Live pests, pink residue, leaking ceiling. Inside latest Columbus restaurant inspections

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

Inspectors visited over 60 Muscogee County restaurants, lounges, hotels and other establishments during April.

Among the establishments inspected, 40 earned a perfect score, with 32 also receiving an A grade. Eleven establishments received a B.. One restaurant received a C.

Wakis African Kitchen, at 2901 University Ave., scored a 76 on its inspection. The inspector reported the following violations:

• The facility had a certified food safety manager certificate that is expired (exp. Jan. 11) for over 90 days.
• Cooked beef was on the counter above the stove at 103 F. Cooked goat was on the counter beside the stove at 83 F. Cooked chicken was on the counter beside the stove at 83 F.
• Local rice had the incorrect date marking of Feb. 27. A container of local rice and a container of Jollof rice were in the reach-in cooler with no date marking the discard date.
• Cooked oxtail, cooked tripe and cooked egusi were thawing on the counter in large containers.
• Fish was thawing in the meat sink with no running water.
• The inspection report from June 2024 was posted in the facility.

According to state law, the establishment will have one additional inspection added within 12 months.

How the grading system works

During inspections, restaurants receive one of four letter grades 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 fewer, 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 is the full list of health inspection scores for Columbus restaurants inspected in April:

Restaurants receiving C grades

• Wakis African Kitchen, 2901 University Ave.

Restaurants receiving B grades and their violations

Dell’s Foods, 3466 University Ave., Suite 4

• The sanitizing solution in the manual ware-washing area of a three-compartment sink had a chlorine sanitizer concentration of 0 ppm while actively sanitizing dishes.
• The following foods were cold-holding above 41 F in the reach-in cooler beside the microwave: French toast mix (including eggs) at 59 F and raw bacon at 53 F.
• Cooked hamburger patties, cooked rice and baked chicken were on the counter and to be placed on the hot line in the front food service area.
• Chili was hot-holding in the steam well beside the grill below 135 F.
• The facility had insufficient capacity to cold-hold the volume of food.
• The reach-in cooler beside the microwave had an internal temperature of 60 F.
• Only one other cooler was in the facility besides the freezers.

Hardee’s of Columbus #6, 2501 Airport Thuway

• Sliced ham, milk and half & half were cold-held above 41 F.

Hibachi Grill & Supreme Buffet, 2040 Auburn Ave., Unit 1201

• The handwashing sink in the main kitchen near the pizza oven had a stainless-steel scrubber stored in it at the beginning of the inspection.
• A stainless-steel scrubber was stored in the handwashing sink in the hibachi area.
• An eating utensil (spoon) and maintenance tool (scraper) were stored in the handwashing sink next to the three-compartment sink in the ware-washing area.
• Food items were stored uncovered in reach-in coolers and walk-in coolers throughout the main kitchen.
• The facility was sanitizing dishes with a chlorine concentration reading at 0 ppm at the three-compartment sink in the ware-washing area. The concentration should be between 50 ppm and 100 ppm.
• Several prepped foods in containers throughout the walk-in cooler were held for more than 24 hours, lacking date-marking labels.
• Rice noodle buckets were stored on the floor in the main kitchen area in front of the grill area.
• The rice noodle box was stored on the floor in the dry storage area.
• Rice noodle buckets were stored on the floor in a walk-in cooler.

Ole Times Buffet, 1900 Manchester Expressway

• Pink residue was on the ice chute of the ice machines in the server area and the main kitchen area.
• Several time/temperature control for safety foods were temping above 41 F.
• Several time/temperature control for safety foods were temping below 135 F..
• The walk-in cooler was not working properly, with a temperature of 45 F.
• Both handwashing sinks in server areas lacked handwashing signage.
• The facility lacked a test kit for the three-compartment sink sanitizer.

Players, 1500 54th St.

• Several time/temperature control for safety of cold-holding foods were above 41 F.
• The facility lacked a food temperature-measuring device.
• The facility lacked a test kit for the three-compartment sink sanitizer.
• Multiple live pests were in the main kitchen area.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 4501 River Road

• The handwashing sink in the main kitchen area, next to the three-compartment sink, was not working.
• The ceiling was leaking onto the prep table in the front food service area, directly in front of the heat lamps and warmer pass-thru. The facility had placed food containers on the prep table to collect water leaking from above.
• The ceiling tiles in front of the food service area are in disrepair and leaking.

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 6820 Midland Commons Blvd.

• The most current inspection was not posted at the main counter or drive-thru.
• The large white plastic container storing flour on the table where the chicken was battered with several large cracks.
• Buckets used for storing wiping cloths had a quaternary ammonium concentration of 0 ppm. The concentration should be filled to 200 ppm.
• The hand sink beside the fryers was blocked by flour containers.
• The hand sink in the ware-washing area with the automatic dispenser was not dispensing water.

