Recent inspections conducted by the Seneca County Health Department revealed critical violations at several local restaurants. Here’s a closer look:

Benchwarmers Restaurant and Delivery was found to have three critical violations, including a broken handwashing sink faucet, home-canned food in the establishment, and improperly date-marked refrigerated items. Non-critical issues included the lack of soap and towels at handwashing sinks and improperly stored utensils.

Dayan’s Kusina, a mobile food service, faced critical violations for improperly hot and cold holding of food. Chicken was found at only 120 degrees Fahrenheit instead of the required 165 degrees, while a reach-in cooler registered at 59 degrees, above the safe threshold of 41 degrees. Food items were also noted to be sitting on the floor, which could lead to contamination.

Panda Express received a critical violation for not properly protecting food from contamination, as containers of spices and food at the cook station were uncovered.

At Carmie’s, a container of tartar sauce was found past its use-by date, marking a critical violation.

Kiku Japanese Fusion also faced scrutiny, as raw eggs were stored above ready-to-eat foods in the walk-in cooler, which could lead to cross-contamination.

Casa Express had a repeat violation for not properly covering food in the prep cooler, while Little Caesars had critical issues concerning access to handwashing sinks and contamination risks with uncovered food items.

Chipotle Mexican Grill reported a critical violation for hot holding, where chicken was found at an unsafe temperature of 118 degrees Fahrenheit before being reheated.

Best Break had a repeat violation for not covering ice bins when not in use.

Lastly, Heavenly Pizza had issues with raw eggs stored improperly, and Frisch’s Big Boy was cited for not date-marking refrigerated food.

Health officials urge consumers to remain vigilant and report any concerns regarding food safety in local restaurants. The health department will continue to monitor these facilities closely to ensure compliance with safety regulations.

For more information on inspection results or to browse more, residents can visit the Seneca County Health Department website.