June food safety: Pest, contamination concerns in popular Columbus restaurants
Food contamination, a live pest, and a mop in a bucket of sauce were found in Columbus restaurants during this month’s food inspections.
Food inspectors visited over 30 Muscogee County restaurants, lounges, and other establishments during June. Among the establishments inspected, eight earned perfect scores, with 13 also receiving an “A.” Three establishments earned a “B.” One restaurant scored a “C” and requires a follow-up inspection.
Country’s Barbecue, 3137 Mercury Drive, scored an 86 on its food inspections this month. In addition to failing to meet internal temperature standards, inspectors found a mop being stored in a bucket of sauce and black residue on the walls of the walk-in refrigerator, according to the health inspections database.
Country’s on Broad, 1329 Broadway, scored an 82 on its inspection due to an inspector observing a live pest in the stairwell, food temperature concerns, and black residue in the ice machine.
A ‘C’ grade for this Columbus restaurant
C Town Wings, at 3473 N Lumpkin Road, is the Columbus spot that requires a follow-up inspection after scoring a 77. The specific violations were:
Raw tilapia, catfish and whiting were stored above ready-to-eat sauces and lemonades in the walk-in cooler of the main kitchen area.
The facility was utilizing time as a public health control without proper markings to indicate the time, which is 4 hours past the point in time when the food is removed from temperature control.
Whole pork in a food container was on the floor of the walk-in freezer.
Liquid margarine and hot sauce were stored on the floor of the main kitchen area.
A bucket of celery was stored on the floor of the walk-in cooler.
Owners of C-Town did not respond to the Ledger-Enquirer’s requests for comment.
Here is the full list of health inspection scores for restaurants inspected in June, with information coming from health department inspection records.
Restaurants receiving B grades and their violations
BTJ Wings, 4720 Buena Vista Road
A container of cooked chicken wings beside the fryer in the main kitchen area, sitting at room temperature, without a time stamp indicating the 4-hour discard time
Several flies in the main kitchen area.
Country’s Barbecue, 3137 Mercury Drive
Several time/temperature controls for safety foods throughout the entire kitchen, cold holding above 41 degrees
Several times/temperature control for safety foods, hot holding below 135 degrees in multiple areas
Both walk-in coolers and prep top coolers in the main serving line, maintaining internal temperature in raw meat, cooked meat, ready to eat foods, and vegetables above 41 degrees.
Several coolers and a warmer cabinet without a shelf thermometer.
The facility is storing a mop in a bucket of sauce.
Black buildup on the walls and ceiling of the walk-in cooler storing raw meat.
Country’s on Broad, 1329 Broadway
Black residue on the chute of the bulk-producing ice machine located in the main kitchen area.
Several times/temperature control for safety foods stored in prep top coolers above 41 degrees.
Live pest (insect, rodent, or other animal) was found in the stairwell near the bathrooms.
Restaurants receiving A grades
China Wok, 1290 Double Churches Road
Happy China, 4403 17th Ave. #6
Hong Kong Restaurant, 3846 St. Mary’s Road
Kim’s Hot Wing Express, 3360 Buena Vista Road, 23
Little Caesars, 2424 Woodruff Farm Road
Marco’s Pizza #8029, 5120 Warm Springs Road
Maple Sport Bar and Restaurant, 8328 Veterans Pkwy., Unit A
McDonald’s #35634, 660 Flat Rock Road
Newk’s Eatery, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.
Peluso’s House of Pizza, 4529 Woodruff Road
Sonic Drive-In #6006, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.
Southern Roots Country Store and Cafe, 1206 Broadway
Waffle House #772, 3455 Macon Road
Perfect food safety scores
Captain D’s #3325, 4120 Buena Vista Road
Cook’s Hot Dogs, 5837 Nancy Ave.
El Carrizo, 6575 Whittlesey Blvd., Building C
El Vaquero North, 2976 Northlake Pkwy.
Mike & Ed’s Bar-B-Q, 7590 Schomburg Road
Monterrey Tex-Mex, 1694 Whittlesey Road, Unit B
Red Lobster #6325, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.
Sapo’s Mexican Cocina and Bar, 3033 Manchester Expressway
How the grading system works
Restaurants receive one of four letter grades that are assigned based on how many points are deducted from 100:
“A” grades mean food safety is excellent and is achieved by receiving 90-100 points.
“B’s” are issued when there is “satisfactory compliance” with the business receiving 80-89 points.
“C’s” mean there is marginal compliance and applied to scores between 70-79.
“U’s” represent unsatisfactory compliance and are applied to scores of 69 or less.
Establishments that receive a “C” or “U” food safety grade will have at least one additional routine inspection added in a one-year period, according to state law. Earning a B grade does not constitute a follow-up inspection.
Residents can find information on all health inspections on the Georgia Department of Health’s online portal.
This story was originally published July 2, 2025 at 6:00 AM.