General
From critters to “residue” of various colors and textures to food kept in food buckets from Lowe’s and Home Depot, inspectors with the Jefferson County Health Department saw it all in January.
Fifteen establishments scored 84 or below on their health inspection last month, meaning they are due to be reinspected within 60 days.
Nearly half of those restaurants posted scores of 77 or below, including ones with “pink residue” and “black residue” in their ice machines.
One establishment with a sub-85 score stored food in a Home Depot bucket while another opted for the hardware store’s competitor — Lowe’s — as their bucket of choice.
Other serious infractions include foods that were kept out of temperature — putting patrons at risk of illnesses –, “active roaches” and dead insects.
Here are those 15 restaurants, in descending order by score:
Thai Esane
1821 Second Ave. N, Birmingham
Score: 84
Inspection date: Jan. 8
The inspector saw “several active roaches of different sizes on the ground, walls and on a pan of wontons in the reach-in make-table cooler.”
An accumulation of grease was caked on the hood ventilation filters.
Grime, grease and debris was seen on walls and floors.
Uptown Cantina
2301 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd. N, Birmingham
Score: 84
Inspection date: Jan. 14
All employees lacked food handler training.
Pans of beans and meat were stored at inappropriate temperatures.
Decatur Chevron
1130 Decatur Hwy., Gardendale
Score: 83
Inspection date: Jan. 7
A dicer stored near the pizza station had “dried food residue” on the blades.
A hand sink was missing soap.
Domino’s Pizza
1506 Montclair Rd., Birmingham
Score: 83
Inspection date: Jan. 6
Several cutting boards were soiled with shredded cheese.
A container of chicken fingers did not have a proper preparation date.
Kentucky Fried Chicken
1674 Gadsden Hwy., Trussville
Score: 83
Inspection date: Jan. 14
There were no employees with documented food safety training completion.
The beverage nozzles in the drive-thru area were dirty.
Kumo Sushi & Asian
835 Odum Rd., Gardendale
Score: 82
Inspection date: Jan. 17
Several dead insects were found on a clean dish shelf near the three-compartment sink.
The ice machine had an “accumulation of black residue.”
Sol Azteca
1360 Montgomery Hwy., Vestavia Hills
Score: 81
Inspection date: Jan. 8
Pork and beef were cooked more than seven days before the inspection. The person in charge voluntary discarded the food upon inspection.
Food debris was found on the storage shelves under the grills, in the low-boy cooler and in dry storage.
Food residue was found around the stove irons.
Bessemer Foodmart
2800 9th Ave., Bessemer
Score: 80
Inspection date: Jan. 8
Toilets were leaking.
The establishment had no proof of providing workers with clean-up procedures for vomiting or diarrheal events.
The establishment had no proof that it communicated a policy on what employees should do if they have a symptom of or diagnosed with a disease transmissible through food.
Shangri La
4500 Montevallo Rd., Birmingham
Score: 80
Inspection date: Jan. 17
Various dead insects were found on the floor in the kitchen.
Rice was kept at an inappropriate temperature.
Several coolers were soiled with food debris.
The microwave was soiled with a “sticky residue.”
Burger King #23805
4520 Pinson Blvd., Pinson
Score: 77
Inspection date: Jan. 7
Chicken nuggets, lettuce and tomatoes were kept at inappropriate temperatures.
Food safety training was not provided to all food handlers.
Craft’s on Church Street
49 Church St., Mountain Brook
Score: 77
Inspection date: Jan. 30
Brussels sprout salad was stored in Home Depot buckets.
Brussels sprout salad and lettuce were kept at inappropriate temperatures.
Floors in the walk-in cooler were soiled with “heavy food debris and residue.”
Cracker Barrel #301
5040 Academy Ln., Bessemer
Score: 76
Inspection date: Jan. 27
Speed racks were dirty.
Wheels and cooking equipment had “heavy grease residue.”
Several trays of raw bacon were kept at inappropriate temperatures.
Several dirty plates and coffee mugs were stored on the serving line ready to use.
There were no paper towels at the hand sink on the serving line.
Stadium Food Mart
900 4th Ave., Bessemer
Score: 75
Inspection date: Jan. 3
The inside of the ice machine had a “buildup of black residue.”
Floors around equipment had an “accumulation of grime and dust.”
Food safety training was not provided to all food handlers.
Non-food grade buckets from Lowe’s were used to transport ice to the fountain machine.
Best Wings & Deli
5017 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham
Score: 73
Inspection date: Jan. 29
The ice chute had an accumulation of “pink residue.”
Bell peppers and cabbage were stored in grocery bags.
Raw eggs, raw fish, raw hamburger and other raw meats were stored above condiments and produce in the reach-in cooler.
No employees present had food safety manager certification.
A pipe underneath the hand sink in the back of the kitchen was dripping.
El Men Tacos
2445 1st Ave. S, Irondale
Score: 71
Inspection date: Jan. 29
Steak in a silver container was kept at an unacceptable temperature.
Several pans of wraps, rice, beans and steak were not properly date marked.
No one on duty had a certified food safety manager card.
Neither the most current inspection report nor the establishment’s permit were posted for public view.
Dillard’s Chophouse
2217 Richard Arrington Jr. Blvd., Birmingham
Score: 71
Inspection date: Jan. 21
Slices of moldy cheese were found in the reach-in cooler.
Cut tomatoes and lettuce were kept at inappropriate temperatures.
Raw steaks and cut potatoes in the walk-in cooler were uncovered.
“Black residue” was observed on the inside of ice machines.
“Food residue” was found on the back of a meat slicer and on the blade of a can opener.
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