Flies led this Columbus restaurant to scoring a ‘C’ in October’s health inspections

Brittany McGee
·5 min read

One Columbus restaurant received a “C” in its latest health inspection, and a Captain D’s location received a follow-up inspection in October.

Restaurants receive one of four letter grades that are assigned based on how many points are deducted from 100:

  • “A” grades mean food safety is excellent is achieved by receiving 90-100 points

  • “B’s” are issued when there is “satisfactory compliance” with the business receiving 80-89 points

  • “C’s” mean there is marginal compliance and applied to scores between 70-79

  • “U’s” represent unsatisfactory compliance and are applied to scores of 69 or less.

There were 71 restaurants, lounges and bars inspected in October, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health’s online portal. Of the 30 Columbus businesses offering food services that received an “A” in their routine inspections, 28 of them earned perfect scores and 13 earned a “B.”

New China Express at 6361 Talokas Lane was the only restaurant to receive lower than a “B” with a score of 75 on its Oct. 6 inspection. Establishments that receive a “C” or “U” food safety grade will have at least one additional routine inspection added in a 12-month period, according to state law.

According to the New China Express inspection report, the business lost points for a number of reasons including:

  • Facility lacked verifiable method for employee health policy

  • Raw chicken and raw shredded beef stored in prep-top cooler with the temperature too warm

  • Bucket of salt stored next to bleach under the handwashing sink in the dishwashing area

  • Multiple soy sauce containers were stored on floor of dry storage area

  • Several flies located in dry storage and main kitchen area

  • Fly traps hanging from ceiling above dry storage area and raw chicken being prepped near three compartment sink

In September, Captain D’s on Victory Drive received a 78 on its routine inspection. The restaurant underwent its required follow-up on Oct. 24, and raised its score to an 88.

There were two violations on its follow-up including food items stored at temperatures higher than 41 degrees in the walk-in cooler and the most current inspection report not posted according to rules and regulations.

No restaurant in Columbus received an unsatisfactory score in their routine inspection between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31. Here are the other scores for other restaurants inspected.

Perfect food safety scores

  • After 5 Sports Bar & Grill, 1836 Midtown Dr

  • Arby’s 0660, 1503 Veterans Pkwy

  • Big Boy BBQ, 1512 Morris Rd

  • Bmoski’s Flavor Wings & Cafe, 4701 St. Mary’s Rd

  • Culver’s, 6859 Midland Commons Blvd

  • Daiquiris & Poboys, 3709 Gentian Blvd

  • Epic Restaurant, Inc., 1201 Front Ave, suite E

  • Feeding the Valley Food Bank, 6744 Flat Rock Rd

  • Fiesta Snacks, 4403 17th Ave

  • Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant, 6517 Kitten Lake Dr, suite W1

  • Millhouse Kitchen & Bar, 1801 1st Ave

  • Moe’s Original BBQ, 1421 6th Ave

  • Uptown Sweets and Treats, 1011 Broadway

  • Panda Express, 5295 Whittlesey Blvd

  • Parlor Doughnuts, 211 13th St, suite 102

  • Pita Street Food, 6600 Whittlesey Blvd

  • Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, 4501 River Rd

  • Sbarro, 3131 Manchester Expy 6F

  • Scrumptious Pastries & More, 1714 Manchester Expy, suite B

  • Smokey Pig, 1617 11th Ave

  • Taco Bell, 1445 Veterans Pkwy

  • Taco Bell #29070, 2450 Airport Trwy

  • The Brick and Mortar Cafe, 3500 Massee Ln, suite C

  • The Chicken Lady’s Coop, 6597 Whittlesey, suite B

  • The Mixed Dish, 6550 Whittlesey, suite 101

  • Tropical Smoothie Cafe, 6901 Ray Wright Way

  • Wendy’s, 1633 Bradley Park Dr

  • Wings Cafe 2, 1326 Fort Benning Rd

  • Zombie Pig BBQ, 6201 Veterans Pkwy, suite B

Other restaurants receiving A grades

  • Bojangles, 7660 Schomburg Rd

  • Burger King 12465, 3101 Gentian Blvd

  • BTJ Wings, 3517 Victory Dr

  • Caffe Amici, 2301 Airport Trwy, unit E-2

  • Camileaux’s Low Country Boil and Wings, 1660 Whittlesey Rd, suite 100

  • Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd, suite H

  • China Express, 4519 Woodruff Rd, suite 19

  • Country’s Barbecue, 6298 Veterans Pkwy, suite 4D

  • Country Wings II, 1241 Double Churches Rd, suite D

  • El Primo Taqueria, 1002 Bay Ave, suite 5

  • Escapology/Sky Lounge Bar & Grill, 3716 Gentian Blvd, suite A

  • Ezell’s Catfish Cabin, 4001 Warm Springs Rd

  • Filberto’s Authentic Filipino Cuisine, 1022 Bay Ave, suite 8

  • Firehouse Subs, 3201 Macon Rd, suite 263

  • Jamey’s Hot Wings, 1908d Floyd Rd

  • Krystal #7, 3029 Manchester Expy

  • Lucky Dragon, 5120f Warm Springs Rd

  • Mellow Mushroom, 6100 Veterans Pkwy, suite 14

  • Ok Sun Oriental Restaurant, 2929 Victory Cir

  • Olive Garden, 5555 Whittlesey Blvd #5

  • Pepper’s Barbecue & Catering, 4620 C Warm Springs Rd

  • Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, 6741 Veterans Pkwy

  • Samurai Japanese Cuisine & Sushi Bar, 1009 Broadway

  • Seoul Garden, 2001 South Lumpkin Rd, suite 4

  • Steak-Out, 4519 Woodruff Rd #18

  • The Dawghouse Sports Bar & Grill, 5140 Warm Springs Rd

  • The Juicy Seafood, 6780 Veterans Pkwy

  • Waffle House, 4301 Victory Dr

  • Wicked Hen, 1350 13th St

  • Zaxby’s, 7033 Ruffie Way

Restaurants receiving B grades

  • Big Mama Vietnam Kitchen, 5300 Sidney Simmons Blvd, unit 14

  • Happy China, 4403 17th Ave

  • JD Wings, 1841 Wynnton Rd

  • King Claw, 1591 Bradley Park Dr, unit 5

  • Miles To Go, 5739 Whitesville Rd

  • Popeyes Louisiana Chicken, 6820 Midland Commons Blvd

  • Taste of Tokyo, 1056 Manchester Expy, suite A-6B

  • The Black Cow, 115 A 12th St

  • The Blue Iguana, 2301 Airport Trwy

  • Waffle House #57, 4005 Buena Vista Rd

  • Waffle House #772, 3455 Macon Rd

  • Wild Wing Cafe, 6525 Whittlesey Blvd