Table Talk

By One

September 13, 2007 11:12 AM | Link to this

Heck yea!! I wish they would have to post them at the front door, so that I could see the score before I walk thru the door!

By Darin

September 13, 2007 11:39 AM | Link to this

I don’t know where to find the scores for most of the restaurants I eat at now. When I was a kid, my family would go to places like Pizza Hut and Shoney’s and you coul see those score sheets very clearly on the wall behind the cash register. But I don’t know where to find that sheet in nice table-service restaurants.

By Brownie

September 13, 2007 12:46 PM | Link to this

Absolutely! I check the website for inspection scores before I go to a restaurant.I also read the report because it gives details of the inspection. The score has to be 96-100,and if the score failed one week and recheck the next and pass, I still won’t eat there!

By MamaS

September 13, 2007 1:06 PM | Link to this

Yes. I have walked out of restaurants that had posted scores of less than 93. If anyone asked me why I was leaving, I told them it was their score.

By Leigh

September 13, 2007 1:08 PM | Link to this

I check fast food ratings quite often, but I also do not do this for nicer restaurants that may not have the review posted in clear sight. I do think the inspections are critical. If these restaurants do so poorly when they know that they are being reviewed - how would they perform if they knew they were never going to be inspected? Yikes!

By Leigh

September 13, 2007 1:09 PM | Link to this

I check fast food ratings quite often, but I also do not do this for nicer restaurants that may not have the review posted in clear sight. I do think the inspections are critical. If these restaurants do so poorly when they know that they are being reviewed - how would they perform if they knew they were never going to be inspected? Yikes!

By Happy in Conyers

September 13, 2007 1:14 PM | Link to this

Heck Yeah!! Do I want to risk death!!! Won’t be going there or the one in Buckhead for a long while.

By Jim P

September 13, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

Great idea to post the scores on the front door where everyone can see them….might influence them to do better if it was more evident…..

By Pretty Please

September 13, 2007 1:15 PM | Link to this

Does anyone know if Fulton County or City of Atlanta maintains a web site where citizens can check recent restaurant inspection scores? I cannot seem to find one. I see that the AJC has occasionally posted scores but their reporting has been sporadic and infrequent. If anyone knows of such a web site, please share with us.

By sometimes..

September 13, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Guess I should check more often. I remember a time or two after reading an article about inspections, I did notice they had it posted and it was pretty good (low 90s). I don’t generally notice restaurants being dirty and am not too squeamish about my food. Heck, I’m still alive and been eating for almost 60 yrs.

By Susan

September 13, 2007 1:30 PM | Link to this

Several years ago I was on jury duty with a young woman who worked for the DeKalb Co. health department. She advised not to eat in a restuarant where the score was less than 90. I have followed her advice. I always notice the score and will walk out if it is below 90. It is unbelievable how many restuarants will spend advertising dollars, but fail to spend those dollars on maintenance, cleaning, employee training that directly effects decisions made by consumers to patronize the establishment.

By Atlanta Pearl Girl

September 13, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

I think if I was made aware of a low score…it would definately affect my view and plans of eating there.

I surely hope Spondivits comes out of this because I love that place!! BUT….I won’t be eating raw oysters again I think. Even though I love them….it’s just too scary.

Atlanta Pearl Girl

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By UGAPublicHealth

September 13, 2007 2:01 PM | Link to this

I don’t know about Fulton County or the City of Atlanta, but Dekalb County Board of Health does offer a website that shows health scores for all establishments in the county. Here’s the website: http://atlanta.digitalhealthdepartment.com/dekalb/

By Last American

September 13, 2007 2:04 PM | Link to this

Yes, I agree that the score card should be posted in the front window of the restaurant. I had ordered food from the Amazing Wok on Indian Trail. Guess what - I found out that their score that day was 40. I thought I was going to vomit and got rid of the food. Have not gone back since. CAN YOU PLEASE POST THE WEB SITE TO FIND OUT SCORES. THANK YOU

By bookey

September 13, 2007 2:05 PM | Link to this

I wish they would be required to post them on the front door and that the print on the report was larger and the score in bold red print. The comments on most of the inspection reports can”t be read I wish it had to be typed so you could see what was wrong

By Darin

September 13, 2007 2:54 PM | Link to this

I just checked out the Fulton County web site thoroughly and found out two things:

By jct

September 13, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

Most restaurants post the score near the front door. If I can not locate it on the wall quickly, I quickly make my exit and eat at another establishment.

