One Darien Restaurant Fails Health Inspections

Bertucci's Italian Restaurant at 54 Post Rd. failed one Darien Health Department inspection on June 19, but enough problems had been fixed for the restaurant to get a "Good" rating by June 24.

Those were two of the most recent restaurant inspection reports recently released by the Darien Health Department.

The following list shows what scores local food-serving establishments received under the state scoring system ("state rating") from Darien Health Department inspectors, the rating under the Darien system ("Darien rating"), the inspection date and comments by the inspectors as noted in inspection reports.

Restaurants 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 two Bertucci's inspections, the inspections are listed in chronological order):


Bertucci's Italian Restaurant, 54 Post Rd. -- June 19
State rating: 86
Darien rating: "Fail"

Inspector's remarks: "Thermometer not calibrated; raw meat stored above pastry in walk-in cooler; food item on floor of dry storage area; food container used as ice scoop -- bare-hand contact of ready-to-eat food. Inadequate utensil for food/ice; no sanitizer test strips available; interior of drawer refrigerator at cook line not clean -- food spillage/residue buildup; food contact surface not clean; leaking water line under dishwasher -- repair immediately; floor of kitchen, interior of walk-in cooler and basement floor -- not clean and in disrepair respectively; cealing tile missing/in disrepair."


Bertucci's Italian Restaurant, 54 Post Rd. -- June 24
State rating: 96
Darien rating: "Good"

Inspector's remarks: "Gasket on drawer refrigerator not replaced; hand sink in kitchen needs to be sealed/caulked; no paper towel at hand sink in kitchen; floor in basement in need of repairs."

Burgers, Shakes & Fries, 800 Post Rd. -- May 3
State rating: 98
Darien rating: Good

Inspector's remarks: "Single-service utensil not properly stored -- corrected in my presence."


Meatball & Co., 23 Tokeneke Rd. -- May 30
State rating: 88 [but "OK to open"]
Darien rating: None given

Inspector's remarks: "Counter and adjoining wall surface at service station to be caulked, inside the kitchen area also. Fan cover in walk-in cooler not clean -- dust buildup; Shelf above prep sink not clean; Hand sink not clean. Trash receptacle in ladies room needs a cover; Landing area to basement -- to be tiled; ceiling tiles and light fixture not clean/sealed. Exhaust fan not serviced; To be made available in the Health Department or on-site at time of final inspection."


Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza, 319 Post Rd. -- June 10
State rating: 91
Darien rating: "Good"

Inspector's remarks: "[In]adequate utensil for dispensing food; cloths not in good repair; wiping cloths not kept in sanitizer between use; hand sink not cleaned -- soiled cloths stored in hand sink; no reuse of single service article; walk-in cooler floor not cleaned; slop sink dirty."


Darien Social, 10 Center St. -- June 10
State rating: 90
Darien rating: Not given

Inspector's remarks: "No thermometer available; food not covered properly; no sanitizer test strip available; cloths not in good repair; soiled wiping cloths not kept in sanitizer between use; under-counter fridge not cleaned; floor in walk-in cooler not cleaned."


White Bridge Deli, 284 Tokeneke Rd. -- June 20
State rating: 91
Darien rating: "Good"

Inspector's remarks: "Raw meats stored next to ready-to-eat foods; pooled eggs in refrigerator; in-use wiping cloths not cleaned; in-use wiping cloths not properly stored in sanitizer between uses; utensil not clean, table slicer not clean, food residue buildup; hand sink not clean; in-use utensil not clean, knife on cutting board; no hair restraint on food-service workers; rear door left open, no screen."


Maplewood at Darien, 599 Post Rd. -- June 19
State rating: 95
Darien rating: "Good"

Inspector's remarks: "Containers with ice cream left uncovered in freezer; lower shelf of reach-in cooler not clean -- food spillage buildup; ice cream scoop stored in ice cream, not in dipper well."

Coromandel Cuisine of India, 25 Old Kings Hwy. N. -- June 25
State rating: 95
Darien rating: "Good"

Inspector's remarks: "Ice cream scoop stored next to soda machine carbonator; door handle of reach-in refrigerator missing/in disrepair; rear door in disrepair, screened area not secure; dust buildup on vent in the men's bathroom; mops not properly stored at slop sink; external food service auditor on site."


Chipotle Mexican Grill, 74 Post Rd. -- June 26
State rating: 95
Darien rating: "Good"

Inspector's remarks: "Scoop buried in rice -- bare-hand contact of other than ready-to-eat food; sanitizer concentration less than 200 ppm [parts per million]; in-use utensil not properly stored [see first part of remarks]; filter system in basement needs servicing."