Noodlehead, a Thai-inspired spot on South Highland Avenue in Shadyside, received a consumer alert Aug. 25 after county inspectors documented 15 violations, four of them high-risk, the health department said. High-risk issues cited by inspectors included foods held at unsafe cold temperatures, cross-contamination during preparation, employee personal-hygiene lapses, and improper sanitizing.
Examples noted in the report:
- Raw-chicken contact with a plate via a clothespin used during prep.
- Food left without temperature control.
- An employee rinsing gloved hands in a handwashing sink before returning to the line.
Other violations included a lack of soap at a kitchen handwashing sink, inconsistent date marking, use of a residential mini-fridge on the service line, wastewater observed on a basement floor, pest concerns, and the absence of a certified food protection manager.
ACHD wrote that repeat medium- and high-risk violations persist despite a February administrative conference with the owner and management.
To lift the alert, the department directed the restaurant to enroll back-of-house staff in certified food protection manager training and complete hygiene and temperature-control training.
Facilities posted with a consumer alert may remain open while corrections are made, according to ACHD.
The entire inspection report can be read here.