Live pest, unlabeled chemicals. See latest Columbus restaurant inspection scores

Each month, inspectors from the Georgia Department of Public Health visit restaurants and other establishments in Columbus to check whether proper food handling and safety practices are followed.

Inspectors visited over 80 restaurants, lounges and other establishments serving food in Muscogee County during February.

Among them, 48 earned perfect scores, with 34 also receiving an A grade. Six earned a B., and none received a C.

How the grading system works

During inspections, restaurants receive one of four letter grades that are assigned based on how many points are deducted from 100:

• An A grade, for 90-100 points, means food safety is excellent.
• A B grade, for 80-89 points, means satisfactory compliance. 
• A C grade, for 70-79 points, means marginal compliance. 
• A U grade, for 69 points or less, means unsatisfactory compliance.

Establishments that receive a C or U will have at least one additional routine inspection added in 12 months, according to state law. Earning a B does not constitute a follow-up inspection.

Residents can find information about all inspections at the Georgia Department of Public Health’s online portal. Here are the violations for Columbus restaurants in February, according to the inspection reports:

Columbus restaurants receiving B grades and their violations

• China 1, 3759 Victory Drive, #5
• The person in charge was washing their hands in the three-compartment sink at the beginning of inspection.
• Handwashing sink in main kitchen with a cutting board and metal dish scrubber was stored in the sink bowl.
• Numerous soy sauce buckets were stored directly on the floor throughout the main kitchen.
• Scoops were improperly stored in the corn starch and sugar buckets with their handles directly touching the food.
• Live pest on the wall above the handwashing sink at the beginning of inspection.
• Plucked Up Chicken and Biscuits, 1208 1st Ave.
• Pimento cheese was cold-holding at 44*F, raw chicken was at 45*F, and chicken and dumplings were at 45*F.
• The facility lacked sufficient equipment for cold-holding food at the correct temperature. The main reach-in cooler had a temperature of 47*F as indicated by the external thermometer.
• Taquería Tapatios, 7042 Moon Road, Suite C
• An employee was chewing while standing next to the grill station.
• Raw chicken was stacked on top of raw beef inside the walk-in cooler.
• Raw eggs were stored directly next to cooked pork in the walk-in-cooler in the main kitchen.
• An employee with hair longer than one-half inch was in the main kitchen area with no hairnet.
• Tommy G’s, 6835 Midland Commons Bldg., Suite Opq
• Multiple time/temperature control for safety (TCS) items throughout the main kitchen area were held at a temperature above 41 degrees F.
• Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Food storage containers, utensils, and food equipment were being stored on racks with an accumulation of rust or grease.
• Spray bottles filled with chemicals in the bar area were not labeled with a common name.
• Several plates were not properly stored, covered or inverted.
• Your Pie, 5592 Whitesville Road, Suite L
• A warewashing machine with chlorine sanitizer and a three-compartment sink sanitizer dispenser was reading at 0ppm (parts per million) while being utilized.
• Several TCS foods were cold-holding at temperatures greater than 41 degrees F in the prep top cooler in the front food service area.
• Prep top cooler in the front of the food service area was in disrepair and turned off.

What are TCS foods, and why do they matter?

A time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food is any food that needs specific time and temperature controls to prevent harmful bacteria growth. Per the Georgia Department of Agriculture, key temperature rules are as follows:

• Hold cold foods at 41°F or below.
• Hold hot foods at 135°F or above.
• Reheat foods for hot-holding to 165°F for at least 15 seconds.
• Reheat commercially processed food (from a processing plant) to 135°F for hot-holding.
• Store frozen foods in a frozen condition (hard to the touch).
• Cool properly cooked foods from 135°F to 70°F within 2 hours, and from 135°F to 41°F or less within a total of 6 hours.
• Cool foods to 41°F within 4 hours if prepared from ingredients at room temperature (such as reconstituted foods and canned tuna).
• Reheat food in a microwave oven to 165°F. The food should be rotated or stirred, covered during heating and allowed to stand covered for 2 minutes after reheating.

Not following these guidelines can result in serious risks.

During an interview with the Ledger-Enquirer last year, Danielle Saunders, Columbus environmental health manager for the West Central Health District in the Georgia Department of Public Health, said improper storage and incorrect holding temperatures can increase risks of cross-contamination and sickness.

“If they don’t cook it to the minimum required temperature, there are some associated risks where there are potential hazards for them to get sick,” she said.

