Two Macon restaurants fail routine health inspections. Here’s what went awry

Two Macon restaurants failed their routine health inspections in February in part for improper food temperatures for food safety and employees not washing their hands.

Mrs. Winners at 2419 Pio Nono failed its routine inspection with a score of 66, or a “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance,” on Feb. 18, according to what was reported Tuesday in the state health department’s online portal.

The restaurant improved its score with a 91, an “A” for “food safety excellence,” at its required follow-up inspection Feb. 25.

New China Express at 1493 Gray Highway failed its routine inspection with a 68 score for a “U” on Feb. 12.

The restaurant improved its score with a 92, an “A,” at its required follow-up inspection Feb. 25.

State Environmental Health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores at 69 and below, a “U” grade, 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.

Failing grades

At Mrs. Winners’ routine inspection, two containers of mac-n-cheese in a warming cabinet were below the required hot holding temperature for food safety, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• An employee was seen drinking from a disposable cup with a lid and a straw without washing their hands as required before moving to the next task or handling equipment/food.
• An employee was seen eating on the prep line in between cleaning and pulling items from the fryer.
• Equipment in various parts of the facility needed to be cleaned from grease accumulation/food debris and residue.
• Equipment was stacked wet on shelving in the dish pit area instead of being allowed to drain and air dry first.
• A prep top cooler had a damaged lid.
• Jackets were stored on top of items in the dry storage area near the walk-in freezer instead of away from food prep and storage as required.
• Weather strips and plates needed to be installed at all doors where light is present around/between the door and frame.

At Mrs. Winners’ prior inspections included in the online portal, the restaurant scored an 82 for a “B” for “satisfactory compliance” at its Aug. 12, 2025, routine inspection; a 90 for an “A” at its Oct. 30, 2024, routine inspection; an 84 for a “B” at its Feb. 20, 2024, inspection; and a 96 for an “A” at its required follow-up inspection May 30, 2023, after failing its routine inspection May 19, 2023, with a 66 for a “U.”

At New China Express’ routine inspection, food items in the prep top were above the required temperature for food safety with the unit not maintaining temperature, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• The person in charge at the restaurant was seen moving from a register to handling fryer baskets and plating meals without washing their hands before handling equipment multiple times.
• Both handsinks had no hand soap as required.
• No paper towels were at the back hand sink as required.
• A back hand sink was blocked by a trash can and mop bucket. A handwashing facility may not be used for purposes other than handwashing.
• The restaurant was re-using boxes to line equipment and storing an excess of soy sauce buckets.
• The restaurant needed to clean all equipment, including storage racks in the cooler/freezer and the condenser unit in the walk-in cooler due to heavy build-up.
• There was damaged plumbing to a back hand sink in the kitchen with water pouring on the floor.
• The restaurant did not have a proper bodily fluid kit as required.
• Ceiling tiles were damaged, missing and/or in need of cleaning from dust accumulation.
• The restaurant was in need of deep cleaning with cobwebs seen throughout the facility.
• The wall was damaged near the framing around the men’s restroom.
• A potential sewage odor was coming from the ladies’ restroom.

At prior inspections included in the online portal, New China Express scored an 89 for a “B” at its routine inspection June 22, 2025; an 83 for a “B” at is Aug. 1, 2024, routine inspection; a 78 for a “C” for “marginal compliance” at its required follow-up inspection Oct. 17, 2023, after failing its routine inspection for a “U” on Oct. 12, 2023; and an 88 for a “B” at its April 4, 2023, routine inspection.

How did other eating establishments fare?

Most restaurants, bars and food trucks received “A’s” on their routine inspections for the reporting period of Feb. 1-28, including more than a dozen with perfect scores of 100, according to what was reported in the online portal.

Less than a dozen received “B’s” and none received a “C.”

Best scores

Here are those with perfect scores of 100:

• Bearfoot Tavern, 468 Second St.
• Firehouse Subs, 4123 Forsyth Road
• Fountain of Juice, 4123 Forsyth Road
• Hoops Bar, 477 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
• K Wingman, 5615 Houston Road
• Kenny G’s food truck
• MAC Foods food truck
• Mikata Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar, 2972 Riverside Drive
• Mr PJ’s Go Wings & Hibachi, 3960 Northside Drive
• Nu-Way Weiners, 6016 Zebulon Road
• Shiver Shack Shaved Ice food truck
• Sweet Eleanor’s, 530 Poplar St.
• The Woodward Hotel, 350 Second St.
• Tucker’s Barbecue & Drive-in, 4591 Broadway
• Village Coffee, 2391 Ingleside Ave.
• Wendy’s, 6001 Harrison Road
• Wingstop, 156 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd., Suite 246

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.

This story was originally published March 3, 2026 at 10:33 AM.