Restaurant Inspections: Cafe Rio and Wendy's

From Feb. 7-21 , the state health department inspected a few restaurants in the Burke and Fairfax Stations areas. 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.

Cafe Rio Mexican Grill
6003D Burke Center Parkway
Date of inspection: Feb. 14
Critical: One or more of the elements of an effective employee health policy is either missing or incomplete. A complete employee health policy is required to be in place at the food establishment.
Critical (corrected during inspection): Some food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that paper towels were not provided at the dishwashing area handwashing sink.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Observed that sign or poster that notifies food employees to wash their hands are not provided at the restroom handwashing sinks used by food employees.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): The handwashing facility located at the dish washing compartment station was blocked, preventing access by employees for easy handwashing.
Non-critical: Wet wiping cloths used for wiping counters and other equipment surfaces were observed stored on the counter.
Non-critical (corrected during inspection): Unwrapped knives, forks, or spoons were not stored at the self service station with the handles up or in the direction of the customers.
Non-critical: The cover of the refuse container located outside the establishment is broken.
Non-critical: The refuse container used to store refuse/recyclables has no drain plug.

Wendy’s
6056 Burke Commons Dr
Date of inspection: Feb. 13
Critical (corrected during inspection): Some food items were observed cold holding at improper temperatures using a calibrated food temperature measuring device.
Non-critical: There were no temperature measuring devices/thermometers located in some of the cold holding equipment/refrigerators.
Non-critical: The door gaskets of some refrigerated units are broken.