Nashville and Davidson County health inspectors conducted 1,158 food-service inspections in August, including 724 routine inspections and 434 follow-ups. Inspectors awarded perfect scores of 100 during

203 inspections.

Not all establishments fared so well. Twelve restaurants, food trucks and hotel kitchens scored below 70 during routine inspections.

In Williamson County, hundreds of restaurants and other food-service establishments were inspected in August, but only two establishments scored below 80, both in Brentwood.

The Health Department allows establishments with low scores to correct violations and may conduct follow-up inspections, sometimes within days. All available follow-up scores are included.

Among the most serious findings, inspectors issued a permit suspension notice Aug. 20 to LinQ Social Kitchen off Lafayette Street after its walk-in cooler registered 54 degrees and food inside measured up to 53 degrees. The restaurant recovered, however, earning a 93 during a Sept. 1 follow-up after adding refrigeration and reducing its menu.

Also, at South Nashville's Rancho Cantina 3, inspectors discarded 100 pounds of food after finding what the report described as "severe cross-contamination" between cooked foods and raw meat.

Other reports documented moldlike buildup inside an ice machine, dead roaches, excessive flies, food held at unsafe temperatures and employees handling ready-to-eat food with bare hands.

Several establishments improved substantially during follow-up inspections, including Stateside Kitchen, which rose from the month's lowest score of 60 to 98.

Want to learn more about restaurant health inspections in Tennessee? See our explainer.

Search past Davidson County restaurant scores and inspection histories through The Tennessean's restaurant inspection database.

Full inspection reports can be found on the Tennessee Department of Health website.

More: What you need to know about restaurant health inspections

Joanie Garza, a public health inspector with the city, uses a thermometer to check the temperature of meat in warm holding during a restaurant inspection on June, 6 2023, in Corpus Christi, Texas.

Lowest Williamson County restaurant health scores in August

Bluefin Sushi & Thai

Score: 79

Date of inspection: August 3

Examples of violations: Employee wash-and-rinse did not sanitize; pans were stacked wet on storage shelf and the ice machine was dirty inside.

Date of follow-up inspection: August 3

Follow-up score: 94

Address: 210 Franklin Road Suite 700, Brentwood

Jasmine

Score: 73

Date of inspection: August 21

Examples of violations: Multiple fly strips were hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen; Clean dishes and utensils were stored outside; the floors and walls were dirty and in poor repair and the sushi hand-sink lacked paper towels.

Date of follow-up inspection: Sept. 1

Follow-up score: 90

Address: 8105 Moores Lane, Brentwood

Lowest Davidson County restaurant health scores in August

Stateside Kitchen

Score: 60
Date of inspection: Aug. 5

Examples of violations: An employee handled ready-to-eat burritos with bare hands, and inspectors found heavy black mold-like buildup inside an ice machine. The ice was discarded, and the machine was taken out of service.

Commercially vacuum-sealed tuna was found thawing inside its packaging. Inspectors also embargoed salmon the restaurant had vacuum-sealed without required state approval.

The dish machine registered no sanitizer. Honeydew was held at 52 degrees, and a cream-based sauce measured 47 degrees.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 17
Follow-up score: 98
Address: 210 Fourth Ave. N.
View the full inspection report.

Hot Stuff Spicy Chicken & Fish

Score: 62
Date of inspection: Aug. 4

Examples of violations: An employee rinsed their hands in the three-compartment sink after handling raw fish, then attempted to prepare a customer's order without properly washing with soap. Employees also described washing dishes without sanitizing them.

Inspectors found heavily soiled containers used for breading chicken and fish. Chicken tenders and wings were held at 76 degrees without the heat lamp operating, while raw fish thawing in water measured 52 degrees.

Mac and cheese, baked beans and potato salad measured between 48 and 50 degrees. About 7 pounds of mac and cheese and potato salad were embargoed. Inspectors also found residential insecticide stored beneath drink containers and a large wastewater leak beneath a hand sink.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 13
Follow-up score: 92
Address: 1309 Bell Road, Suite 218, Antioch
View the full inspection report.

Don Julio Mexican Grill

Score: 63
Date of inspection: Aug. 27

Examples of violations: Inspectors found no shellstock tags for oysters and observed raw chicken stored above a box of oysters. The three-compartment sink was arranged in the wrong order for washing, rinsing and sanitizing dishes.

Tamales, guacamole, raw beef, raw chicken and sliced tomatoes measured between 46 and 48 degrees in a prep cooler. The guacamole and tamales were discarded, while the other foods were moved to a walk-in cooler.

Date of follow-up inspection: No follow-up inspection listed as of Sept. 3
Address: 5432 Clarksville Highway, Whites Creek
View the full inspection report.

Pupuseria & Taqueria Andreas

Score: 64
Date of inspection: Aug. 18

Examples of violations: An employee entered the food truck and began washing an avocado without first washing their hands. No paper towels were available at the hand sink.

Inspectors found raw fish thawing inside vacuum-sealed packaging, raw chicken thawing in standing water and a three-compartment sink arranged in the wrong order.

Cut lettuce prepared more than four hours earlier measured 46 degrees and was embargoed. The inspector also issued a notice that tires needed to be installed on the unit so it would remain mobile.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 24
Follow-up score: 96
Address: Inspected at 1605 Dickerson Pike
View the full inspection report.

Gyro & Philly Steak No. 4

Score: 65
Date of inspection: Aug. 18

Examples of violations: Raw fish was stored above an open container of shredded lettuce and ranch dressing. An employee said dishes were washed with soapy water, rinsed and put away without being sanitized.

Grilled chicken measured between 140 and 150 degrees, below the required cooking temperature. The chicken was returned to the grill and cooked to 170 degrees.

Sliced gyro meat held near the grill measured 111 degrees, below the required hot-holding temperature. Inspectors also found residential bug spray stored in the kitchen.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 31
Follow-up score: 96
Address: 3618 Anderson Road
View the full inspection report.

Greek & American Cafe

Score: 66
Date of inspection: Aug. 3

Examples of violations: Inspectors embargoed about 5 pounds of bell peppers showing moldlike growth and spoilage. A chemical dishwasher initially registered no sanitizer.

Ham, tomatoes, rice and raw pork measured between 47 and 51 degrees in coolers. Eggs left outside a cooler without required time markings were also embargoed.

The report cited gnats throughout the kitchen, dead roaches and extensive grease, food debris and dirt on equipment, walls, floors and the kitchen hood.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 3
Follow-up score: 90
Address: 201 Gallatin Pike S., Madison
View the full inspection report.

Roy's Royal Room

Score: 66
Date of inspection: Aug. 21

Examples of violations: An employee washed their hands in the middle basin of a three-compartment sink. Raw sausage was stored above diced pickles, and the sanitizer basin did not initially register sanitizer.

Brisket and queso reheated on a steam table measured 119–130 degrees after more than an hour. Employees were instructed to reheat the food on the grill before transferring it to the steam table.

Inspectors also found meat thawing in the sink between basins containing soap and sanitizer, a dog inside the restaurant and smoke lingering in the kitchen despite the hood system.

Date of follow-up inspection: No follow-up inspection listed as of Sept. 3
Address: 3807 Gallatin Pike
View the full inspection report.

Cambria Hotel Nashville Airport kitchen

Score: 67
Date of inspection: Aug. 5

Examples of violations: An employee returned from the dining area and handled a customer's food without washing their hands first. Inspectors also found vacuum-sealed fish thawing inside its packaging.

Two prep coolers and a catering cooler were not keeping food at required temperatures. Lettuce, tomatoes, meatballs, chicken, ham and melon measured between 45–58 degrees. Food placed in one cooler the previous night was embargoed, while other food was moved to the walk-in cooler.

Inspectors also found utensils stored in standing water, an ice cream scoop with heavy buildup and food residue on a knife and can opener.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 24
Follow-up score: 94
Address: 44 Rachel Drive
View the full inspection report.

Wendy's No. 621

Score: 68
Date of inspection: Aug. 4

Examples of violations: The detailed inspection report was not available through the state's online inspection portal.

Date of follow-up inspection: Aug. 5
Follow-up score: 95
Address: 551 Donelson Pike

K Bap K No. 128

Score: 68
Date of inspection: Aug. 27

Examples of violations: Inspectors found raw chicken stored beside bottled drinks and above raw beef, as well as raw eggs stored above potatoes. The person in charge said dishes were washed with soap and water, rinsed and allowed to dry without being sanitized.

Cooked beef left cooling at room temperature measured 94 degrees after about 2 1/2 hours. Three pounds of beef were embargoed. Hot dogs held in an open prep cooler measured 53 degrees.

The inspector required a follow-up within 10 days.

Date of follow-up inspection: No follow-up inspection listed as of Sept. 3
Address: 614 18th Ave. N.
View the full inspection report.

LinQ Social Kitchen

Score: 69
Date of inspection: Aug. 20

Examples of violations: Inspectors suspended LinQ's permit after its walk-in cooler registered 54 degrees and food inside measured between 49 and 53 degrees. A significant condensation leak was located outside of the coolers.

Inspectors also embargoed commercially vacuum-sealed salmon that had been thawed inside its packaging and moldy tomatoes. Raw oysters were stored above cooked pasta, cut citrus and sauces.

Clean containers and coolers containing food were stored outside. Old equipment and trash were piling up behind the restaurant and attracting flies.

Date of follow-up inspection: Sept. 1
Follow-up score: 93
Follow-up findings: The restaurant added four reach-in coolers, two chest freezers, two prep coolers and two reach-in freezers for cold holding instead of using the walk-in cooler. The person in charge also purchased ice wands and said the menu would be reduced. The follow-up still cited food coolers stored outside, improperly dried dishes and the trash attracting flies.
Address: 175 Lafayette St.
View the inspection history.

Rancho Cantina 3

Score: 69
Date of inspection: Aug. 24

Examples of violations: Inspectors found bags containing cooked chorizo, refried beans and beef stored in large containers with raw chicken and other raw meat. The report described "severe cross-contamination," and 100 pounds of food were embargoed.

Another 5 pounds of tamales and cooked chicken were embargoed after being stored longer than the seven-day limit. Raw shrimp were found inside a handwashing sink, and an employee washed their hands while still wearing gloves.

Inspectors also reported an excessive number of flies in the kitchen, no detectable sanitizer in a wiping-cloth bucket, a leaking hand sink, standing water and grease dripping down walls from heavily soiled hood filters.