The best and worst health scores for Jefferson County restaurants in May

In April, no restaurant in Jefferson County scored low enough on their health inspection to trigger a reinspection.

The same could not be said in May, as four Jefferson County establishments had scores below 85, which means they’ll be having a repeat visit from a health inspector within 60 days.

Among the violations cited include rodent droppings and foods stored at incorrect temperatures.

On the flip side, 15 restaurants received perfect scores of 100 in May.

The spots given perfect scores range from restaurants to gas stations and food trucks. We did not include perfect scores handed out to school cafeterias, senior centers or produce sections of grocery stores.

These four Jefferson County restaurants scored below an 85, the threshold that triggers a reinspection.

Wingstop, 1539 Montgomery Hwy., Hoover

Wingstop, 1539 Montgomery Hwy., Hoover

Score: 84

Critical violations: 2

Wingstop was cited for an employee not using gloves or utensils when handling ready to eat food, which cost the establishment five points when it was inspected May 17.

The health inspector noted the employee was discussing the policy with the person in charge of the wings joint, who told the employee to wear gloves.

“The employee reluctantly obliged,” the inspector wrote.

Wingstop was docked another four points because the bathroom sinks’ hot water was not hot enough for handwashing.

The restaurant was also dinged for six minor violations.

32nd Avenue Foodmart, 1720 32nd Ave. North, Birmingham

Score: 81

Critical violations: 4

The establishment’s four critical violations resulted in 17 points worth of deductions following a May 23 inspection.

The inspector said 32nd Avenue Foodmart lacked clean-up procedures for employees when patrons become ill.

There was also no facility available to clean and sanitize kitchenware and utensils.

Meanwhile, the establishment had an inadequate number of handwashing sinks and did not have a thermometer available to measure washing and sanitizing temperatures.

The Purple Onion, 1551 Montgomery Hwy., Hoover

Score: 75

Critical violations: 2

The Hoover Purple Onion had wild rice and pre-cooked turkey stored at unacceptable temperatures — a five-point deduction. The inspector noted during their May 2 inspection that the door on the reach-in cooler was not sealing property.

The eatery lost another four points for having a handwashing sink disconnected from the drain line. The sink was leaking during a previous inspection, according to the inspector’s report.

The Purple Onion also had several minor infractions, including employees using food prep shelves for personal items and prepared salads and veggies stored in a cooler with a condensation leak.

Hong Kong Seafood, 1101 3rd Ave. West, Birmingham

Score: 68

Critical violations: 5

Hong Kong Seafood had the lowest health score of any Jefferson County restaurant inspected in May.

The inspector observed rodent droppings “throughout the food prep area” during a May 2 visit, which cost the restaurant four points.

It also had four other critical violations for a combined 20-point deduction, including storing cooked chicken in boxes that previously contained raw chicken and keeping cooked food at inappropriate temperatures.

And these 15 restaurants earned perfect scores in May: