Fruit flies, black residue & vaping: Inside Columbus’ August food safety scores

Food safety inspectors gave gold stars to dozens of Columbus restaurants in Muscogee County during August, but several eateries landed in hot water over cold chicken, dirty prep sinks and improper food storage, without falling below a B.

Food inspectors visited more than 80 restaurants, lounges and other establishments in Muscogee County during August. Among those inspected, 42 earned perfect scores, with 31 also receiving an A. Eight establishments earned a B. No Muscogee County restaurant scored a C in August

Here is the full list of Columbus food safety scores from last month:

Restaurants receiving B grades and their violations

Bojangles, 3264 Victory Drive

• Observed three hand sinks without a hand-drying provision.
• Observed the hand-washing sink in front food service area with a loose faucet, preventing use
• Observed chicken, liquid egg product, cold-held above 41 degrees. 
• Observed a silver container of seasoned chicken breasts in the walk-in cooler without date marking. 
• Observed facility with last inspection score of 92% from 2023 posted. Last inspection score was 89%.
• Observed a scoop inside a plastic container of coleslaw with a handle in the food.
• Observed several broken and cracked plastic containers and plastic tips cut off frosting containers.

Build Yo Salad, 3150 Macon Road, Suite G

• Observed several food items cold-holding at temperatures greater than 41°F.
• Observed prep top coolers in the front food service area not working properly. 
• Observed several metal and plastic food containers wet-stacked on the rack next to the three-compartment sink in the main kitchen. 

China 1, 3759 Victory Drive #5

• Observed raw chicken above pork and shrimp located in the reach-in cooler in front of the grill.
• Observed raw chicken next to raw beef and raw beef above raw shrimp located in the walk-in cooler. 
• Observed food items without lids located in the walk-in cooler.

China Wok, 1290 Double Churches Road

• Observed the person in charge use the back of his bare hand to check the ready-to-eat temperature.
• Observed raw chicken next to raw beef located in the walk-in cooler.

The Office Sports Bar & Grill, 2979 Northlake Parkway

• Observed a food employee using an electronic tobacco device while prepping/cooking food in the main kitchen. 
• Observed black residue buildup on the ice machine chute.
• Observed a walk-in cooler leaking onto the shelving.
• Observed a personal speaker and a personal cellphone stored on the prep top counter at the time of inspection.
• Observed pests throughout the main kitchen at the time of inspection.

Wendy’s, 3639 Victory Drive

• Observed the sausage patties reheated in the fryer to hot-hold without reaching the proper temperature.
• Observed time/temperature control food items on the preptop near the drive-thru window reading temperatures above 41 degrees F.

Wicked Hen, 1350 13th St.

• Observed raw chicken next to lettuce in the bottom of the reach-in cooler.
• Observed black residue in the bulk ice chute.

Xin Kee BBQ, 5750 Milgen Road, Suite 106

• Observed raw pork stored above cut vegetables in a reach-in cooler in the main kitchen.
• Observed employee rinse three large pans that were used for transporting raw duck and replace them on the rack without a wash or sanitize step. 
• Observed unlabeled spray bottles containing degreaser, cleaner and glass cleaner. 
• Observed whole cuts of raw pork sitting in a three-compartment sink to thaw without running water.

Restaurants receiving A grades

• Angry Wings & Things, 1002 Bay Ave Ste 9 & 10
• Andres Top Shelf Mobile Unit, 414 23rd St.
• Andres Top Shelf, 414 23rd St.
• Barberitos, 5592 Whitesville Rd. unit K
• Bojangles, 7660 Schomburg Rd.
• Cannon Brewpub, 1041 Broadway
• Charley’s Philly Steaks, 3131 Manchester Expy.
• Charred Oak Kitchen & Bar, 3501 Massee Ln. Ste. G
• Checkers, 3474 Victory Dr.
• Country Wings, 6959 Macon Rd. suite B
• Guthrie’s, 3527 Macon Rd.
• Hanks Bar & Grill, 1037 Broadway
• International House of Pancakes, 2111 Airport Trwy
• Jamey’s Hot Wings, 1908 Floyd Rd 4
• Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, 1002 Bay Ave Ste 1
• KPOT, 5592 Whitesville Rd. Unit Y
• Lemongrass Thai & Sushi, 2435 Wynnton Rd.
• Los Aztecas Tacos and Desserts, 3709 Gentian Blvd Ste. 1
• McDonald’s #6080, 3450 Victory Dr.
• Panda Garden, 5600 Milgen Rd. Ste 101-7
• Popeyes Chicken, 2340 Wynnton Rd
• Rosehill Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, 2621 Hamilton Rd.
• Ruth Ann’s Restaurant, 941 Veterans Pkwy
• Samurai Japanese Cuisine and Sushi Bar, 1009 Broadway
• Seafood House, 6125 Macon Rd.
• Sharky’s Fish & Chicken, 2626 Manchester Expy.
• Tommy G’s, 6835 Midland Commons Bld. Ste Opq
• The Black Cow, 115 12th St.
• The Original Hotdog Factory of Columbus, 1002 Bay Ave Ste 7
• Wendy’s, 6490 Milgen Rd.
• Yamazaki Sushi and Hibachi, 6516 Kitten Lake Dr.

Perfect food safety scores

• 13th Street BBQ, 5506 Veterans Pkwy.
• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 3229 Gentian Blvd.
• Arby’s #8291, 5401 Whitlesey Blvd
• Baskin Robbins, 2445 Airport Trwy
• Bella’s Caketering, 5750 Milgen Rd. suite 105
• Burger King  #9703, 7310 Veterans Pkwy
• Burger King #6446, 5901 Miller Rd.
• The Brick and Mortar Cafe, 3500 Massee Ln Ste C
• CC’s Place, 2023 Ft. Benning Rd.
• Chick-Fil-A FSU #4133, 5520 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Columbus Crab House, 3517 Victory Dr. Ste A7
• DQ Grill & Chill, 3580 Macon Rd.
• Einstein’s Brother’s Bagels, 4225 University Ave
• Five Guys Burger & Fries, 5413 Whittlesey Blvd Ste F
• Frank’s Alley, 1246 Broadway
• G Hughston’s, 4100 Forrest Rd.
• Italian Soul Bar & Grill , 4022 University Ave Ste. 9
• IHOP #3177, 2939 N Lake Pkwy
• Jack’s Family Restaurant, US Highway 27
• Jim N Nicks Community Bar-B-Q, 5710 Whittlesey Blvd
• The Juicy Seafood, 6780 Veterans Pkwy
• KFC, 1801 S. Lumpkin Rd.
• La Sammich, 4820 Armour Rd. Ste. A-6
• Little Caesars, 2424 Woodruff Farm Rd.
• McAlister’s, 6755 Veterans Pkwy.
• Miles To Go, 5100 Warm Springs Rd.
• Motions Sports Bar and Grill, 4805 Buena Vista Rd. Ste. J
• Papa John’s Pizza, 7750 Old Moon Rd. 200 B11
• The Peach Cobbler Factory, 2511 Airport Trwy Ste A
• Red Robin, 5550 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Saladworks/Frutta Bowls, 6835 Midland Commons Blvd. suite G
• Shark’s Fish & Chicken, 4910 Buena Vista Rd. suite A1
• Slice Pizza, 6516 Kitten Lake Ste E3
• Starbucks Coffee Co., 3172 Macon Rd. 
• Thai and Thai, 5870 Veterans Pkwy Ste C
• Tous Les Jours, 6589 Whittlesey Blvd.
• The Buzz Board, 900 Front Ave
• The Endzone Sports Bar & Lounge, 3930 Veterans Pkwy
• TNT Tacos N Thangz, 5520 Forrest Rd. suite E
• Trevoli, 5401 Gunboat Dr. Ste 29
• Waffle House #772, 3455 Macon Rd
• World Famous Hotdogs, 2616 Hamilton Rd.

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 twelve-month 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.