Inspectors lower scores at restaurants in Old City, downtown

By DON DARE
Food for Thought Reporter

KNOXVILLE (WATE) - Health inspectors recognized plenty of high scoring Knoxville restaurants in their most recent visits, along with a couple low grades.

The Food Safety Act that Congress passed a little more than a year ago aims to ensure the food you eat is safe. That's because every year, one out of six people in the U.S., or 48 million, suffers from food borne illness, and thousands are hospitalized.

As a result, health inspectors have been directed to place more emphasis on three standards: food temperatures, hygiene and sanitation. Those standards are where the risk for food borne illness is greatest.

Passing but problems:

Barley's at 200 E. Jackson Avenue - Grade: 73

The Knox County Health Department considers a score below 70 as unsanitary.

The inspector saw a server walk into the kitchen and grab a bunch of napkins for patrons without washing her hands.

Single use cups for customers were stored on the floor.

A severely dented can of food was stored on the food rack. It was thrown out because a dent in a can of food can spoil the contents.

Pete's Coffee Shop at 540 Union Avenue - Grade: 75

Despite the passing score, several standards were missed.

When the inspector checked the dishwasher, it didn't have sanitizer running through it. That problem was fixed on the spot.

An employee was seen wiping his hands on a dirty apron, but he didn't wash them before he went back to preparing food.

However, in her report the inspector noted, "All the servers were observed following proper hand washing etiquette."

Top scores:

Love that BBQ at 1901 Maryville Pike - 99

Buddy's Bar-B-Q at 4401 Chapman Highway - 97

Nixon's Deli at 5716 Kingston Pike - 97

Gunnie's Restaurant and Bar at 1812 Maryville Pike - 96

Cupcakery at 11525 Parkside Drive - 96

McDonald's at 7030 Kingston Pike - 95

Firehouse Subs at 119 Brooklawn Street - 94

Golden Roast at 825 Melrose Place - 93