The highs and lows: Which Columbus restaurants got best, worst inspection scores this year
Health inspectors visit food service establishments across Muscogee County regularly to ensure food safety rules and procedures are followed.
The Ledger-Enquirer examined scores from over 280 Columbus restaurants, bars and lounges that received health inspections over the past year to show readers the highest and lowest average scores.
Restaurants with only one initial score were not included, and establishments that are visited once per year were added if they earned perfect scores multiple years in a row. The scores used were current up to Nov. 26.
Residents can find information on all health inspections on the Georgia Department of Health’s online portal.
Businesses 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.
Lowest food safety scores this year
Four food service establishments tied for the lowest scores this year.
C Town Wings at 3493 N. Lumpkin Road earned an 81 on both its March 14 inspection and its Nov. 12 inspection. Violations included storing food incorrectly, an unlabeled container of bleach and using time as public health control for raw chicken wings when this measure is only approved for cooked chicken wings.
Juicy Jerk Grill at 3964 Veterans Pkwy. received an 82 on its March 27 inspection and an 80 on its Oct. 3 inspection. Violations included food being stored at incorrect temperatures, live flies throughout the facility and not protecting raw chicken and raw shrimp from cross-contamination.
King Claw at 1591 Bradley Park Drive received an 81 on both its March 7 and Sept. 19 inspections. Violations included raw mussels and cooked potatoes holding at incorrect temperatures and a food employee neglect washing hands when changing tasks.
Taste of Tokyo at 1056 Manchester Expy. also earned an 81 on both of its health inspections on March 4 and Sept. 30. Violations included foods holding at the wrong temperatures, food not cooling correctly and uncovered items in reach-in coolers.
Restaurants earning perfect scores this year
If your business earned multiple perfect scores over the past year and isn’t included on this list email the Ledger-Enquirer at bmcgee@ledger-enquirer.com
