Darien Cheese and Fine Foods received a perfect 100 in the store's latest town Health Department inspection, while Bertucci's, which failed an inspection in June, received an 88 rating.
The cheese shop in Goodwives Shopping Center is different from a restaurant and, presumably, has less of a challenge in meeting state health code standards than a restaurant that prepares and serves various types of food, which may help explain why the business received an unusual perfect 100 score.
Bertucci's, at 54 Post Rd., had failed an inspection on June 19 (with a rating of 86 on the state scale and "Fail" on the local Darien inspection scale), then received a "Good" rating in a June 24 inspection (96 on the state scale). In its latest inspection, on July 16, the restaurant received an 88 and received a "Fair" rating.
The following list shows what scores local food-serving establishments received under the state scoring system ("state rating," in which 1-4 points are deducted for each violation, with 100 being a perfect score) from Darien Health Department inspectors, the rating under the Darien system ("Darien rating," in which a "Good," "Fair," or "Poor" is given to restaurants that pass inspections), the inspection date and comments by the inspectors as noted in inspection reports.
Restaurants and other food-serving establishments that fail inspections must correct them by the next inspection. If the Health Department deems a restaurant's condition dangerous to the public, the restaurant will be closed until corrections are made, according to David Knauf, director of the town Health Department.
These reports were recently released by the Darien Health Department (after the Darien Cheese and Fine Foods Shop and the Bertucci's inspections, the inspections are listed in chronological order):
- Bertucci's Italian Restaurant, 54 Post Rd. -- July 16
Darien rating: "Fair"
Inspector's remarks: "Food uncovered at pizza station; in-use utensils not properly stored -- spatula and spoons; dishwasher gauge broken. Gasket/seal on under-counter refrigerator not replaced. Electrical outlet at pizza station in disrepair; food contact surface not clean -- interior of under-counter refrigerator drawers; hand sink to be sealed and caulked; utensils stored in hand sink -- not cleaned; fruit flies and ants; floor in basement in disrepair. Floor in kitchen and basement floor not clean; ceilings in disrepair."
- Darien Cheese and Fine Foods, Goodwives Shopping Center -- July 18
Darien rating: "Good"
Inspector's remarks: None
- Rory's, 416 Post Rd. -- July 2
Darien rating: "Good"
Inspector's remarks: "Table slicer not cleaned and sanitized at least every four hours; blade of slicer and in-use knives not clean; in-use utensil stored on top of food item, nesting; cluttered condition in recycling area; vents in bathrooms not clean, heavy dust buildup."
- Atria Darien, 50 Ledge Rd. -- July 19
Darien rating: "Good"
Inspector's remarks: "Can opener not clean/sanitized at least every four hours -- food residue buildup on blade and between gears; blade of can opener not clean (see previous note); cleaning equipment not properly stored at mop sink."
- Darien Senior Activities Center, 30 Edgerton St. -- July 19
Darien rating: "Good"
Inspector's remarks: "Ventilation fan in bathrooms non-functional."
- Planet Pizza, 882 Post Rd. -- July 22
Darien rating: "Good"
Inspector's remarks: "Thermometer not available in walk-in cooler, reach-in cooler, and under-counter refrigerator; heavy food residue buildup -- not clean and sanitized at least every four hours; blade of can opener, knife blade not clean -- food residue buildup; hand sink not clean -- utensils stored in bowl; utensil -- knife -- stored between wall trim and surface; gasket on under-counter refrigerator not clean -- food spillage/residue buildup."
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