single service towels or dryer
2. Fail to provide soap or detergent in food preparation area

January 7, 2013 - One minor infraction
1. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms

May 1, 2013 - 2 significant infractions
1. Fail to provide towels in preparation area
2. Operate food premise-mechanical equipment not maintained to provide sufficient chemical solution rinse

So many infractions but they were mostly corrected during inspection.

VERDICT: The price of admission was worth it. Definite pass despite so many infractions.

Union - Poor elks, died for no reason

View Larger Map

Date visited: February 28, 2013

Time: 7:00 pm

Party Size: 1

Price: $45.50 plus tax and tips

Website: http://www.union72.ca/

Food consumed:
- Green Tea in teapot- $3.50
- Elk Sliders (Mirin galangal glaze & pickles) - $14
- Cassoulet (duck confit, smoked duck, pork sausage, ham hock, white beans) - $28

Pictures of food consumed: (Click on images to enlarge)

Review of Restaurant:

• What did I think of the burger/service/overall?

The prices are higher because of the locally sourced food from farmer's market. I sat down and ordered the Elk Sliders as mentioned in the Toronto Life article. The plate came with 3 sliders. Downed it all in one bite except for a chewy tendon that I spat back out. I remembered the sliders being juicy and sticky. The mirin glaze caused the stickiness. From a value perspective, it was not worth it. I don't recall it being particularly worth having a return trip. I was still hungry after eating it, thus I ordered a cassoulet.

The cassoulet was very filling and hot, temperature-wise. It was very good except that the smoked duck was very very tough. I think it was either supposed to taste like that or that it was overcooked. I never had a smoked duck before so I am not certain.

• How did my sensitive stomach feel?
  

My stomach was stuffed to the max. The main course made me 110% full. I had to roll out of the restaurant.

City of Toronto Inspection Report

Source: http://www.toronto.ca/health/dinesafe/index.htm?show=detail&id=100780

January 18, 2012 - 2 major infractions and 2 minor infractions
1. No towel in food preparation area
2. No thermometer in storage compartment
3. Operator fail to properly wash equipment
4. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms

June 7, 2012 - One minor infraction
1. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms (they never learn)

January 9, 2013 - One significant infraction
1. No thermometer in storage compartment (you would think they would keep the thermometer in the storage)

May 15, 2013 - One major infraction and one minor infraction
1. Operator fail to properly wash surfaces in rooms (*facepalm*)
2. No thermometer in storage compartment (*facepalm* x2)

Does the owner get briefed on these inspection reports and relay it to their staff? Seems like the owner/employee throw away the thermometer once the inspectors leave the premise.

VERDICT: Not worth the price of admission but passed my stomach test.

Golden Star - Tasty Burger in a Dump

View Larger Map

Date visited: January 27, 2013

Time: 7:00 pm

Party Size: 2

Price: $8.30 plus tax

Food consumed:
- Homemade All-Star Burger - $6.80
- Green tea - $1.50

Pictures of food consumed: (Click on images to enlarge)

 

Review of Restaurant:

• What did I think of the burger/service/overall?

From the restaurant name, my first impression was either a Thai or Vietnamese restaurant. Didn't expect it to be a burger diner. Second of all, it's CASH only. Big red flag. They are probably keeping two sets of books. Thirdly, this place is so rundown. The furniture needs replacing and kitchen, don't know what to expect there. There are many seats though.

• How did my sensitive stomach feel?
  

Despite all the negative comments above, I really liked the burger. It was DELICIOUS! My stomach exploded from all the deliciousness. By the way, one burger was not filling. If I brought more cash, I would have eaten 3 of them. No other explosions from any orifice.

York Region Inspection Report

(Click on images to enlarge)

Source: http://www.york.ca/Services/Public+Health+and+Safety/Food+Safety/yorksafedisclosure.htm

Source: http://www.york.ca/Services/Public+Health+and+Safety/Food+Safety/yorksafedisclosure.htm

Source: http://www.york.ca/Services/Public+Health+and+Safety/Food+Safety/yorksafedisclosure.htm

June 1, 2012 - Two corrected infractions
1. No hair net
2. Walls not clean and not in good repair

November 13, 2012 - Four corrected infractions
1. Thermometer not used to verify temperature
2. Foods not protected from potential contamination
3. Equipment not maintained, designed, constructed properly
4. Food contact surface not washed after each use

April 2, 2013 - Two corrected infractions and 2 major infractions
1. Fail to cover all food in storage
2. Fail to provide a sanitizing test reagent to verify the concentratrion of the chemical agent being used
3. Floors not clean and not in good repair
4. Ceilings not clean and not in good repair

Can't believe that this place is running like a Chinese restaurant. It's dirty and in a state of disrepair. Despite all this, the food is amazing. I'm going to return until I get food poisoned here and shut it down completely.

VERDICT: Tasty burger in a dump