Toska Restaurant and Brewery in Mt. Airy landed on the Philadelphia Health Department's radar during a routine inspection Thursday, after officials reported signs of rodent activity and a string of sanitation failures that left the kitchen rated unsatisfactory. Inspectors noted mouse droppings in storage areas, food debris under equipment, and a dishwasher whose chlorine sanitizer registered at 0 parts per million.
The visit to 7136 Germantown Ave turned up a long list of issues, from a bucket of fries being filled in a three-compartment sink to wet wiping cloths left on the handwashing sink, according to WhatNow. Inspectors also found that the person in charge initially did not have a valid Food Establishment Personnel Food Safety Certificate, until staff filled out the application paperwork during the inspection, and that multiple cases of food and water were stored directly on the kitchen floor.
Inspection report details
The city’s official report, posted on the health inspection portal, documents mouse droppings behind storage racks in the basement and under racks in the walk-in cooler, gaps around the walk-in cooler door that could let pests in, and food debris under hot holding units and reach-in refrigerators, according to the Philadelphia Health Department. The same report notes leaky pipes under the dishwasher and sinks, a loose rubber gasket on a second-floor refrigerator, and a light bulb without a protective shield under the hood.
Toska in Mt. Airy
Toska bills itself as a wood-fired pizza spot and small brewery along Germantown Avenue, with a menu centered on oven-roasted pies and house-brewed beers, according to Toska Restaurant & Brewery. The Mt. Airy operation has built a local following among diners looking for craft beer and wood-fired comfort food.
Reinspection and next steps
The Health Department deemed the facility in unsatisfactory condition and ordered all violations corrected, with a reinspection set to verify compliance, according to the Philadelphia Health Department. Inspectors did note that some fixes happened on the spot, including cleaning a shelf in the pizza prep area and moving wet wiping cloths into a sanitizer solution during the visit.
Legal and health implications
Unsatisfactory findings tied to rodent activity and sanitizer failures are treated as serious business by city regulators, since both can drive up the risk of foodborne illness, according to the Department of Public Health. The city’s online lookup tool publishes inspection records and lists contact numbers for the Office of Food Protection for anyone who wants to follow up on a specific report.
Restaurant response
WhatNow reports that it reached out to Toska for comment and plans to update its coverage if the restaurant responds. The city’s inspection report does not show that the restaurant was shut down on the spot; any fines or additional enforcement would move forward under the department’s standard compliance procedures.
Customers who are worried about what they ate, or who simply want the latest inspection status, can review the city’s online reports or contact the Office of Food Protection for guidance. Toska’s reinspection results are expected to appear on the inspection portal once the follow-up visit is completed.
