Food safety issues: Two Warner Robins restaurants fail routine health inspections
Two Warner Robins restaurants failed their routine health inspections in November, while the majority of other Houston County restaurants earned “A’s.”
Nearly a dozen others received “B’s” while there were three “C’s” during the reporting period from Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s online portal.
State health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores at 69 and below considered failing. Restaurant inspections are designed to protect public health.
Tap and Pour
Tap and Pour at 2611 Moody Road, Suite D, received a “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance” with a failing score of 52 at its Nov. 9 routine inspection, according to the inspection report.
But the craft beer bar and beer garden restaurant bounced back with a score of 95 on its required follow-up inspection Nov. 15, earning an “A” for “food safety excellence.”
Follow-up inspections are required when a restaurant fails its routine inspection and generally take place within 10 days.
Tap and Pour was cited for storing food at improper temperatures for food safety, including shelled raw eggs and mashed potatoes, according to the inspection report.
The health inspector also observed raw beef and raw shell eggs stored on a shelf above ready to eat sauces and sour cream inside of a prep cooler. Restaurants are required to store food in such a way to prevent potential cross contamination, according to state regulations.
In addition, sour cream with a best by use date of September 27 was found stored inside of a prep cooler when it should have been discarded, the report said.
The health inspector also watched an employee go into the food preparation area and touch clean food bowls before washing his hands, the report said.
The restaurant previously had earned all “A’s” since its opening in 2018, according to the health department’s online portal.
Curry Mantra
Curry Mantra at 4025 Watson Blvd. ,Suite 290, scored a 60 on its routine health inspection Nov. 9, receiving a failing grade of “U.”
But the Indian cuisine restaurant rebounded with a perfect score of 100 at its follow-up inspection Nov. 12, earning an “A” for “food safety excellence.”
During its routine inspection, a health inspector saw an employee handling ready-to-eat food with their bare hands instead of using appropriate utensils or gloves, the report said.
The health inspector also observed raw chicken stored above raw beef and other cut vegetables inside a reach-in cooler as well as numerous containers of raw chicken stored over cut onions in a walk-in cooler, the report said.
Restaurants are required to store food in such a way to prevent potential cross contamination, according to the report.
The health inspector also “observed establishment partially cooking chicken without a verified procedure” and “raw shelled eggs sitting on the counter top” above the proper temperature, according to the report.
Additionally, knives that were stored as clean had “heavy food debris,” the report said.
No other routine inspection reports were included in the online portal for Curry Mantra when reviewed by The Telegraph.
Top scorers
Among Houston County restaurants earning “A’s” on their routine inspections in November, multiple restaurants scored a perfect 100. Here are the top scores:
- El Bronco, 2067 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins
- Saigon Noodle House, 402 Ga. 247, Suite 1700-1800, Bonaire
- Thai Pepper, 1806 Russell Parkway, Suite 1100, Warner Robins
- Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 314 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins
- Shanghai Restaurant, 2203 Watson Blvd., Suite BB, Warner Robins
- Social Kitchen + Cocktails, 2922 Watson Blvd., Space 500, Centerville
- McCall’s, 1001 Watson Blvd, Warner Robins
- Dairy Queen, 353 General Courtney Hodges Blvd., Perry
- S Deli & Wings, 520 General Courtney Hodges Blvd., Perry
- My Grandma’s Empanadas, 120 South Armed Forces Blvd., Warner Robins
- One Night Stand Catering, 6015 Watson Boulevard, Suite 420, Warner Robins
- Mini Dixie Donuts, 1003 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins
- American Deli, 1365 Sam Nunn Blvd., Perry
- American Wings & Deli, 1996 Watson Blvd., Warner Robins
- Larry’s Giant Subs, 789 Ga. 96, Unit 1-F, Bonaire
- Steak Out, 1001 Russell Parkway, Suite B, Warner Robins
- Mr. Smoothie Juice Bar, 912 B. Russell Parkway, Warner Robins
- Bojangles, 495 Booth Road, Warner Robins
- Starbucks, 277 Perry Parkway, Perry
- Starbucks, at Kroger, 774 Ga. 96, Bonaire
- Pita Mediterranean St. Food, 3030 Watson Blvd., Suite 600-700, Warner Robins
- McDonald’s, 265 Perry Parkway, Perry
- Burger King 201 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins
- Fried Green Tomatoes, 2806 Watson Blvd., Centerville
- Arby’s, 103 Russell Parkway, Warner Robins
- Arby’s, 1406 Sam Nunn Blvd., Suite A, Perry
- Smoke South Craft BBQ, a Warner Robins-based food truck and mobile catering business
Here’s how the scores break down: “A” for a score between 90 to 100 and denotes “food safety excellence.” “B” for a score between 80 to 89, considered “satisfactory compliance.” “C” for “marginal compliance” based on a score of 70-79. A “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance” is given when a restaurant scores 69 or less.
This story was originally published December 2, 2021 at 9:36 AM.