The department's public health director said most restaurants are visited up to four times a year, and each inspection can take hours.
TOLEDO, Ohio —
Every week, hundreds of restaurants in the area receive a surprise visit from the Toledo Lucas County Health Department.
This applies to grocery stores, gas stations, sit-down restaurants and anywhere in Lucas County that serves fresh or pre-packaged food.
“When the food at a restaurant is really labor-intensive — a lot of homemade or labor-intensive cooking — we go there more than, say, going to a gas station that sells pre-packaged foods,” TLCHD Public Health Director Karim Baroudi said.
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Baroudi said most restaurants receive about four visits a year, and each inspection can take hours.
“From the temperature of the water you use to wash your hands to the way you hold cold items, serve food and wash dishes, make sure everything from A to Z complies with what is clearly stated in the food code,” he said.
Some violations can be corrected on the spot, but others require a follow-up inspection.
TLCHD doesn't just inspect for food-related violations — they also keep an eye on building maintenance.
“The electricity runs the kitchen. The boilers run the dishwashers and the hot water for hand washing. The refrigerators. The building. The plumbing,” Baroody said.
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TLCHD is currently working with the owners of Manos Restaurant and the Attic in Adams. Manos Restaurant is currently closed as they work to achieve compliance.
Owner Amelia Jarrett said the building that houses both stores at 1701 Adams St. is more than 40 years old.
The Attic is operating with a limited menu due to plumbing-related violations, but with guidance, that could change soon.
Jarrett released the following statement to WTOL11:
“We appreciate everyone's patience as we work hard to reopen Manos Restaurant. It's an older building so we've faced some challenges but we're making good progress and are working hard to refresh and upgrade, and bring tradition back to Adams Street. We don't yet have a set date for Manos' reopening, but we continue to welcome guests in the Attic Bar. Now that the plumbing work has been completed and we've passed our plumbing inspection, we hope to bring back our full bar menu upstairs soon.”
If a facility refuses to take steps to comply, officials will issue citations and the facility risks losing its license, the health commissioner said.
