Stopped by Doma's this morning with the hope of purchasing some Italian cold cuts and other items. Walked in and was browsing among the canned and bottled items, when an elderly gentleman who had been at the register near the door when I walked in, asked if he could help. I asked if they had any giardiniera. He showed me a small jar of the Cento brand, and I asked if they had a larger bottle of the Pastene brand. He said they didn't. I then walked back to the deli case where someone was stocking items in the case and asked if they had any Mortadella with pistachios. They said they did and I asked for a pound. The person behind the meat/deli counter who was refilling containers in the deli case with prepared foods (without an apron or hat or head net) passed the meat to the elderly gentleman who had been behind the cash register (also just in his street clothes), and he proceeded to slice the meat for me, grabbing each slice with his unwashed hands after it came off the slicer. I was somewhat shocked by the lack of sanitation and disregard for established health department rules. The gentleman who sliced it, then wrapped it, proceeded to the checkout counter, took my money,and gave me change from the register. I told him I was originally going to purchase several other items but not after I saw him handling dirty money in the register and then grabbing each slice of meat he cut for me without washing his hands, and I told him that was against Health Department rules. He said OK. I walked out of the store, but stopped when I thought about giving that meat to my family. I went back in, put the meat on the counter and said I didn't want it, and was going to turn and walk out without even asking for my money back, when the other gentleman who had been behind the meat counter started yelling at me to get out of his store and never come back. He got in my face and told me he knew I was going to be a trouble maker as soon as I walked in. Evidently asking for giardiniera was a dead give-away for my bad intentions. I told him I wasn't looking for trouble, just that I didn't want to purchase tainted food from someone who either doesn't know what the proper Health Department rules are for food handlers, or didn't care. I also told him being behind the meat counter preparing and serving food that he should be wearing a hat or net, according to Health Department rules. Again he yelled to get out of his store and never come back. I said do you really think you had to worry about me coming back. At that I turned and walked out with him yelling and following me out the door. So a caution to all who enter there. I saw them mishandling food that will be eaten as is, without the safeguard of cooking it to kill whatever they have on their hands. If the people are stocking open containers of food from a store room in their street clothes without wearing proper aprons, hair covering etc., and handling money and then touching your food without washing their hands, it makes me wonder what other rules such as "employees must wash hands after using the restroom before leaving", they might also be ignoring. So in my opinion you eat their food at your own risk.
Note: Just noted one of the two reviews below that are listed as not recommended because of language used in the review. But if you do want to check it out it confirms the belligerent, irrational attitude of this person at Doma's that I encountered. read more