Symptoms associated with illness transmitted through food include fever, diarrhea, vomiting, jaundice, and sore throat with fever, according to the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Restaurants receiving A grades

• A Town Wings, 2538 Airport Thruway
• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 3229 Gentian Blvd.
• Barberitos, 5592 Whitesville Road, Unit K
• Bojangles, 3264 Victory Drive
• Checkers, 2453 Wynnton Road
• Checkers, 3474 Victory Drive
• ChickChickPorkPork Grill, 6516 Kitten Lake Drive
• China Star, 3709 Gentian Blvd.
• China Dragon, 2001 S Lumpkin Road, Suite 25
• Clean Eatz, 3500 Massee Lane, Suite A
• Country Wings, 3753 Victory Drive
• Country Life Nutrition CTR., 1217 Eberhart Ave.
• Corndogs by Mr. Cow, 3131 Manchester Expressway, Suite 3F
• Da Funnel Cake Factory, 1128 Fort Benning Road, Suite D
• Domino’s Pizza, 2534 Wynnton Road
• Firehouse Subs, 2501 Whittlesey Blvd., Suite H
• G Hughston’s, 4100 Forrest Road
• Harvest Coffee Company/Take the City Inc., 2910 Second Ave.
• International House of Pancakes, 2111 Airport Thruway
• Jack’s Family Restaurant, U.S. Highway 27
• Jim Bob’s Chicken Fingers, 6409 Whittlesey Blvd.
• KFC, 1934 Manchester Expressway
• KPOT, 5592 Whitesville Road, Unit Y
• Los Aztecas Tacos and Desserts, 3709 Gentian Blvd., Suite 1
• Los Compadres Mexican, 3250 Victory Drive
• Marco’s Pizza #8029, 5120 Warm Springs Road
• Macon Road Bar-B-Que, 2703 Avalon Road
• Pizza Hut #25884, 5751 Milgen Road
• Poke Sun, 1002 Bay Ave.
• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 6741 Veterans Parkway
• Red Robin, 5550 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Tacos Mi Morelia, 3473 N. Lumpkin Road, Suite A
• Wasabi Sushi & Thai Restaurant, 1639 Bradley Park Drive, Unit 800
• Wings Cafe, 2911 Airport Thruway

Perfect food safety scores

• Angry Wings & Things, 1002 Bay Ave., Suites 9 & 10
• Bodega 1205, 1205 First Ave., Suite 102
• Burger King #6446, 5901 Miller Road
• Burger King #23238, 1514 Bradley Park Drive
• Breakfastology Cafe, 5156 River Road, Suites C and D
• Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, 3465 Macon Road, Suite G
• Cafe Le Rue, 2523 Airport Thruway, Suite D
• Cava Columbus, 5413 Whittlesey Blvd., Suite 100
• Chick-Fil-A FSU #4133, 5520 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Chicken Salad Chick, 2511 Airport Thruway
• Domino’s Pizza, 1646-B Bradley Park Drive
• Fonda El Aguila, 3291 Victory Drive
• Hudson’s at Main Street, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Suite 7A
• It’s Flippin Sweet, 3022 Clarabelle St.
• Iron Bank Coffee Company, 6 W. 11th St.
• JC’s Wings and Things, 7450 Blackmon Road, Suite 100
• KFC, 1801 S. Lumpkin Road
• Kim’s Hot Wing Express, 3360 Buena Vista Road
• Lemongrass Thai & Sushi, 2435 Wynnton Road
• Marble Slab Creamery/Great American Cookies, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd., Suite 1940
• Madame Diner and Lounge, 1811 Victory Drive
• McDonald’s #35634, 660 Flat Rock Road
• Mexi-Grill Taqueria, 4917 Hamilton Road
• Midtown Coffee House, 1342 13th St.
• Mike & Ed’s Bar-B-Q, 7590 Schomburg Road
• Miles To Go, 5100 Warm Springs Road
• My Boulange, 111 12th St., Suite 101
• Panera Bread Cafe #6077, 1173 Macon Road
• Papa John’s Pizza, 3949 Victory Drive
• Parker’s Pantry, 1815 Garrard St., Unit C
• Raising Cane’s, 5720 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Ride On Smoothie and Juice Bar, 1036 Broadway
• Rosehill Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, 2621 Hamilton Road
• Sarku Japan, 3131 Manchester Expressway, 9F
• Seafood House, 6125 Macon Road
• Seoul Garden, 2001 South Lumpkin Road, Suite 4
• Smokey Pig, 1617 11th Ave
• Subway Sandwiches, 2640 Manchester Expressway
• Surcheros, 6516 Kitten Lake Drive
• Sydney’s on First, 1214 First Ave., Suites 100 & 110
• Tacos and Thangz, 5520 Forrest Road, Suite E
• Taco Bell, 2932 Macon Road
• Tacos Sabor A Mexico, 1241 Double Churches Road, Suite C
• Tous Les Jours, 6589 Whittlesey Blvd.
• The Animal Farm, 105 12th St.
• The Seed Coffee & Cafe, 33 W. 14th St.
• Your Pie, 1019 Broadway, Suite 1
• Z Beans Coffee, 2122 Manchester Expressway, Suite Z