17 worst Nashville restaurant inspections in January: Roaches, a spider and fuzzy lettuce
In the first month of this year, the Tennessee Department of Health carried out more than 800 inspections of restaurants, food trucks and other food service kitchens in Davidson County. The median score for those inspections continued to be high: 97 out of 100.
But not every restaurant scored that well.
Listed below, in alphabetical order, are the 17 restaurants that received a score of 74 or below in January on initial inspections. Unless specified, the restaurants are in Nashville. Restaurants are given a chance to correct issues, and sometimes a follow-up inspection is completed the same day.
A full list of January inspection scores can be found at the end of this story.
Want to learn more about restaurant health inspection in Tennessee? See our explainer. The Tennessean also posted a searchable database with health inspection scores dating back to August 2022. Inspections can be found at the end of this article.
Full inspection reports can be found on the website of the Tennessee Department of Health.
More: What you need to know about restaurant health inspections
Acapulco Burrito Restaurant
Score = 61.
Date of inspection: Jan. 29.
Examples of violations: White, fuzzy stuff on lettuce in the cooler; raw meat was thawing in a sink of standing water; black substance on ice machine.
See the full inspection report.
13020 Old Hickory Blvd., Antioch
China Pan Buffet & Grill
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Jan. 11.
Examples of violations: Employees handled food without washing hands; tray that held raw fish rinsed but not washed before it was put away; floors were dirty in kitchen and walk-in cooler.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 93.
Date of follow-up inspection: Jan. 25.
5353 Mt. View Road, Antioch
Dumpling House
Score = 63.
Date of inspection: Jan. 30.
Examples of violations: Black build-up on floor under coolers and kitchen equipment; plastic bag of raw chicken was stored on floor of walk-in cooler; excessive grease drips on oven vent.
See the full inspection report.
2117 Belcourt Ave.
El Santuario Mexican Kitchen
Score = 70.
Date of inspection: Jan. 9
Examples of violations: Spoiled, gelatinous buttermilk dated from October in the cooler; raw food thawing on prep table; spider seen descending from ceiling.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 86.
Date of follow-up inspection: Jan. 24.
(Note: Restaurant scored 91 on a second follow-up inspection on Jan. 25)
1132 Murfreesboro Pike
Element Hotel (kitchen)
Score = 71.
Date of inspection: Jan. 25.
Examples of violations: A moldy block of brie cheese was in a cooler; women's restroom had no soap; employee loaded dirty dishes and then handled clean dishes without first washing hands.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 98.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 9.
2825 Elm Hill Pike
Horus Cafe
Score = 72.
Date of inspection: Jan. 24.
Examples of violations: Person in charge handled raw chicken then opened bag of raw beef without first washing hands; grocery bags used to store raw meat; walls and floors damaged and have excessive food debris.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 94.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 5.
888 Murfreesboro Pike
La Costa Nayarita Restaurant
Score = 46.
Date of inspection: Jan. 10.
Examples of violations: Raw fish being thawed in a sink of stagnant water; fly traps with dead insects hanging above food prep area; significant black buildup on nozzles of soda machine.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 87.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 1.
5332 Cane Ridge Road, Antioch
L.A. Jackson at the Thompson Hotel
Score = 74.
Date of inspection: Jan. 29.
Examples of violations: The temperature in a prep cooler was 50 degrees; raw eggs stored above produce in a walk-in cooler; employee was eating cookies above clean cups in dish washing area.
See the full inspection report.
401 11th Ave. S.
Nash House Southern Spoon and Saloon
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Jan. 29.
Examples of violations: Spoiled spinach in cooler; employee loaded dirty dishes and then handle clean dishes without first washing hands; hand sink leaking onto floor.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 91.
Date of follow-up inspection: Jan. 29.
114 Eighth Ave. S.
One Spunky Spud
Score = 74.
Date of inspection: Jan. 24.
Examples of violations: Vent hood filters extremely dirty; no soap at a hand sink; bare wood separates kitchen and dining area.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 95.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 1.
1000 Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville
Roma Pizza & Pasta
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Jan. 25.
Examples of violations: Cooked wings stored in a raw chicken box; green spots growing on bag of unopened shredded cheese; live roaches seen in the three-compartment sink.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 91.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 1.
3803 Gallatin Road
Sky Bar & Lounge
Score = 70.
Date of inspection: Jan. 9.
Examples of violations: Several refrigerators had no thermometers; beer cooler in bar area had black and brown material on the inside; raw eggs stored overnight at room temperature.
See the full inspection report.
825 Hamilton Crossing
Starwood Pizza
Score = 73.
Date of inspection: Jan. 25.
Examples of violations: Roach seen crawling on wall behind the three-compartment sink; brown substance on the inside of the prep cooler; raw chicken stored above ready-to-eat food.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 87.
Date of follow-up inspection: Jan. 25.
12637 Old Hickory Blvd., Antioch
Taqueria El Millon (food truck)
Score = 62.
Date of inspection: Jan. 29.
Examples of violations: Food in cooler is not marked with date; no soap at the hand sink; person in charge did not know the symptoms of food-borne illnesses.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 93.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 8.
14910 Old Hickory Blvd.
Ten Century Restaurant
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Jan. 25.
Examples of violations: Beer pooling on floor of the walk-in cooler; live roach seen on baseboard in the buffet area; raw fish was thawing on a rack at room temperature.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 92.
Date of follow-up inspection: Jan. 31.
10 Century Blvd.
Till Five Pizza
Score = 62.
Date of inspection: Jan. 23.
Examples of violations: Person in charge could not answer questions about proper cooking temperatures; raw shrimp stored above apples in a cooler; frozen sandwich meat was thawing on top of a toaster.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 88.
Date of follow-up inspection: Jan. 29.
231 Seventh Ave. N.
Wingstop
Score = 74.
Date of inspection: Jan. 24.
Examples of the violations: Heavy grease build-up on the floors; the walk-in cooler was missing a thermometer; ceiling tiles leaking water on the floor; an employee illness policy not on site.
See the full inspection report.
127 Gallatin Pike N., Madison
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville health inspections: List of 17 worst restaurant inspections
