Forty Jefferson County Food Establishments Fail August Health Inspections

Any establishment scoring below 85 must undergo a reinspection within 60 days, per Jefferson County Department of Health (JCDH) requirements.

Lowest scores of the month

P.F. Chang's China Bistro at The Summit in Birmingham recorded the month's lowest score, a 64. Inspectors noted the absence of chemical sanitizer in the bar dish machine, a dead fly found in a sugar and vinegar mixture near the grill, and food out of temperature in the make table cooler, including pork dumplings at 64 degrees. A reinspection on September 1 brought the restaurant's score up to 92.

Sunshine Foodmart #8 in Mulga received a 70, with inspectors citing a reach-in cooler at an ambient temperature of 55 degrees, utensils that were not being sanitized, and the use of residential-grade pesticides inside the store. Golden Corral in Hoover and Ferus Artisan Ales in Trussville each scored a 71. The Golden Corral's walk-in cooler registered an air temperature of 64 degrees, leaving eggs, chicken, beef and milk out of safe temperature range. At Ferus Artisan Ales, inspectors found food stored beyond the seven-day limit and black and pink residue inside the ice machine.

Cinco de Mayo Mexican Grill in Hueytown scored a 72, with raw meat and cooked rice out of temperature in the walk-in cooler and a residential pest control spray in use in dry storage. HotSpot on Bessemer Road in Birmingham scored a 74; inspectors found two cans of Raid insecticide stored alongside a vegetable chopper and salad dressing, along with multiple temperature control violations.

Scores in the mid- to high 70s

Wings & Stuff in Fairfield, Lapeer Steak & Seafood in Birmingham, and The Great Wall Chinese Restaurant in Birmingham each scored a 75. Wings & Stuff had unsanitized equipment and raw chicken wings with a white slime residue. Lapeer Steak & Seafood had multiple food items past their date marking limits but was reinspected August 24 and now scores 92. The Great Wall had food out of temperature and a certified food safety manager who had not registered with JCDH; a reinspection on August 18 brought its score to 92.

Jack's Family Restaurant on Crossplex Boulevard in Birmingham and Rock N Roll Sushi in Birmingham each scored a 76. Jack's had drive-through staff handling fries with bare hands. Rock N Roll Sushi had a sushi rice log with no times recorded and a handwashing sink with no water; it was reinspected September 1 and now scores 86. Ross Bridge Grocery in Hoover, Mama's Country Cooking in Hueytown, Los Valedores Restaurant in Homewood, a Jack's Family Restaurant in Morris, Waffle House on Montclair Road, Dessert Corner in Hoover, and another Jack's Family Restaurant in Irondale each scored a 77.

At Ross Bridge Grocery, inspectors reported a disconnected sewage pipe. Mama's Country Cooking had flies, gnats and roaches in the kitchen and was reinspected August 20, now scoring 91. Los Valedores had food exceeding storage limits and was reinspected August 17, now at 95. The Jack's in Morris had food out of temperature in hot holding and was reinspected August 10, now scoring 97. Waffle House had raw shell eggs held at room temperature. Dessert Corner had a residential rodent repellent stored on-site. The Jack's in Irondale had no sanitizer solution in the three-compartment sink.

La Paz in Mountain Brook scored a 78. The dish machine produced no chemical sanitizer across multiple runs, and inspectors found 35 expired food safety training certificates for food handlers. Big John's Buffet in Homewood, M & G Food Market in Birmingham, Bahama Wings Express in Birmingham, Crazy Wings in Birmingham, and Bawarchi Indian Cuisine in Hoover each scored a 79. Big John's had hot buffet items measuring as low as 73 degrees, a repeat violation from a July inspection. M & G Food Market had no employee health policy and no vomit and diarrhea clean-up procedures. Bahama Wings Express had ribs and pulled pork holding at 118 to 130 degrees. Crazy Wings had mold residue on drink nozzles and no employee health policy. Bawarchi Indian Cuisine had expired food handler certificates for all working employees.

Scores of 80 and above

Corry's in Birmingham, Tacos Toluca in Pinson, Valley Shell in Birmingham, and Big Bad Breakfast in Birmingham each scored an 80. Corry's had cooked food stored in grocery bags and many flies and gnats present. Tacos Toluca had multiple food items out of temperature and a leaking wastewater tank. Valley Shell was cited for ongoing violations dating to a July 16 notice, now overdue under a 15-day Notice of Intent to Suspend the Permit. Big Bad Breakfast had a reversed sanitizer line on its dish machine and was reinspected August 17, now scoring 95.

Wilson's Grocery in Birmingham and China Bistro Restaurant in Vestavia Hills each scored an 81. Wilson's lacked a proper three-compartment sink and had no signed employee health policies. China Bistro had cooked noodles and dumplings stored in T-shirt bags and multiple food items out of temperature. Rougaroux in Birmingham, Asher Point Independent Living of Hoover, The Ruby Sunshine Cafe in Homewood, and Pizzeria GM in Homewood each scored an 82. Rougaroux had raw oysters out of temperature and no certified food safety manager on site. Asher Point had sewage dumped near the dumpster pad and molded fruit in the walk-in cooler. The Ruby Sunshine Cafe lacked verification of an employee health policy. Pizzeria GM had two make table coolers running at 50 and 52 degrees.

Pappas Grill in Vestavia Hills, Circle K on Morgan Road in Bessemer, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe in Birmingham each scored an 83. Neighbors Pies in Leeds, Subway in Adamsville, Marathon Deli in Bessemer, and American Ranch House in Tarrant each scored an 84. Marathon Deli was reinspected August 21 and now scores 97.