Those looking for a kale Caesar fix at the Georgetown Sweetgreen were forced to go elsewhere this week after the flagship salad bar temporarily closed.
The company originally tweeted that it was “closed today for renovations,” which isn’t wholly inaccurate; a Department
of Health inspection yielded several problems that required fixing.
According to the report, a routine survey on August 5 turned up a few violations—none
uncommon in the restaurant industry—including items such as carrots, avocados, and
chickpeas being held at improper temperatures; cutting boards lined with grooves;
and a fridge in disrepair. None of the above would warrant a shutdown, but the inspector
also found an expired business license and a need for a hand-washing sink in the salad-making
area during a follow-up visit (those “employees must wash hands” signs aren’t just
decorative). According to a Sweetgreen representative, the M Street spot is now up
and running as of Wednesday with sinks galore.
This isn’t the first crackdown on Georgetown eateries of late.
Dean & Deluca was temporarily shuttered for rather unsavory reasons in February, and the Department of Health forced the oft-troubled and now Mike Isabella-less Bandolero to lock its doors for a few days in July. So take heed, Luke’s Lobster: You better keep those brand
new lobster tanks spick and span.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
