Flies in the kitchen area, improper food storage and inadequate sanitization practices were among reasons for some of the lowest restaurant health-inspection scores reported in Wilson County in August and September by the Tennessee Department of Health.
Restaurants are judged on presentation of the space, cleanliness and knowledge of certain procedures. The top score is 100.
The health department allows restaurants with low scores to correct violations with follow-up inspections.
Peking Chinese Restaurant
Address: 1316 W. Main Street, Lebanon
Score: 79
Inspection date: Sept. 29
Observations and violations: Flies present throughout the kitchen; an employee scrubbing and rinsing off cutting board at a three compartment sink without sanitizing the cutting board; an employee washing
off utensils at a dish sink with a spray nozzle and then returning to a prep table to continue preparation of raw chicken; bags of full heads of cabbage stored on the floor in front of a prep table area of the dry stock room; and food debris buildup on floor in between fryers and prep table.
A follow-up inspection is required but was not complete by Oct. 7.
Casa Azul Mexican Grill
Address: 401 TN-109, Lebanon
Score: 72
Inspection date: Sept. 22
Observations: No managerial control during inspection; strawberries in walk-in storage area showing visible spoilage; cans of pineapples severely dented and swollen; open plastic food storage container of tortilla chips stored on the floor next to the hot well steam table and recent inspection reports not posted.
A follow-up inspection on Oct. 1 received a score of 96.
Whitt’s Barbecue
Address: 401 S. Cumberland St. Lebanon
Score: 79
Inspection date: Aug. 19
Observations: The sanitize compartment of the sink was not set up to properly sanitize food contact surfaces, wiping cloth stored on a three compartment sink, not in sanitizing bucket, improper cooling time and temperature and improper cold holding temperatures.
A follow-up inspection on Aug. 25 received a score of 99.
Sonic Drive-In
Address: 3655 N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet
Score: 77
Inspection date: Aug. 25
Observations: An employee grabbed a hat with gloved hands and continued to prepare food, an employee handled frozen raw meat and changed gloves did not wash hands, a worker picked up a lid for a squeeze bottle of ketchup that dropped on the floor, rinsed it off and put it back on bottle, but did not wash and sanitize the lid, a grill cleaner stored on freezer with hamburger patties.
A follow-up inspection on Sept. 3 received a score of 92.
Rack and Tap
Address: 14805 Lebanon Road, Old Hickory
Score: 79
Inspection date: Aug. 21
Observations: Employee purse stored on prep table with containers of pita bread and buns; package of seasoned flour mix left open on shelf under prep table; wet wiping clothes hanging from edge of hand sink; food debris in microwave, and restroom door did not self-close.
A follow-up inspection on Aug. 31 received a score of 93.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Wilson County's worst restaurant scores. Flies, food stored on floor
