Restaurant Health Ratings: Which Eateries Didn't Make The Grade

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Jefferson County Department of Health released its restaurant ratings for the month of May, and while most of the eateries the department inspected passed the health grade test, a few area restaurants did not.

Listed below are the Jefferson County restaurants that received a health score of 85 or lower, and the citations each received:

Pablo's, 2760 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover (70): Points were deducted because sour cream, tomatoes, raw steak and raw chicken stored in the make table cooler were above required temperature; none of the TCS foods in the WI cooler (rice, salsa, cooked steak, refried beans, etc.) were date marked; no use of rapid cooling equipment; failure to remove ROP packaged fish from package prior to thawing; improper storage of food in cooler; damaged gaskets on the make table cooler; facility does not currently have hot water; faucet at the 3-compartment sink is leaking, unclean dumpster; one of the vent covers in the dry storage room is missing; lights in the hood, kitchen, WI freezer, and dry storage area are not working properly.

Waffle House, 3023 Columbiana Road, Vestavia (77): Points were deducted because there was no food safety training provided for several food employees at time of inspection; eggs not properly stored; dish machine is not reaching appropriate temperature; failure to repair damaged sanitizing and wash gauges on dish machine; accumulation of food soil and waste on interior of RI coolers; improper storage of wet wiping cloths; leak in refrigeration units; accumulation of food soil on WI freezer floors.

Dairy Queen, 4500 Overton Road, Liberty Park (77): Points were deducted because several employees working with artificial nails were not wearing gloves; employees not wearing hair restraints; current health score of 72 not in public view; use of food contact surfaces which alter color, odor, or taste of food; drink machine and can opener soiled with food debris; unclean non-food contact surfaces; leak in WI freezer.; slow drain on hand sink near cash registers; dumpster soiled with food debris emitting foul odor and attracting flies to the enclosed dumpster pad; live roach found crawling across kitchen.

Off the Hook, 1205 Lake Drive SE, Bessemer (77): Points were deducted because staff personal drinks were stored above several individual uncovered trays of cole slaw; improper storage of perishable food; two metal pans of partially cooked chicken wings with blood; individual containers of cole slaw stored under extremely dirty shelves with black residue on shelves in DD RI cooler; no chemical test kit that accurately measures the concentration of sanitizing solutions; soiled shelves in coolers and debris inside bottom RI cooler; left bottom RI cooler door does not close all the way; no hand soap at handsink on mobile unit to wash hands; dirty fixtures and equipment stored in handsink.

Winn Dixie Deli, 465 Main Street, Trussville (78): Points were deducted because an employee was wearing a bracelet while handling food; food permit not properly displayed; dishwasher sanitation rinse temperature too low; digital-style food thermometer provided is not working; gauge for the sanitization rinse is not working; boxes of take-out containers on the floor at the hot bar; one of the dumpsters is missing its plug; dimmed bulbs in fixtures in the vent hood; charcoal starter fluid stored on a shelf in the deli prep area beside unwrapped single-use articles.

Kemp's Kitchen, 1423 Gadsden Highway, Trussville (80): Points were deducted because food safety training was not provided for employees; failure to maintain proper temperature for food; expired milk used; raw chicken stored next to tomatoes in RI cooler; unclean drink and tea nozzles at drink station.

Smokey's, 5060 Academy Lane, Bessemer (85): Points were deducted because the current health rating was not displayed; food sitting out at room temperature; black slime mold and standing water in bottom of cooler, food debris in bottom of RI freezer; torn cooler gaskets,heavy pitted dish racks and makeline cooler is not holding proper temperature of 41F and below; dirty floor drains, walls and grease on floors in between grill.

Super Oferta's, 406 West Valley Avenue, Homewood (85): Points were deducted because food safety training was not provided for employees; the butcher was observed eating and drinking behind the counter; the current inspection report was not posted; containers of sour cream had expired; packaged food is stored on the floor; no thermometers in coolers; dishwashing equipment in poor repair.

Photo by Renee Schiavone/Patch