Sbarro , 3131 Manchester Expressway

• Pink residue was on ice machine chute.
• Several items cold-held in the walk-in cooler were above 41 F.
• Chicken wings hot-held on the steam table in the front of the food service area were below 135 F.
• The facility had an inspection score of 100% displayed. Last inspection score was 92%.
• The walk-in cooler was at 49 F.
• Water was leaking from plumbing connection of the ice machine.
• A food service employee was using the stove top to heat food in the back kitchen area under the ventilation hood, which does not work.

Sunny Wings & Burgers, 1790 Williams Road, Suite B

• Two unauthorized personnel were in the main kitchen area.
• The facility was holding foods on fryer under 135 F.

Taste of Tokyo, 1056 Manchester Expressway, Suite. A-6B

• The CFSM (certified food safety manager) certificate expired (January 2025) for an employee posted within the establishment.
• “Pooled” eggs in a container in the RIC (reach-in cooler) were not covered or without a lid. Multiple food items were in the RIC closest to the kitchen without a lid.
• Cup-like scoops were utilized in the storage of sugar and rice.
• An employee’s personal phone was stored on a prep table near the reach-in cooler in the main kitchen area.

Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse, 1808 Manchester Expressway

• Cooked sushi rice had an expired time stamp identification from two days prior.
• Cooked rice was cooling in densely packed plastic containers with the lid on.
• Cooked rice was cooling in a walk-in cooler for about three hours at 125 F.
• Several time/temperature control for safety foods were cold-holding above 41 F in reach-in cooler and walk-in cooler.

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 include holding cold foods at 41 degrees and below, holding hot foods at 135 degrees or above and storing frozen foods in a frozen or hard to touch condition.

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

• After 5 Sports Bar & Grill, 1836 Midtown Drive
• B. Merrell’s, 6835 Midland Commons Blvd., Suite H, I, J
• Bonefish Grill, 6783 Veterans Parkway
• Breakfastology Cafe, 5156 River Road, Suite C and D
• Camileaux’s Low Country Boil and Wings, 1660 Whittlesey Road, Suite 100
• Captain D’s #3601, 3281 Victory Drive
• Captain D’s #3518, 121 Manchester Expressway
• Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd., Building 2
• Chef Chang’s Asian Grill, 6381 Milgen Road, #8 & 9
• Chili’s Grill & Bar, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd.
• Country Wings 2, 1241 Double Churches Road, Suite D
• Culver’s, 6859 Midland Commons Blvd.
• Dinglewood Pharmacy, 1939 Wynnton Road
• Dunkin, 3201 Macon Road
• Ezell’s Catfish Cabin, 4001 Warm Springs Road
• Houlihan’s North, 5351 Sidney Simons Blvd.
• Hudson’s at Main Street, 6298 Veterans Parkway, Suite 7A
• Jason’s Deli, 5579 Whittlesey Blvd. Suite 4
• JC’s Wings and Things, 7450 Blackmon Road, Suite 100
• Jhoomar Indian Cuisine, 2603 Manchester Expressway
• Marshall’s Smokehouse, 547 Veterans Parkway
• Moe’s Original BBQ, 1421 Sixth Ave.
• New China Express, 6361 Talokas Lane, Suite C
• Salt Cellar, 1039 First Ave.
• Southern Roots Country Store and Cafe, 1206 Broadway
• Tacos Sabor a Mexico, 1241 Double Churches Road, Suite C
• Tipsy Bar & Grill, 1780 Williams Road, Units B & C
• Toasted, 5727 Moon Road, Suite A
• Waffle House, 4301 Victory Drive
• Wendy’s, 1707 Wynnton Road
• Wings Cafe, 2911 Airport Thruway
• Xin Kee BBQ, 5750 Milgen Road, Suite 106

Restaurnts receiving perfect scores

• Build Yo Poke, 6550 Whittlesey Road, Suite 105
• Chick-fil-A Midland, 6501 Kitten Lake
• Destiny Dogs, 310 Eighth St.
• Guthrie’s, 8100 Veterans Parkway
• Just Thai, 5156 River Road, Suites A & B
• KFC, 5615 Milgen Road
• Krystal #1, 5412 Veterans Parkway
• La Tacita, 6517 Kitten Lake Drive, Suite W-5
• Lizzy’s Sweet Shoppe, 5401 Gunboat Drive, Unit 34
• McDonald’s #6080, 3450 Victory Drive
• Morris Road Hotdogs and Nachos, 564 Morris Road
• Neicy’s BBQ., 359 23rd Ave.
• Normitas Latin American Restaurant, 2036 Fort Benning Road
• Peluso’s Italian Restaurant, 5600 Milgen Road, Suite 1021
• Shark’s Fish & Chicken, 1226 Veterans Parkway
• Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd. Building 7
• Starbucks Coffee, 8132 Veterans Parkway, Building 5
• The Dawg House Sports Bar & Grill, 5140 Warm Springs Road
• The Seed Coffee & Cafe, 33 W. 14th St.
• Waffle House #57, 4005 Buena Vista Road