A Macon restaurant struggling with recent health inspections gets another C

A restaurant that’s been struggling recently with its state health inspections was the only one in Macon to earn below a “B” at its routine inspection during the reporting period of Nov. 1-30.

Church’s Chicken at 5394 Thomaston Road scored a 78, getting a “C” for “marginal compliance” at its Nov. 13 routine inspection, according to what was reported in the state health department’s online portal Monday.

The restaurant improved with a score of 89 for a “B” for “satisfactory compliance” at its required follow-up inspection Nov. 21.

Marginal compliance

At its routine November inspection, Church’s Chicken on Thomaston Road received its marginal compliance score in part due to corn and gravy pans at the bottom of a warming cabinet at a temperature below what is required for food safety.

According to the inspection report, other violations included:

• A bag of raw chicken within a metal container was submerged underwater in the sanitizing compartment of a three compartment sink and not under running water. Chicken should be thawed under running water and that should be done in the wash compartment, the report said.
• An orange substance build-up was seen within the interior of an ice machine.
• Paper towels were in a handsink next to a three compartment sink. A handwashing sink must be maintained to be accessible at all times for employees and used only for washing hands, while an automatic handwashing facility shall be used in accordance with manufacturer’s instructions, according to the report.
• The freezer had ice build up, and frozen ice on the floor had not been completely cleaned up. The freezer door needed repair.

The restaurant, which closed temporarily in October due to poor compliance with health standards, struggled through four of its five previous health inspections.

The restaurant received a 73 at its routine inspection Sept. 9, followed by three more “C’s” with scores of 70 on Sept. 22, 74 on Oct. 8 and 74 on Oct. 20 at its required follow-up inspections before achieving a 98 for an “A” at its fourth follow-up inspection on Oct. 24.

On prior routine and follow-up inspection scores, the restaurant received one “A,” one “B” and two “C’s” in 2024; two “A’s, one “C” and one failing grade of “U” in 2023, and one “B” in 2022, according to what was reported in the online portal.

State Environmental Health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores at 69 and below considered failing.

Restaurants and other food establishments that receive either a “U” or a “C” on a routine inspection are required to have follow-up inspections, which usually take place within 10 days of the routine inspection.

How did other Macon restaurants fare?

Most Macon restaurants, bars, food trucks and other venues earned “A’s” at routine health inspections from Nov. 1-30, including nearly 30 that earned perfect scores of 100.

Only seven received “B’s” and none received a failing grade of “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance.”

These restaurants, bars, food trucks and other venues scored 100:

• Ocmulgee Brewpub, 484 Second St.
• Burger King, 3820 Riverside Drive
• Capitol Theatre, 382 Second St.
• Cashman’s, 370 Cherry St.
• Chick-fil-A, 140 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
• Cracker Barrel, 3950 Riverside Drive
• Domino’s Pizza, 600 New St.
• Dovetail, 543 Cherry St.
• El Mantial Panaderia y Restaurant, 4075 Pio Nono Ave.
• El Torito De Chapala, 4053 Pio Nono Ave.
• Famous Mike’s of Macon, 542 Poplar St.
• Grant’s Lounge, 576 Poplar St.
• Holy Pie! Pizzeria, 5797 Houston Road, Suite K
• Ice Bar & Grill, 3464 Williamson Road
• KFC, 190 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
• Late Nite Macon, 420 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• Macon Halal Eats food truck
• Oakview Golf & Country Club
• Parish on Cherry St., 580 Cherry St.
• Positive Impact, My Heart’s Desire food truck
• Sparks Wing Cafe, 3761 Mercer University Drive
• Starbucks, 121 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
• Taco Bell, 5571 Thomaston Road
• Talk Story Coffee Co. mobile 
• Taste & See Coffee Shop & Gallery, 546 Poplar St.
• Tokyo Alley, 574 Mulberry St. Lane
• Zaxby’s, 1680 Bass Road

Here’s how the scores are graded:

• A” for a score from 90 to 100 for “food safety excellence.”
• “B” for a score from 80 to 89 for “satisfactory compliance.”
• “C” for a score from 70 to 79 for “marginal compliance.”
• “U” for a score of 69 or less for “unsatisfactory compliance”

Restaurant inspections are designed to protect public health. The Telegraph reviews inspection reports monthly.