American Bar & Grill Lanc — Restaurant in Manheim Township

American Bar & Grill, 1081 N. Plum St., Lancaster, Aug. 21. Fail. The person in charge did not demonstrate adequate knowledge of food safety in this food facility as evidenced by this noncompliant inspection. They did not demonstrate adequate knowledge as evidenced by not complying with the food code and having multiple priority item violations during this inspection. They failed in their managerial duties by not protecting ready-to-eat food from barehand contact. Cigarettes, lighter, keys and cellphone found on a tray in the kitchen during the inspection. Food employee involved in food preparation not wearing proper hair restraints such as nets, hats or beard covers; repeat violation of Feb. 17, 2022. Food employees were touching celery, cheese, tomatoes and lettuce, which are all ready-to-eat foods, with bare hands. Raw chicken stored above hamburger in the two-door cooler. Raw fish stored above pasta in the small, two-door cooler. Totes of cooked chicken covered with cookie sheets stored beneath dripping condensate in the walk-in cooler, subjecting food to possible drip contamination. Reduced-oxygen packaged tuna thawed in unopened packages in the two-door cooler and the walk-in cooler; repeat violation of Feb. 17, 2022. Marinara sauce placed hot in the walk-in cooler in containers greater than 4 inches deep, which is not a proper cooling method. Food facility does not have available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine appropriate chlorine sanitizer concentration of the mechanical dishwasher in the kitchen and at the bar. Chlorine chemical sanitizer residual detected in the final sanitizer rinse cycle of the low temperature sanitizing dishwasher at the bar was 10 ppm and not 50-100 ppm as required. Food employee is not using available sanitizer test strips or test kit to determine sanitizer concentration. Mechanical warewashing equipment with buildup of filth and food residue on top and not cleaned before use and frequently throughout the day. Old food residue on the potato slicer and the can opener blade. A residue buildup in the drain and on the floor around the mechanical dishwasher. Black, static dust on the air-intake part of the portable fans in the kitchen. Grease buildup on the floor beneath the fryers. Food employee towel-drying utensils and food equipment after cleaning. Food facility has an original certificate posted, but the location is not conspicuous for public viewing. The side door and rear door to the outside of the food facility is self-closing and being propped open. Paper towel dispenser empty at the hand-wash sink nearest to the ice machine in the kitchen. A working container of coffee maker cleaner was stored on the same shelf with food in the kitchen. Food facility is using quaternary ammonia sanitizer at an extremely high concentration of 400ppm, not approved in the code of federal regulations for food-contact sanitizing...

one star for atmosphere and one for friendly concerned service and one for great drinks. But it stops there. They are simply trying to do too much with food for the quality of help they have: anything mexican is out of their league: Empanada? no way Jose'! dont go there: thick shell deep fried too long in oil that was too hot and had seen WAY too many chicken wings and fish Filets.. and inside, one found rice and black beans while searching for the chicken that was supposed to be in there!? Want a fish taco? nicely presented soft tacos, however, they are wrapped up tight like a burrito allowing the fried fish to steam the lettuce they shoved in the tortilla before rolling. the result? wimpy limpy lettuce with some kind of sauce that was white but not tartar and not remotely related to a mexican or taco theme: served with fries overdone in well used oil that was too hot, and, no pico or salsa or no tartar on the side. A better tastier presentation is make it yourself tacos with a stack of 3 warm tortillas with three filets, right out of the fryer stacked on top and a side of NICELY cut lettuce, tomato, and onion on the side with a dollop of pico. Nothing sizzling here! Steer clear of the chili lime "fajitas" which are not fajitas and came out as three small soft tacos with what we guessed were remnants of barbeque chicken wings inside and some lettuce and coarsely cut tomato on the side. Faced with this sad collection of food, we looked Down the bar and salivated as we watched a couple inhale what looked to be gorgeous big thick juicy burgers in the 1/2 lb range: burgers they clearly enjoyed! others in the bar raved about their wings. My advice is to enjoy the considerable atmosphere and the nice folks and stick to burgers and wings or maybe a salad but dont stray too far from these foods as they are their core competency. We will be back for the atmosphere, the company, the cold beer, and the burgers and wings but...

So I went here strictly for wings. .40 cent wings everyday after 4:00pm. I was reading reviews and a number of people raved about them... they were pretty terrible. Average size, good amount of flavors but dry as all get out. 1st dozen I had was half hot half bbq/hot/cajun. Bhc were covered in tasty sauce but the actual chicken was so dry it flaked apart inside. The hot were a little better but still way over done like they sat at the bottom of the fryer. After reading the reviews and against my wife's better judgement I decided to get another dozen thinking it must have been a fluke. 2nd dozen was half hot half thai/peanut butter. Again, good sauce but incredibly dry.ive got to admit I'm a bit of a wing snob and truthfully Quips has ruined me. Anyone reading this review if you truly want to taste good consistent wings go to Quips but only on Monday when they have their special (apparently they do their wings differently that night.) This should be the measuring stick for all wings. I've tried rumple brew skins, brickyard, lbc...etc. some are ok, at least better than American Bar & Grill, but all pale in comparison to Quips.

Additionally staff was very nice. my 1st dozen took about 40 min to come out, however..my wife's wrap was decent but nothing to write home about. Needless to say we branched out of our normal Quips/Alley Kat routine to try ABG as I haven't been there in 10 years and I think it will be another 10 before I give them...