Gnat infestation, other violations prompt consumer alert for Richland restaurant

A gnat infestation was among high-risk violations that prompted the Allegheny County Health Department to issue a consumer alert for a Richland restaurantthis week.

During an inspection Monday, Oct. 6, at Scoreboard Lounge on William Flinn Highway, the health department said it found a dozen food safety violations, four considered high risk, and six general sanitation violations, all classified as low risk.

An inspector with the state Department of Environmental Protection also was present for the inspection and issued a do not consume order for the restaurant’s water system, according to the health department’s food safety assessment report.

The DEP’s do not consume order has to be lifted for the consumer alert to be removed, the report states.

To avoid further action, the restaurant is required to thoroughly clean and sanitize all floors, walls and equipment in the basement, remove all wastewater and correct all other high- and medium-risk violations.

The restaurant posted on its Facebook page Wednesday, Oct. 8, that it is open. A representative could not immediately be reached for comment.

According to the report, the inspection found a gnat infestation throughout the restaurant including in the basement, kitchen and back storage room. There were too many flies to count throughout the kitchen.

Among other high-risk issues cited in the report were foods being held at temperatures that were too high, an accumulation of food debris on the potato punch on the wall, an accumulation of debris on the deflector plate in the ice machine and a can opener blade was excessively soiled.

The inspection found an excessive amount of grease on equipment throughout the kitchen, and the inside of microwave ovens were excessively soiled, both considered low risk.

The water supply was noted as high risk, with a comment that the ultraviolet water treatment system was turned off at the beginning of the inspection. The report notes the restaurant provided water sample records for the past three months.

A prep cooler having an ambient air temperature between 50 and 52 degrees was cited as a medium risk.

In the kitchen, the flooring was said to be in disrepair and the ceiling was described as being in severe disrepair. The basement ceiling also was in disrepair.

In the basement, the report says water or liquid was leaking from an unknown source down soda lines and pipes in the basement. Standing water was found throughout the basement.

The bar does not have an easily accessible handwashing sink, and one must be installed within six months of the inspection, the report states.