By DON DARE
Food for Thought Reporter
KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Three restaurants received failing grades when Knox County health inspectors visited recently. One got the lowest score in months, but it passed on re-inspection.
Lowest Scores:
RouXbarb at 130 S. Northshore Drive - Grade: 42
The health department considers a score below 70 as unsanitary so this missed the mark by 28 points.
A kitchen worker working with dirty dishes started handling clean dishes without washing his hands first.
Another employee washed his hands in the three-compartment sink where you're supposed to clean and sanitize pots and pans, not your hands.
Food temperatures were off. The inspector found ribs at 95 degrees, pork at 110 degrees and macaroni and cheese at 120. However, 140 degrees and above is the safe temperature to kill the growth of bacteria.
On the other end of the scale, chicken was at 46 degrees and eggs were at 47 degrees. Forty-one and below is the safe temperature.
The inspector found a potato on the floor.
Chicken was uncovered in the reach-in cooler.
Soiled rags were on a food preparation counter.
RouXbarb was re-inspected and the new score is 74.
Northshore Brasserie at 9430 Northshore Drive - Grade: 66
The inspector found spoiled bananas in dry storage. They were thrown out.
He saw an employee take trash to the dumpster, return to the kitchen and start preparing food without ever washing his hands.
Anaba Japanese Cuisine at 9405 S Northshore Drive - Grade: 69
The discovery of fruit flies lowered the score.
So did the improper storage of chemicals. Some were found on a food preparation table.
It may not sound like a big deal, but in restaurant kitchens insecticides or cleaning liquids are to kept in a separate area to prevent any surprises.
Anaba was reinspected and received an 86.
Highest Scores:
Paradise Ice, a mobile unit on -100
Bruster's Ice Cream at 7670 S. Northshore Drive - 96
Special Tee Cookies at 100 Roderick Road - 96
The Edge at 7211 Kingston Pike - 94
Ye Olde Steakhouse at 6838 Chapman Highway -94
Papa John's Pizza at 7036 Kingston Pike - 93
Marco's Pizza at 8667 Middlebrook Pike - 93
M&M Barbeque and Catering at 1039 Summerwood Road - 93
Carrabba's at 324 N. Peters Road - 92
Parkside Tavern at 338 North Peters Road - 92
Remember, health inspection grades are supposed to be posted where you can see them.
6 On Your Side reporter Don Dare reports on the latest restaurant inspections by the Knox County Health Department every Thursday on 6 News at 6:00.
