Restaurant Health Scores: Five Local Eateries Score 85 Or Lower

BIRMINGHAM, AL - The Jefferson County Department of Health released its most recent health scores, and some of the Birmingham'area's restaurants did not make the grade, so to speak. In all, 119 eateries were inspected in November, and 114 received health scores above 85. Of course, that means that five restaurants did not.

Here are the restaurants in Jefferson County that scored an 85 or below, and why:

Arby's; 3990 Methodist Circle, Bessemer (85): Points were deducted for front line staff handling sliders with bare hand contact; packs of sliced turkey thawing in prep sink of standing water with internal temperature of 83 degrees; dirty WI cooler with debris under shelves and dust buildup on fan covers; failure to clean dumpster; food stains on the walls.

Jersey Mike's Subs; 1851 Montgomery Highway, Hoover (79): Points were deducted for an employee not washing hands after handling money; tomatoes stored on the front line were out of temperature; sugar and cornmeal were stored and not properly labeled; scoop was stored with the handle directly touching the sugar; accumulation of debris in the bottom of the deli case cooler and the microwave; gaskets on the make table cooler and the RI freezer is damaged; no sanitizer solution available during food prep; catering boxes in the back kitchen are stored directly on the floor; condensate leaks under the deli case cooler and in the WI cooler; water damaged ceiling tiles throughout the facility; several blown or missing bulbs throughout the facility; hairspray was stored directly on top of a case of chips.

Saw's Soul Kitchen; 215 41st Street South, Birmingham (83): Points were deducted for an unapproved personal drink stored on the meat slicer; improper food temperature; plastic cup is stored in the sugar bin; failure to have appropriate chemical test kits to accurately determine the concentration of the sanitizing solution; failure to rinse utensils after washing and before sanitizing; boxes of plastic utensils are stored on the floor; accumulation of lint and debris on the ceiling vent, directly over the RI prep cooler.

Steak & Shake; 1817 Montgomery Highway, Hoover (81): Points were deducted because sliced tomatoes, grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, shredded cheese, noodles, and ground beef stored in the coolers on the line were out of temperature; ice scoop was stored directly on the counter; immersion blenders, can opener blade, slicer heads, and several spatulas (clean dish rack) were soiled; interior and exterior surfaces of most of the equipment on the line are soiled; table at the front beverage station is heavily damaged; sanitizer buckets in the shake area were heavily soiled; cases of fry cups and napkins were stored on the floor in the dry storage area; condensate leak in the WI freezer; several dead roaches near the electrical panels on the line; accumulation of food, grease, and debris under the heavy equipment and on the walls throughout the facility, including the WI freezer; failure to provide at least 50 foot candles of light in food prep and ware washing areas.

Whole Foods Deli; 3780 Riverchase Village, Hoover (82): Points were deducted for molded cheddar cheese cubes stored in the RI cooler on the front line; Little Rock Cavier, tofu, feta cheese, and mock chicken salad stored on the buffet tables were out of temperature; container of fresh mozzarella cheese (stored in the pizza station) was past the date limit; sanitizer buckets in the facility tested negative for quaterary ammonia; low water pressure at the handsink in the dish washing area; large trail of ants near the dish machine (soiled utensil side); Large accumulation of debris on the filters above the smoker.

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