Here’s why two Macon restaurants got ‘C’s’ at routine health inspections
Failing to maintain proper temperatures for food safety contributed to two Macon restaurants earning “C’s” for marginal compliance on their most recent routine health inspections.
Jenean’s at Pinebrook at 4436 Forsyth Road scored a 76 at its routine health inspection Jan. 7, according to what was reported Wednesday in the state health department’s online portal.
The restaurant bounced back with a perfect score of 100 for an “A” at its required follow-up inspection Jan. 12.
Capt. D’s at 5390 Thomaston Road also scored a 76 at its routine health inspection Jan. 8. The restaurant also bounced back with a perfect score of 100 for an “A” at its required follow-up inspection Jan. 15.
State Environmental Health inspectors assign grades based on how many points are deducted from 100, with scores at 69 and below, or 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.
Details of marginal compliance scores
At its routine inspection, Jenean’s at Pinebrook received its marginal compliance score in part due to cooked noodles that did not have temperature control required for food safety, according to the inspection report.
Other violations cited in the report included:
- Three pans of food stacked on top of each other with only cooking paper separating the contents of the food from the cooking utensils. The pans needed to be separated and each covered with a lid.
- An employee’s thermos was sitting on the prep cutting table toward the front of the kitchen. Employees may only have cups with lids and straws in a food preparation area.
- No sanitizer test strips were on hand at the restaurant to test washing and sanitizing temperatures.
On prior routine health inspections, Jenean’s at Pinebrook scored a 95 for an “A” on both June 16, 2025 and Jan. 22, 2024 and an 88 for a “B” on June 22, 2023, according to what was reported in the online portal.
At its routine inspection, Capt. D’s on Thomaston Road received its marginal compliance score in part due to insufficient ice for coleslaw in an ice bath to maintain the required temperature for food safety, according to the inspection report.
Other violations cited in the report included:
- No handwashing cleanser as required at a hand sink next to the fryers.
- Mold-like substances observed within an ice machine.
- None of the employees within the facility who were working with food were wearing required hair nets.
- An employee handling raw fish was wearing an Apple Watch. When preparing food, employees cannot wear anything on their arms or hands except a wedding band.
- Missing hood vent panels needed to be replaced.
- Excess debris was building up across the facility, especially under equipment, between floor tile gaps and corners.
- Broken floor tiles need to be repaired and gaps between tiles needed to be re-grouted to prevent debris accumulation.
On prior inspections included in the online portal, Captain D’s on Thomaston Road scored a 74 for a “C” at its routine inspection March 6, 2025 and improved with a score of 96 for an “A” at its required follow-up inspection four days later.
The restaurant failed its routine inspection on Dec. 12, 2024, with a “U,” then scored a 98 for an “A” at its required follow-up inspection 11 days later.
The restaurant also scored an 86 for a “B” at its routine inspection April 2, 2024; a 92 for an “A” at its routine inspection Nov. 8, 2023; and a 94 for an “A” at its routine inspection May 17, 2023.
How did other restaurants fare?
Most Macon restaurants, bars, coffee shops and food trucks earned “A’s’’ at routine health inspections from Jan. 1-31, according to what was reported Wednesday in the online portal.
Of those, nearly 40 earned perfect scores of 100. Only nine earned “B’s” and none failed their routine health inspections.
Best scores
These restaurants, bars, coffee shops and food trucks earned perfect scores of 100:
- Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 6235 Zebulon Road
- Barberitos, 652 New St.
- Billy’s Clubhouse, 1580 Forest Hill Road
- Burger King, 1188 Gray Highway
- Cathedral Coffee, 5915 Zebulon Road
- CC Fish House, 4032 Chambers Road, Suite A
- Chicken Salad Chick, 1676 Bass Road
- Dairy Queen, 3855 Pio Nono Ave.
- Fajitas Mexican Grill, 6012 Zebulon Road
- Firehouse Subs, 4921 Riverside Drive, Suite 4
- Freddy’s Frozen Custard, 6239 Zebulon Road
- Gangnam Grill, 575 Mulberry St.
- Guitarras Mexican Grill, 175 Tom Hill Sr. Blvd., Suite 205
- Guitarras Mexican Grill food truck
- Guitarras Mexican Grill Express, 5577 Thomaston Road, Suite 500-B
- Hello Boba Cafe, 359 Third St.
- Huey Magoo’s, 6237 Zebulon Road
- Houston Seafood, 3011 Houston Ave.
- Idle Hour Country Club Pool Bar, 251 Idle Hour Drive
- Johnny’s New York Pizza, 6255 Zebulon Road
- K Family Deli, 3661 Eisenhower Parkway
- Starbucks inside Kroger, 4321 Hartley Bridge Road
- 20’s Pub, 3076 Riverside Drive, Suite 1200
- Longleaf Distilling Co., 664 Second St.
- Macon Bagels, 470 Third St.
- McAlister’s Deli, 6255 Zebulon Road
- McDonald’s, 2497 Pio Nono Ave.
- Moe’s Southwest Grill, 6255 Zebulon Road
- Motley Community Store, 901 Maynard St.
- Natalia’s, 201 North Macon St.
- Shogun, 900 Northwoods Plaza
- Sid’s, 1510 Forsyth Road
- Switch Macon, 470 First St.
- The Library Taphouse and Kitchen, 1530 Mercer University Drive, Suite 300
- The Salad Place, 3640 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite 160
- Vice Bar, 499 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
- Waffle House, 4230 Harley Bridge Road
- Wendy’s, 1407 Eisenhower Parkway
- Zaxby’s, 4686 Presidential Parkway
How 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.