Circles Thai Restaurant
Last inspected: Aug 2, 2024
61
Score
Across the available record, Circles Thai Restaurant has three inspections on file, the first dated 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Aug 2, 2024. A medium risk score generally means inspectors found things to fix, though most weren't urgent.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around six violations lately and about 12 violations before that.
“Proper cold holding temperature” comes up most often, recorded three times in the inspection record.
That's lower than the typical Philadelphia restaurant, which scores around 72. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
3
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Aug 2, 2024
Reinspection
2 critical violations. 4 minor violations. 2 corrected on site.
View 6 violations
Proper cold holding temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Potentially hazardous food was held at 44.5 to 50 degrees F rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. Corrective action: All potentially hazardous items recently chopped or recently moved from walk-in cooler (in temp) to the cold prep refrigerators were marked with appropriate disposal times.
46.385(a)(2)
Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: One hidden packet of loose rodent bait was observed on shelf above basement stairs Corrective action: Bait discarded. Note: Rodent bait must be contained in covered, tamper-resistant bait stations.
46.1026
Thermometer provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Thermometer on exterior of walk-in cooler is broken. Internal thermometer was available.
46.562
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: Rear door to food storage area must be locked between uses due to public entry door between food prep area and food storage area.
46.321
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: -Reach-in refrigerator and cold prep refrigerators are holding food above 41 degrees F. -Water observed dripping from back of cold prep unit into a pan rather than a drain. -(Ref. 46.501) The following equipment is not NSF/ANSI approved: reach-in freezers, air-fryer (personal use), coffee maker, can opener.
46.671
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: -Seal gaps between baseboards and floors in the rear storage area. -Unfinished basement used for storage.
46.901
61
Jun 7, 2024
Routine
4 critical violations. 2 major violations. 10 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 16 violations
Proper cold holding temperature
Inspector notes: -Potentially hazardous food was held at 45 to 51 degrees F rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. Instructed the person in charge to discard potentially hazardous food items above 45 degrees F and to move items below 45 degree F to colder units. -Eggs, cheese and half & half were held at 46 to 47.8 degrees F, rather than 45 degrees F or below as required. Person in charge was instructed to move items to colder units. New Violation.
46.385(a)(2)
Toxic substances properly identified, stored & used
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Chemicals were stored above or on the same shelf with food, equipment, and/or single service articles. Spray bottles of all purpose cleaner, foam sealer, etcetera, were observed stored on the shelves beneath the tables in the food prep area. Corrective action: Items were relocated.
46.1021
Food separated & protected
Inspector notes: Raw chicken was stored above other food. New Violation.
46.281
Proper cooling time & temperature
Inspector notes: Potentially hazardous food, was not cooled from 135 degrees F to 70 degrees F in 2 hours and/or from 135 degrees F to 41 degrees F within 6 hours, after preparation. Soup prepared last night was still 46.7 degrees F. Instructed the person in charge to discard the soup. New Violation.
46.384(a)(b)
Certification by accredited program, compliance with Code, or correct responses
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: No person shall operate a food establishment that handles, prepares or serves non-prepackaged potentially hazardous food who does not have present and in the employ of the food establishment at all hours of operation at least one (1) person with a valid Food Establishment Personnel Food Safety Certificate issued by the Department. No food safety certified person was present at the start of the inspection. Corrective action: Food safety certified person arrived at 1:30 p.m.
46.103
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: The quaternary ammonia concentration in the sanitizing solution of the 3-bay warewash sink was 0 to 50 ppm, rather than 200 to 400 ppm as stated on the manufacturer's use directions. Corrective action: Concentration corrected.
46.674(d)(e)
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Cleaning needed: -Dust observed on fan guards in the walk-in cooler. -Grease, debris and mouse feces observed in fryer cabinets. -Mouse feces observed in reach-in freezer motor housing. New Violation.
46.714
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: Drainage/sewage pipe observed leaking onto basement floor. New Violation.
46.825(b)-(e)
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Cleaning needed: -Mouse feces observed on the floor behind the reach-in freezers in both rear storage rooms, floor behind table in food prep area and basement. -Build-up observed on the floor in the basement near grease traps and water heater. -Spill observed on the floor in the rear storage area beneath storage rack. New Violation.
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Employee personal items (purse) observed on food prep table. Note: A designated area is required for employee personal items. New Violation.
46.945
Thermometer provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Thermometer on exterior of walk-in cooler is inaccurate. New Violation.
46.562
Insects, rodents & animals not present; no unauthorized persons
Inspector notes: Visible physical evidence of rodent / insect activity observed in the establishment. -Mouse feces observed on the floor behind the reach-in freezers in both rear storage rooms, basement, floor behind the table holding take-out utensils and inside of fryer cabinets. -Fly observed in the food prep area. New Violation.
46.981(k)(l)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: -Rear door to food storage area must be locked between uses due to public door between food prep area and food storage area. -Food is not stored at least 6 inches above the floor. (potatoes) New Violation.
46.321
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: Knives and / or cleavers stored between table edges and cold prep unit which are not easily cleaned and sanitized. New Violation.
46.302
Single-use & single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: -Containers observed stored on the floor in the basement. Elevated. COS -Due to unfinished ceiling in basement, all items must remain in closed boxes or packing materials until it is brought upstairs. New Violation.
46.774
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, & used
Inspector notes: -Reach-in refrigerator and walk-in cooler are holding food above 41 degrees F. -Water observed dripping from back of cold prep unit into a pan. -Thermometer cover on exterior of walk-in cooler observed broken. -(Ref. 46.501) The following equipment is not NSF/ANSI approved: reach-in freezers, air-fryer (personal use), coffee maker, can opener. New Violation.
46.671
27
May 19, 2023
Reinspection
3 critical violations. 4 minor violations. 3 corrected on site.
View 7 violations
Adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Paper towel dispenser empty at the handwash sink in the food prep area. Corrective action: Paper towels were provided during the inspection.
46.941(a)-(e)
Food separated & protected
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Multiple uncovered foods were observed in the reach-in freezer in the food prep area. Corrective action: Food was covered during the inspection.
46.281
Proper cold holding temperature
(corrected on site)
Inspector notes: Potentially hazard food was held at 42 to 44.4 degrees F rather than 41 degrees F or below as required. Corrective action: The temperature was adjusted during the inspection.
46.385(a)(2)
Thermometer provided & accurate
Inspector notes: Built in thermometer on exterior of walk-in cooler is inaccurate. New Violation.
46.59
Non-food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: Cleaning needed: -Some build-up and debris were observed on the floor in the walk-in cooler.
46.714
Physical facilities installed, maintained, & clean
Inspector notes: Cleaning needed: -Old mouse feces was observed in the corner of the basement floor. Cleaning initiated during the inspection. -Debris and dead bugs were observed on traps in the basement. Cleaning initiated during the inspection.
46.981(a)(b)(c)(g)(n)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: Some grease was observed on the ledge of the hood beneath the hood filters. New Violation.
46.981(d)
52
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Circles Thai Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Circles Thai Restaurant on file is from Aug 2, 2024. The public record contains three inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Circles Thai Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “proper cold holding temperature” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Circles Thai Restaurant.
Has Circles Thai Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Circles Thai Restaurant have averaged around six violations per visit, down from roughly 12 earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Circles Thai Restaurant means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
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