Old milk and undated food. C’s for these Warner Robins, Centerville restaurants

Two Warner Robins restaurants and one in the mall in Centerville received “C’s” for “marginal compliance” on routine health inspections in September.

Chen’s Wok at the Houston County Galleria, Suite 815, 2922 Watson Blvd., scored a 70 on Sept. 8, according to what was reported Thursday in the state health department’s online portal.

KIN.D96 Thai & Sushi at 1057 Ga. 96, Suite 300, scored a 76 on Sept. 22, and Los Comales at 1238 South Houston Lake Road, Suites 7 & 6, scored a 77 on Sept. 24.

All three restaurants bounced back at their follow-up inspections a few days later with perfect scores of 100 for “A’s” for “food safety excellence.”

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

Restaurants and other food establishments that receive either a “U” or a “C” 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 for Chen’s Wok off Watson Boulevard, chicken on a stick and cooked potatoes were being held inside a steam table below the required temperature for food safety, according to the inspection report.

Other violations included:

• Cartons of raw shelled eggs stored in a reach-in cooler above an open container of broccoli and cut leafy greens, which is improper because of the potential for cross contamination.
• Black and pink organic buildup was seen along the baffle inside the ice machine.
• Several containers inside a reach-in cooler were not date marked to indicate the date the food should be consumed on premises, sold or discarded.
• The person in charge was not performing their duties to ensure time/temperature control for food safety.

At the routine inspection for KIN.D96 Thai & Sushi off Ga. 96, numerous cases of raw shelled eggs were stored above ginger, vegetables and cooked, ready to eat meats.

Other violations included:

• White tuna and tuna in reduced oxygen packaging in a reach-in cooler completely thawed inside of its packaging. The food must be removed from packaging before being thawed, according to the packaging labels.
• Black organic buildup was seen along the baffle inside the ice machine.
• An employee was eating at the rear prep table. State law requires employees may only eat food in designated areas “separate from food preparation and serving areas, equipment or utensil areas and food storage areas.”
• Cooked chicken and prepped salads were tightly covered during the cooling process instead of loosely covered or uncovered if protected from overhead contamination during the cooling period.
• The person in charge, who is also the certified food safety manager, was not performing their duties to ensure proper food handling procedures.

At the routine inspection of Los Comales off South Houston Lake Road, “al pastor meat” was being improperly stored on a vertical broiler that was turned off.

A pan of chorizo also was not being held at the proper temperature for food safety on a steam table.

Other violations included:

• A container of hot dogs, cream sauce, salsa, and several pans of cooked meat in the reach-in cooler did not have date markings.
• A gallon of milk in the reach-in cooler had a discard date that was more than two weeks old.
• Three large packages of meat were being thawed in the meat sink in stagnant water without any source of cold running water. Proper thawing methods include running items under continuous water and thawing under refrigeration.
• In the bar area, a cutting board and a single-use food-grade container were being stored in a handwashing sink that is required to be accessible at all times.
• There were no paper towels in any of the handwashing sinks in the kitchen.

Here’s how other establishments fared

Most restaurants, coffee and dessert shops, bars and food trucks in Houston County earned “A’s” on their routine inspections during the same reporting period of Sept. 1-30.

Of those, more than 50 aced their routine inspections with perfect scores of 100.

In all, 14 other restaurants received “B’s,” while no establishment failed its routine inspection.

Best scores

Here are the restaurants, coffee and dessert shops, bars and food trucks with perfect scores by location:

Warner Robins

• American Deli, 1130 Watson Blvd.
• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 314 Russell Parkway
• Arby’s, 709 Lake Joy Road
• Bojangles, 850 Ga. 96
• Buffalo Wild Wings Go, 1012 Ga. 96, Suite 600
• Casa Mexico II, 866 Ga. 96, Suite 103
• Decadent Dessert Bar, 1012 Ga. 96, Suite 100
• Delicias Salvadorenas, 415 Green St.
• Genji Japanese Steak and Seafood, 2907 Watson Blvd. Suite A-1
• Gigi’s Comfort Food, 103 Manor Court
• Gregg’s 2.0 Family Restaurant, 312 South Armed Forces Blvd.
• Hibachi Buffet Sushi & Grill, 4025 Watson Blvd., Suite 160
• Hibachi Grill Express, 209 Margie Drive
• Krystal, 1071 Ga. 96
• Little Light Coffee Co., 4027 Watson Blvd., Suite 220
• Mr. Smoothie N More, 912 B Russell Parkway
• My Father’s Place, 2507 Moody Road, Suite B
• My Grandma’s Empanadas, 120 South Armed Forces Blvd.
• P Goy’s Thai & Sushi, 1291 South Houston Lake Road, Suite D
• Pure Lounge 25, 115 Margie Drive, Suite C
• Starbucks, 2729 Watson Blvd.
• Steak-Out, 1001 Russell Parkway, Suite B
• Taco Bell, 715 Lake Joy Road
• The Pond, 2407 Moody Road
• Triple C’s Kitchen, 2055 Watson Blvd.
• Waffle House, 310 Russell Parkway
• Yami Crab, 210 Margie Drive
• Yesterdaze Bar & Grill, 2607 Moody Road, Suite A

Warner Robins area

• Cuban Island Cafe, 402 Ga. 247, Suite 300, Bonaire
• FitCo Health Club, 402 Ga. 247, Suite 600, Bonaire
• J&F Caribbean Delight, 100 Gunn Road, Suite 3, Centerville
• La Fresita Loca, 3421 Hwy 41 North, Suite 300B, Byron
• Moe’s Southwest Grill, 794 Ga. 96, Suite 206, Bonaire
• Pizza Hut, 670 Lake Joy Road, Suite 100, Kathleen
• Teriyaki Japan, Houston County Galleria, Suite 830, 2922 Watson Blvd., Centerville
• White Diamond Grill, 497 Ga. 247, Bonaire
• Wok N Roll, 789 Ga. 96, Suite 2G, Bonaire

Perry

• Chick-fil-A, 1600 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• Clover Wine Merchant, 907 Carroll St.
• Cozumel Mexican Grill, 1365 Sam Nunn Blvd., Suite H & I
• Kentucky Fried Chicken, 1416 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• Krystal, 1415 Sam Nunn Blvd.
• My Bar & Club, 2132 Hwy 41 North

Food trucks

• 1941 Snack Bar
• A Taste of Creole
• Braylon’s Lunch Box
• Fatz Shawn’s Soul Kitchen
• Gigi’s Little Kitchen
• Kirby’s Kettle Corn
• Peach State Sunset Slush
• ShutUp & Eat
• Smoke South Craft BBQ
• Triple D Smokehouse

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.