March Health Scores: 7 Eateries Score 85 Or Below

BIRMINGHAM, AL - As March comes to a close, several of Birmingham's eateries appear to have scored poorly on their Jefferson County Department of Health inspections this month. From failure to properly train employees on food safety to improper food temperatures, health violations were cited for a handful of Birmingham-area restaurants.

The JCDOH inspected 129 eateries in March, and only seven received a health rating of 85 or below.

Here are those restaurants that had low scores in the month of March:

Circle K, 199 Main Street, Trussville (68): Points were deducted because verification of communication of a minimum required health policy to the employees on duty in the store not available; procedures for clean-up of vomit and diarrhea could not be provided; food was not stored at a proper temperature; boxes of disposables left on the floor in the storage room; there were no paper towels or a working hand-drying devices at each handwashing sink; no covered receptacle for sanitary napkins in a toilet room used by females; floors are dirty under the shelves; dust build-up and splatters on walls and ceiling; ventilation units in the restrooms are not working.

Golden Rule Barbecue, 2504 Crestwood Blvd., Irondale (76): Points were deducted for failure to post current inspection report in a conspicuous place inside the food establishment; improper food temperature in storage; pans of meat not date-marked; container of sugar not labeled at the waitstation; pans of meat in the WI cooler were stored with the meats directly touching the bottoms of the pans as they were stacked on top of each other; ice scoop handle was touching the ice in the ice bin at the waitstation; machine was testing negative for chlorine; beverage dispensing unit plastic lever soiled as well as the lid to ice bin; thermometer in the make table cooler (salad cooler) isn't working properly; condensate leak in refrigeration units; unclean facilities throughout; accumulation of grease in hood filters.

Laney's Restaurant, 7601 Parkway Drive, Leeds (78): Points were deducted for cook not wearing a hair restraint; failure to maintain food at proper temperature; grease accumulations on the equipment on the cook line, can opener base, lower interior of the hot food holding cabinet, frames of the food guards on the food bars and exterior and drip tray of the soft-serve freezer; peeling paint on the shelves in the WI coolers; failure to provide an air gap between the water supply inlet and the flood level rim of the plumbing fixture, equipment, or nonfood equipment; failure to provide water at a temperature of at least 100 F through a mixing valve or combination faucet at handwashing sinks; heavy mold build-up on the drain lines and inside the drainage bin at the fountain drink machine; heavy grease accumulation on the utility lines under the flat grill; damaged floor and wall base tiles in the WI coolers; hole and other damage to the wall beside the warewashing sink; damaged and deteriorating wall surface beside the handsink on the cook line; mechanical ventilation unit in the women's restroom is not working.

Steak N Shake, 1801 Montgomery Highway, Hoover (81): Points were deducted for staff with very long nails, fingernail polish and artificial nails preparing ice cream and drinks without gloves; food at improper temperature; failure to cover or uncover food until cooled; containers of lettuce stored uncovered under dirty shelves; residue under and on back panel of shake mixer; debris on shelves and in bottom of ice cream freezer; burger wrappers faced up are stored under shelf with residue stains on makeline; food stains on walls near dish machine and prep area.

Birmingham Race Course (Earl's), 1000 John Rogers Drive, Birmingham (82): Points were deducted because the copy of the employee health policy that was administered in November has not been signed by any of the employees; food not stored at a proper temperature; fish and chicken were thawing in standing water in the 3-compartment sink by the 3-door RI freezer; a bowl was being used as a scoop for the flour; hot water at the handsink by the grill does not work; plumbing was not in good repair; a blown bulb in the WI cooler, RI 3 door freezer and women's restroom.

Pizza Hut, 9170 Parkway East, Birmingham (85): Points were deducted for failure to provide food safety training for all food handlers as required; failure to store employee food and personal drinks in a designated area below and away from food, utensils, equipment, linens, and unwrapped single service; failure to sanitize utensils with quaternary ammonia at a concentration specified by manufacturer for at least 30 seconds; failure to clean shelving holding dishes and speed racks used for poofing ovens; bowls stored on floor in dry storage area; unclean floors, walls, and ceilings throughout the facility.

Chester's Chicken, 7801 Crestwood Blvd., Irondale (85): Points were deducted for failure to have health-trained employees on duty; mashed potatoes (130F) and spinach (114F) were out of temperature on the steam table; food not properly date-marked; missing hand washing signs at the handsink in the kitchen and in men and women's restrooms; failure to keep dumpster lids closed.