Update On Ciao Bella Restaurant Inspection And Owner Input

Thanks to our readers for your comments on yesterday's post on Ciao! Bella's recent restaurant inspection. We value the comments and have followed up on some.


One reader asked us to put this inspection into context, as it may seem confusing hearing the rating and understanding what exactly the ratings mean andhow that fits into other restaurant ratings and specifically in the neighborhood.

Regarding the point system - 35 or more red critical violation points(those with the highest risk of causing food borne disease) require a re-inspection within 14 days, 90 or more red critical violation points require that the food establishment be closed. 120 or more points, combination of red and blue, also requires that the establishment be closed. Blue violations relate to the maintenance of the establishment and cleanliness.

From looking at other restaurants nearby, Marlai and Varlamos Restaurants and Chloe Bistrot received 30, 20 and 8 points respectively in their most recent inspection.

Another comment from a reader said "At the Public Health site, you can search by 98105 to see a complete list of restaurants and grocery stores in our area. You'll be surprised to see that many popular places, including local grocery stores have had similar violations."

This information is easily accessible to the public here.

Another reader asks for ratings for Blue C Sushi in the UVillage. This restaurant received a perfect score in the "return inspection" after having received 98 in the previous one in Janaury.

The same reader asked about Zao Noodle, also in the UVillage, and this one received a score of 8 in an inspection 2 weeks ago and 15 points in the previous inspection in March.

Another comment received said "Every restaurant probably has some degree of these (violations)."

We phoned Ciao Bella today and spoke with Gino, the owner. We let him know about the post and that we welcomed his input so that our readers were able to see the big picture.

He said he was aware of the inpsection and was not there at the time and was not made aware of anything critical to take care of either by the Health Department or by his employees. He said he is well aware of how the inspections work and said that you never want to get a $500 fine or be shut down for 2 weeks.

Gino said the Health Department "changes the law whenever they want , sometimes every couple of months."

He said whatever he is made aware of he will fix immediately. He said "I am a professional and know how things are run. I know the rules and the proper way."

He said anyone is welcome in the kitchen anytime to look around and take a look at how his employees handle food and prepare meals. And he said often people do as they mistake the kitchen for the bathroom which are right next to eachother. He said "so there is nothing we can hide."

"If my refridgerator breaks, food is thrown away," he said."

Gino went on to say "I'm really on top of things. And I've never had any problem in my life." And he said he has owned several restaurants in his long restauranteuring career and has never had "any problems with the Health Department." He said he was going to call the Health Department as soon as we got off the phone to follow-up.

Another email received from a reader who used to own a food establishment in the neighborhood wrote "I know from previously owning (a food establishment) that a different inspector can be the difference between a good report and an awful one. We always did well, but it can be tough."

And finally here is a list of other neighborhood blogs in Seattle that have also done posts on restaurant inspections on restaurants in their respective neighborhoods:

Ballard:
http://www.myballard.com/2008/10/09/zestos-passes-latest-health-inspection/

Phinneywood:
http://www.phinneywood.com/2010/07/23/restaurant-inspection-roundup/
http://www.phinneywood.com/2010/07/12/restaurants-receive-poor-health-inspections/
http://www.phinneywood.com/2009/05/04/food-health-inspection-violations-in-neighborhood/

Maple Leaf:
http://www.mapleleaflife.com/2010/05/24/how-did-your-favorite-restaurant-fare-at-inspection/

Magnolia:
http://www.magnoliavoice.com/2009/01/21/local-restaurant-cited-by-health-department/

Capitol Hill:
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2008/08/19/7-11-hand-washing-exposed-everyblock

Beacon Hill:
http://beaconhill.seattle.wa.us/2010/05/02/beacon-bits-cuisine-census-and-constituent-voices/
http://beaconhill.seattle.wa.us/2009/10/20/beacon-bits-health-inspections-parking-spaces-and-bridge-rehab/

Thanks again to our readers for your comments. We always appreciate everyone's time in sending in email and always value every reader's input. And thank you to Ciao Bella for their contribution.