Columbus restaurant redeems itself from pest problem in November health inspections

A restaurant that received a “C” in its October inspection addressed a pest problem in its follow-up inspection last month.

Meanwhile, no Muscogee County restaurant scored lower than an 80 in November inspections.

There were 38 restaurants, lounges and bars inspected in November, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s online portal. Of the 32 Columbus businesses offering food services that received “A’s” in their routine inspections, 17 of them earned perfect scores. And six earned “B’s”.

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 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.

In October, New China Express on Talokas Lane received a 75 on its routine inspection because of the presence of flies, misplaced fly traps and food being stored too warm.

The restaurant underwent its required follow-up on Nov. 6, and raised its score to a 99.

No restaurant in Columbus received an unsatisfactory score in their routine inspection between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30. Here are the other scores for other restaurants inspected.

Perfect food safety scores

• 405 Broadway, 405 Broadway

• Barberitos, 1012 Broadway

• Barberitos, 5592 Whitesville Rd unit K

• Big Easy (base of operation), 4022 University Ave unit 12

• Big Easy (mobile unit), 4022 University Ave unit 12

• Breakroom Billiards, 5828 Moon Rd unit 5 & 6

• Columbus Nutrition, 3709 Gentian Blvd suite 9

• Freaky Fries, 5401 Gunboat Dr unit 19

• Jimmy John’s, 3127 Macon Rd

• Just Thai, 5156 River Rd suite A & B

• Koreana, 5828 Moon Rd

• Old Chicago, 6581 Whittlesey Blvd

• Paleteria Los Reyes, 2505 Airport Trwy unit M

• Papa John’s 5870 Veterans Pkwy suite A

• The Emeralds Touch BBQ (base of operation), 5150 Hamilton Rd

• The Emeralds Touch BBQ (mobile unit), 5150 Hamilton Rd

• The Juicy Crab, 1505 Manchester Expy

• Waffle House #1440, 6751 Veterans Pkwy

• Wing Master, 4231 Macon Rd suite 50

Other restaurants receiving A grades

• AMC Classic Peachtree 8, 3501 Manchester Expy

• Bojangles, 2883 Airport Trwy

• Burger King 2682, 2550 Airport Trwy

• Krystal #9, 412 13th St

• New China Express, 6361 Talokas Ln

• Nothing Bundt Cakes, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd suite 12-2

• TRS Lounge, 2911 Airport Trwy suite 10

• Ruth Ann’s Restaurant, 941 Veterans Pkwy

• Snacks Chabelita, 4475 Warm Spring Rd suite 3

• Sonic Drive-In #4439, 5586 Milgen Rd

• Sonic Drive-In #6006, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd

• The Cannon Brew Pub, 1041 Broadway

• Uptown Vietnam Cuisine, 1250 Broadway

• Waffle House, 1646 Bradley Park Dr

• Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse

Restaurants receiving B grades

• AC Hotel, 1225 Broadway
• BTJ Wings, 4720 Buena Vista Rd

• Captain D’s #3595, 2547 Airport Trwy

• Ed’s Southern Cooking, 5435 Woodruff Farm Rd

• Krystal #1, 5412 Veterans Pkwy

• La Huerta Mexican Restaurant, 2911 Airport Trwy

This story was originally published December 11, 2023 at 12:21 PM.

Brittany McGee

Columbus Ledger-Enquirer

Brittany McGee is the community issues reporter for the Ledger-Enquirer. She is a 2021 graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Media and Journalism with a second degree in Economics. She began at the Ledger-Enquirer as a Report for America corps member covering the COVID-19 recovery in Columbus. Brittany also covered business for the Ledger-Enquirer.