Meatball temps, expired avocados lead to C’s in 2 Macon restaurant inspections

Meatballs not being held at the correct temperature at one Macon restaurant, and avocado stored beyond its expiration date for a second contributed to their “marginal compliance” scores on routine health inspections in April.

Subway at 630 North Avenue scored a 75, or “C,” at its routine health inspection April 25. A required follow-up inspection was not included in what was reported Tuesday in the state’s online health inspection portal.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe at 5791 Zebulon Road, Suite C, scored a 76, or “C,” at its routine health inspection April 15. The restaurant bounced back with a 96, an “A,” at its required follow-up inspection April 15.

State Environmental Health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100.

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.

Marginal compliance

At the routine inspection of Subway on North Avenue, meatballs were being held below the required temperature for food safety, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• An employee in the front food service area dropped food labels multiple times but did not rewash their hands and put on new gloves before returning to preparing sandwiches
• A Certified Food Safety Manager certification was not posted in public view as required
• Two employees working with food did not have required hair restraints
• An employee was wearing a bracelet while preparing sandwiches.

On prior inspections included in the online portal, the restaurant scored “A’s” and “B’s” — including an 87, or “B,” on Oct. 14, 2025; an 85 for a “B” on April 17, 2025; a 97 for an “A” on July 11, 2024; and a 92 for an “A” on Sept. 27, 2023.

At the routine inspection of Tropical Smoothie Cafe on Zebulon Road, an employee discarded gloves and attempted to put on new ones before washing their hands after completing a food preparation task, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• Multiple containers of prepped foods such as avocado, pineapples and lettuce within walk-in and reach-in coolers had use-by-dates exceeding the seven-day maximum for food safety
• The restaurant did not have a formally appointed person in charge on duty as required
• The most recent health inspection report was not posted in public view
• A box of acai bowls were stored on the floor close to a three-compartment sink instead of being stored at least 6 inches off the floor as required
• Multiple containers stacked within a sanitizing compartment and shelves had sticker residue, or the stickers were still on them.

On prior routine inspections included in the online portal, the restaurant earned “A’s” and “B’s” — including an 83 for a “B” on Oct. 6, 2025; an 88 for a “B” on Jan. 7, 2025; a 90 for an “A” on July 19, 2024; a 100 for an “A” on Dec. 14, 2023; and a 95 for an “A” on July 3, 2023.

How did other Macon restaurants fare?

Most Macon restaurants scored “A’s” on their routine inspections for the April 1 -30 reporting period. Only three received a “C” and none a “U.”

Most Macon restaurants earned “A’s” on routine inspections from April 1-30, including more than a dozen with perfect scores of 100.

Only three restaurants received “B’s,” while none were graded a “U.”

Best scores

Here are restaurants, a bar and supplement drink shop with perfect scores of 100:

• 587 Soul, 2411 Pio Nono Ave.
• Blossom Nutrition, 4357 Forsyth Ave.
• Culver’s of Macon, 3710 Northside Drive
• El Torito De Chapala at Smiley’s Flea Market, 6717 Hawkinsville Road, Unit 56 H
• Hotel Forty Five’s Reckon Coffee and Wine Bar, 401 Cotton Ave.
• J & J Fish & Chicken, 4351 Pio Nono Ave.
• KFC, 190 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
• Laura Mae’s Sidewalk Cafe & Famous Grill at Smiley’s Flea Market, 6717 Hawkinsville Road
• Marble Slab Creamery, 5976 Zebulon Road
• Shurling Seafood, 737 Shurling Drive
• Taco Bell, 170 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd.
• Taco Mac, 5433 Bowman Road
• Tacos Sige at Smiley’s Flea Market, 6717 Hawkinsville Road
• The Monkey’s Paw Tiki Lounge, 470 First St., Unit F

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.