WTNZ Fox43 Knoxville, TN-5 restaurants flunk by double digits
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By DON DARE
Food for Thought Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) -- Five Knoxville area restaurants flunked their health inspections this week by double digits.
The health department considers any score below 70 as unsanitary.
Failing by 19 points: Urban Bar and cafe at 109 N. Central Street - Grade: 51
The inspector writes that the dishwasher didn't have any sanitizer running through it, as required by state health rules.
A kitchen worker preparing food didn't wash his hands after handling a dirty pot. But if he had washed his hands, it's likely they would've been scalded.
At the hand sink, the temperature of hot water was 155 degrees, but 120 is the safe temperature for hand washing.
Failing by 15: Steak Out at 2038 N. Broadway - Grade: 55
The inspector writes that she found "numerous ants" around the soda dispenser. It's no wonder. The kitchen floor was dirty.
When she looked in the ice machine, it was dirty.
The inspector also said the grill needed to be cleaned because it had a "heavy amount of carbon build up."
Failing by 13: Makino Japanese Buffet at 8217 Kingston Pike - Grade: 57
Fruit flies were buzzing around the kitchen.
There was no sanitizer running through the dishwasher.
Mold was growing in the ice maker machine.
Also failing by 13: Trino's Pizza & Grill at 1707 Cumberland Avenue - Grade: 57
In the storage room, the inspector found several cans of food that were severely dented along the seams, which could allow contamination.
As a result, 12 pounds of food were thrown away.
Failing by 11: Soccer Taco at 9 Market Square - Grade: 59
The dishwasher didn't have any sanitizer running through it.
In the storage room, six cans of various products had dents in them so 24 pounds were of canned food were thrown in the trash.
The inspector recommended that the entire crew attend the Knox County Health Department's food safety class.
Failing by eight: Gondolier at 1603 N. Cedar Bluff Road - Grade: 62
Ants were found around the water heater.
A pesticide was stored by cleaning products.
And there was a waste water leak on a three-compartment sink.
Gondolier has been re-inspected. The new grade is an 85.
Failing by five: Waffle House at 309 E. Emory Road - Grade: 65
Out-of-date milk was found in the refrigerator.
Plus, several eggs were out at room temperature and a cracked, raw egg was in a basket above the grill.
Failing by three: Outback Steakhouse at 7400 Sawyer Lane - Grade: 67
Pesticide was found stored with cleaning products.
The dishwasher waste line leaked onto the floor.
Second failing by three: Little Caesars at 2800 Magnolia Avenue - Grade: 67
An employee lifted a hat and went back to preparing food without hand washing.
Third failing by three: UT Varsity Grill at Thompson-Boling Arena 1600 Phil Fulmer Avenue - Grade: 67
The waste line at the hand sink leaked.
Tylenol was found in an equipment drawer.
Workers didn't wash their hands when they changed gloves.
The inspector also wrote that there was a heavy infestation of fruit flies.
Fourth failing by three: Lotus Garden at 460 N. Cedar Bluff Road - Grade: 67
The back door had a gap at the bottom.
Dishes weren't being sanitized properly.
Failing by one: Time Out Deli at 6625 Maynardville Pike - Grade: 69
An employee was drinking from an open cup in the kitchen.
The hot water was cut off at the hand sink.
Hamburger and salami were at the wrong temperatures in a cooler.
Top score of week:
Other top scores:
Restaurants with failing grades are re-inspected within two weeks. If there are repeated, serious violations, a restaurant's permit may be pulled.
