Wrong temp for beef tongue. Warner Robins restaurant fails routine health inspection

Chopped beef tongue in a reach-in cooler stored 9 degrees above the required minimum temperature contributed to a Warner Robins restaurant failing its routine inspection in January.

Los Comales at 1238 South Houston Lake Road, Suite 7 & 6, scored a 67 for a failing grade of “U” for “unsatisfactory compliance” on Jan. 28, according to what was reported in the state health department’s online portal Monday.

Two days later, the restaurant bounced back at its required follow-up inspection with a perfect score of 100 for an “A” and “food safety excellence.”

Environmental health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores of 69 and below considered failing. Follow-up inspections are required when a restaurant fails its routine inspection and generally take place within 10 days.

Failing grade

Here’s why Los Comales failed its routine inspection, according to the Jan. 28 health inspection report:

• A container with chopped beef tongue in a reach-in cooler below the prep-top cooler was being held at 50 degrees Fahrenheit instead of at 41 degrees Fahrenheit and below as required by state law for food safety.
• Sliced ham and hot dogs had no date marking as required.
• Tamales and flautas in the walk-in freezer were uncovered and exposed to possible contamination.
• The reach-in cooler below the prep-top cooler did not have a temperature measuring device inside. “In a mechanically refrigerated or hot food storage unit, the sensor of a temperature measuring device shall be located to measure the air temperature in the warmest part of a mechanically refrigerated unit and in the coolest part of a hot food storage unit,” the report said. “Buy a thermometer for the unit so that the temperature of the unit can be monitored at all times.”
• The hand washing sink in the bar area was inaccessible.
• No paper towels were at the hand washing sink in the bar area.
• No health inspection report was posted at the drive-thru window as required. A copy of the current inspection report should be posted at the drive-thru window where customers can easily read the score, the date of inspection and the establishment information.

On prior inspections, Los Comales scored a 100 for an “A” on a follow-up inspection Aug. 28, 2024 after receiving a “C” for “marginal compliance” with a 72 score at its Aug. 26, 2024 routine inspection; a 95 for an “A” at a follow-up inspection April 25, 2024 after receiving a “C” with a 70 score at its April 22, 2024 routine inspection; a 96 for an “A” at its routine inspection Dec. 21, 2023; and 100 at its initial inspection Oct. 25, 2023 before opening.

How did others fare?

Meanwhile, most restaurants, coffee shops, bars and food trucks in Warner Robins, Centerville, Perry and surrounding areas in Houston County earned “A’s” on routine inspections for the period of Jan. 1-31, according to what was reported in the online portal.

More than 70 achieved those “A’s” with perfect scores of 100.

In all, 14 other restaurants and a restaurant/taphouse earned “B’s” for “satisfactory compliance,” while one restaurant earned a “C.”

Perfect scores by area:

Warner Robins

• 96 Nutrition, 810 Ga. 96, Suite 800
• American Deli, 1130 Watson Blvd.
• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 314 Russell Parkway
• Arby’s, 103 Russell Parkway
• Arby’s, 709 Lake Joy Road
• Casa Mexico II, 866 Ga. 96, Suite 103
• Cheddar’s Casual Cafe, 2915 Watson Blvd.
• Fish House, 1243 Watson Blvd.
• FitCo Health, 198 South Houston Lake road, Suite D
• Fried Green Tomatoes, 747 Russell Parkway
• Genji Japanese Steak & Seafood, 2907 Watson Blvd., Suite A-1
• Gigi’s Comfort Food, 103 Manor Court
• Hardee’s, 2929 Watson Blvd.
• Hibachi Buffet Grill & Sushi, 4025 Watson Blvd., Suite 160
• Huddle House, 215 Russell Parkway
• Jim & Nicks BBQ, 4060 Watson Blvd.
• KIN.D96 Thai & Sushi, 1057 Ga. 96, Suite 300
• Little Caesars, 810 Ga. 96, Suite 2100
• Marco’s Pizza, 4993 Russell Parkway, Suite 420 & 430
• Margarita’s Mexican Bar & Grill II, 2907 Watson Blvd., Suite A-2
• Mr. Smoothie N More, 912 Russell Parkway, Suite B
• My Grandma’s Empanadas, 120 South Armed Forces Blvd.
• Nu-Way Weiners, 1215 Russell Parkway
• Olive Garden, 3020 Watson Blvd.
• Our Yarn Studio, 4993 Russell Parkway, Suite 330
• Props, 1289 South Houston Lake Road
• Q Time Barbecue, 1205 South Houston Lake Road
• Shell’s Seafood, 117 Russell Parkway, Suite I
• Southern Landings Golf Club, 309 Stathams Way
• Starbucks, 2729 Watson Blvd.
• Steak-Out, 1001 Russell Parkway, Suite B
• Stoners Pizza Joint, 1080 Ga. 96, Suite 500
• The Afterburner, 201 Corder Road, Suite A
• Taco Bell, 715 Lake Joy Road
• Thai Pepper, 1806 Russell Parkway, Suite 1100
• Waffle House, 310 Russell Parkway
• Waffle House, 1055 Ga. 96
• Wendy’s, 1295 South Houston Lake Road
• Wendy’s, 2925 Watson Blvd.
• Yesterdaze Bar & Grill, 2607 Moody Road, Suite A
• Zaxby’s 3101 Russell Parkway

Warner Robins area

• 2 Guys & A Pie Pizzeria, 402 Ga. 247 South, Suite 2000, Bonaire
• FitCo Health Club, 402 Ga. 247, Suite 600, Bonaire
• Great American Cookies & Marble Slab Creamery, 749 Ga. 96, Suite 204, Bonaire
• La Cabana Mexican Restaurant, 402 Ga. 247, Suite 1200
• La Fresita Loca, 3421 North Ga. 49, Suite 3000-B, Byron
• No Name Chicken, 778 Ga. 96, Suite 130, Bonaire
• Pizza Hut, 670 Lake Joy Road, Suite 100, Kathleen
• Snellgrove Seafood Restaurant, 632 North Houston Lake Blvd., Centerville
• Sol Azteca Mexican Grill, 6009 Watson Blvd., Suite 440, Byron
• Teriyaki Japan, Houston County Galleria, 2922 Watson Blvd., Suite 830, Centerville
• White Diamond Grill, 497 Ga. 247, Bonaire

Perry

• China Express, 1365 Sam Nunn Blvd., Suite B
• Clover Wine Merchant, 907 Carroll St.
• Cook Out, 1340 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• Ghost Runner Pizza, 742 Main St.
• Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1416 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• Krystal, 1415 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• Marco’s Pizza, 273 Perry Parkway, Suite J
• My Bar, 2132 U.S. 41 North
• Red Lobster, 1359 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• Subway, 273 North Perry Parkway, Suite G
• Wendy’s,1811 Houston Lake Road
• Zaxby’s, 311 Perry Parkway

Food trucks

• A Taste of Creole
• BurgerIM
• Gigi’s Little Kitchen
• J & A Food on the Go
• Johnson Boys & Girl BBQ
• King’s Que & More
• Peach State Sunset Slush
• Shells Seafood
• Shutup & Eat
• Smoke South Craft BBQ
• The Mad Mexican

Here’s how the scores are graded:

• “A” for a score between 90 and 100 that indicates “food safety excellence.”
• “B” for a score between 80 and 89 for “satisfactory compliance.”
• “C” for “marginal compliance’‘ based on a score between 70 and 79.
• “U” for ``unsatisfactory compliance” based on a score of 69 or less.

Restaurant inspections are designed to protect public health. The Telegraph reviews inspection reports monthly and generally reports only the best and the worst scores.