Macon restaurant gets a ‘C’ at its routine health inspection. What went wrong?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Raw chicken stored above raw beef caused cross-contamination risk and a C grade.
- Follow-up inspection on March 23 raised score to 96, restoring A rating.
- Inspectors cited improper temperatures and the inspection report wasn’t posted.
Raw chicken incorrectly stored above raw beef contributed to a Macon restaurant receiving a “C” for “marginal compliance” on its most recent health inspection.
Hong Kong Garden at 3045 Hartley Bridge Road, Suite E, received a 79 at its routine inspection March 13, according to what was reported Wednesday in the state health department’s online portal.
The restaurant improved its score with a 96 for an “A” for “food safety excellence” at its required follow-up inspection March 23.
State Environmental Health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores at 69 and below, a “U,” considered failing.
Restaurants and other food establishments that receive either a “C” or a “U” on a routine inspection are required to have follow-up inspections, which usually take place within 10 days of the routine inspection.
Why did Hong Kong Garden get a ‘C’?
At its routine inspection, Hong Kong Garden off Hartley Bridge Road received its marginal compliance score in part due to raw chicken incorrectly stored above raw beef in a walk-in cooler creating the potential for cross contamination, according to the inspection report.
Other violations included:
- Food items such as raw shrimp and shell eggs were stored in prep top cooler above the required temperature for food safety.
- The most recent health inspection report was not posted in public view as required.
At prior routine inspections included in the online portal, the restaurant received “A’s” with scores of 91 on Aug. 19, 2025; 94 on January 13, 2025; and 100 on Sept. 12, 2023.
How did other Macon restaurants fare on routine health inspections?
Most Macon restaurants earned “A’s” on their routine health inspections for the March 1-31 reporting period.
Of those, nearly 20 earned perfect scores of 100.
Another eight restaurants received “B’s” for “satisfactory compliance,” while none of the restaurants received a failing grade of “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance.”
Best scores
Here are the restaurants and a bar and grill with perfect scores of 100s:
- Anderson’s Country Kitchen, 1224 Eisenhower Parkway
- Bulldogs Bar & Grill, 3748 Bloomfield Village Drive
- Dairy Queen, 4760 Log Cabin Drive
- Five Guys, 120 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
- Fried Green Tomatoes, 103 Riverside Parkway
- Hotlanta Wings, 650 Shurling Drive, Suite B
- K’s Fish & More, 3047 Hartley Bridge Road, Suite A
- La Mexicana Food Mart, 5411 Houston Road
- Little Caesars, 1502 Rocky Creek Road
- McDonald’s, 1450 Rocky Creek Road
- Medi’s Mediterranean Fusion Restaurant, 1687 Bass Road, Suite 103
- Ole Times Country Buffet, 3661 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 50
- Rivera’s Mexican Restaurant, 4328 Hartley Bridge Road
- Satterfield’s, 120 New St.
- Sharks Fish & Chicken, 1413 Rocky Creek Road, Suites A&B
- Subway, 883 Pine St.
- The Salad Place, 3640 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 160
- Your Pie, 536 Poplar St.
Restaurant inspections are designed to protect public health. The Telegraph reviews inspection reports monthly.