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DEL.ICIO.USRestaurant inspections: What score is too low for you?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
What’s the difference between a score of 87 and 97?
A lot when it comes to restaurant inspections.
More often than not, when you walk into a restaurant in Fayette County, the posted inspection score is between 90 and 100. But that’s not a given in cities and counties elsewhere across the state.
My family and I stopped at a Georgia-based restaurant chain in Macon last week. As my group of six was settling into their seats, I headed to the ladies room. I immediately noticed a mop in a bucket of dirty water leaning against the wall just outside the restroom doors.
On the way back to my seat, I glanced around for the restaurant’s inspection notice and discovered it had received an 87 on the health inspector’s last visit. OK, no big deal, I told myself. They’ve probably corrected the problems by now. Unfortunately, I was wrong. Within the 30 minutes we were there, I made a list of 10 potential health violations that I later reported to the restaurant’s corporate office.
Before I moved to Georgia, I had never even noticed restaurant inspection scores, and I honestly didn’t think too much about what went on in the kitchen area, as long as the seating area and utensils were clean. But after an experience like last week, a restaurant’s score is the first thing I plan to look for. It will determine whether I stay.
Do you decide where you eat out based on inspection scores? What’s your minimum and how accurate do you think the scores are? Would you turn in a restaurant with an obvious violation?
Permalink | Comments (3) | Categories: Donna Soper
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By troy
March 6, 2007 10:13 AM | Link to this
Been watching posting since I was a young adult.. 90 is ok.. like to break even at 92 and above.. but you are not safe…remembers the rats running around in the restaurant in NYC.. well it happens here also.. late at night.. inspectors try, I’m sure,, but I stopped eating out after I worked in a well known up-scale eatery..As Lou Gizzard(sp) pointed out years before his death,, he no longer ate from a salad bar, after he saw a young boy pick his nose and rub in on some lettuce..I haven’t eithr
By mark
March 6, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this
you can access free inspections from across the country at healthinspections-dot-com.
By Swangirl
March 7, 2007 12:24 PM | Link to this
I put a lot of stock in those restaurant inspections. My college roommate majored in hotel/restaurant management and she told me stories that would make your head spin.
I try to avoid restaurants that have an inspection under 90. I just don’t like taking the risk.
I do remember a few years ago dining at a Chinese restaurant in F’ville that had the inspection rating sheet posted but the number was covered up by the corner of another document. I never ate their again.