Dear Restaurant Owners and Staff:

[NHKathy]

Originally Posted by SAMIAM

Most restaurants use a bleach water solution (tested by the board of health) to soak bar towels between uses.We got permission to switch to a solution of water and Dawn with bleach because it's easier on the hands.
I think many of you would feel much better about eating out if you could be fly on the wall (pun intended) durring an inspection by the state.
They arrive unannounced and test everything.....temps on all hot foods (must be 140 or higher)cold foods and all refrigeration must be in the high
30's.They take swabs of all cutting/food prep surfaces.Final rinse in the dishwasher must be 180 degrees.They test bleach solutions for the bar and kitchen towels.
Soups and sauces that have been recently made and are cooling must have temps recorded on a chart....first,using a freezer paddle to shock the product from boiling to cooling......nothing thawed at room temperature.
They check all kitchen utensils,plumbing,insect/rodent control,lighting,hygienic practices,water source......inspections are thorough and they have no mercy.........and it's a good thing for the business.I'm no fan of big government but this is one agency that really serves the public well.
As long as there are people...mistakes will be made and some try to bend the rules,but generally,even older restaurants that might look a little shabby,have the same tough testing as the newer chains.
And finally.......I know people like to tell horror stories about restaurant kitchens but most of them are just that...stories.No restaurant owner in his right mind would allow a cook to drop something on the floor and then serve it or do anything else unsanitary.It would destroy your business.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.

SAMIAM: Good to know, about the bleach water, thanks!
I'm not worried about your place - you definately do things the right way - thank you!

[vball09]

wishing that i could post a similar thread titled "Dear Restaurant Patrons..."

[jetskier]

Go ahead...it would be interesting.

Jetskier

[Jmo77011]

Originally Posted by vball09

wishing that i could post a similar thread titled "Dear Restaurant Patrons..."

So true! After years and years in the business, I could think of quite a long "letter"!

[SAMIAM]

Me too,JMO......35 years in biz and lots of stories.

[twoplustwo]

Conversely, the same critique about restaurant patrons "Dear Restaurant Patrons" would be implying all patrons tipped, squatted, acted, etc (or whatever the replies read) the same. It would be unfair to the majority of patrons that are good.

Exactly. But boy, would it be fun to participate in that thread

[Pineedles]

I vote with VB and support SAMIAM's position. He's one awesome restaurant owner!

[GM doc]

To all that have posted, Is McDonalds, Wendys, Burger King, KFC, Taco Bell...... a better place to eat?

If I do not like a place I do not go there. Doesn't seem to hard.

[Argie's Wife]

I can't stand seeing people with long hair that's just hanging down their backs, not securely tied back - handling food. Ditto for long, painted fingernails. That's just bogus and nasty... yuk!