If the restaurant makes it hard on me, the restaurant will lose my business.

By Rita

September 13, 2007 3:35 PM | Link to this

Yes, inspections are necessary and are important to public health. Problem is, just like with any other government agency, staffing for inspection with the shear number of restuarants out there today is lacking!

I have no problem locating the rating when I go into an establishment. You’d be suprised what some of your favorites score at times. Mostly again, due to the quality of workers that restuarants, who often pay little, are going to employ. That will never change!

Spoondivits - though their inspection scores were low - is being wrongfully sued. They served plenty of other customers raw oysters that day without sickness. I do not eat raw oysters - never have - and even I know that they can make you ill. Someone in poor health should have never taken that kind of risk. I feel for the family and hate that she died - but don’t feel the restuarant is to blame at all! An unhealthy, 50 something should know better than to eat raw seafood, especially during the summer months. Warnings are posted everywhere!

By Cranberry

September 13, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this

The website given above by ‘UGAPublicHealth’ can be modified for any county. [http://atlanta.digitalhealthdepartment.com/dekalb/] Paste this in your browser, then delete dekalb and enter any other county, such as gwinnett. Works great!

By Noelle

September 13, 2007 3:46 PM | Link to this

I look for the score as soon as I walk in the restaurant. If it is in the 90’s I eat with caution. Anything below a 90 my daughter and me head for the door. My 15 year old checks also. I also look at the staff’s appearance and the area behind the counter where the food is being prepared. If it is not clean I leave.

By Cranberry

September 13, 2007 3:47 PM | Link to this

Incidentally, I read that Spondivits was keeping the oyster cooler too warm, so technically, that could have been the cause, if it allowed bacteria to grow.

By D.O.

September 13, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

A restaurant’s inpection score ABSOLUTELY affects my decision on whether I will eat there!!!

By Stephanie

September 13, 2007 4:10 PM | Link to this

Yes, Yes, Yes…my friend’s use to laugh at me for the checking scores of restaurants. But now all I have all of them checking, too. It’s very important for me to know what’s going in a restaurant and especially behind the closed doors.

By TC

September 13, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this

Yes I do check the inspection scores. And I try to read any extra wording thats added. Therefore that will make me do a u-turn and go elsewhere. But as Noelle stated, look at the wait staff and their appearances also how the restaurants appearance is as well. I do not want to fall ill should these eateries not be up to the health codes. Thank God I do not eat raw oysters, but still it matters how the preserve and store the food before preparing.

By TC

September 13, 2007 4:26 PM | Link to this

Yes I do check the inspection scores. And I try to read any extra wording thats added. Therefore that will make me do a u-turn and go elsewhere. But as Noelle stated, look at the wait staff and their appearances also how the restaurants appearance is as well. I do not want to fall ill should these eateries not be up to the health codes. Thank God I do not eat raw oysters, but still it matters how they preserve and store the food before preparing.

By Jinks

September 13, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

Nothing bothers me. I’ve seen my mother-in-law cook.

By pootie tang

September 13, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this

BIACH

By stine

September 13, 2007 5:06 PM | Link to this

I would like the scores to be posted on the lower right-hand corner of the drive-thru menu boards.

By lee

September 13, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

Inspection reports are essential. I never accept a seat in any restaurant until I’ve read the report. If the score is below a 96 I leave. Any restaurant that cares so little for their patron’s health that they would allow any score below a 96 doesn’t deserve my patronage. There are a few chain restaurants that have the ingrained philosophy that any score below a 100 is unacceptable and I heartily support and salute these.

Yes, I’ve temporarily embarrassed my family by insisting to see a report that’s not in plain view. I’ve also temporarily embarrassed them by walking out before being seated. Their biggest embarrassment though is when the maitre d asks why we’re leaving and I explain the low score in a voice that’s loud enough for other patrons to hear. If they don’t mind attempting to poison me, I don’t mind pointing it out to them and other’s.

By DJ

September 13, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this

If I see less than a 90 or do not see the sign at all, I do not order. Even if the score is in the low 90s, I’ll get close enough to the form to read the comments. I too wonder why they aren’t required at drive-thrus in GA.

I was amazed when I moved to Atlanta by all the restaurants with such low scores.

I grew up in North Carolina, which uses the A, B, C, D, F system. Usually Cs and Ds were closed within 30 days or got their act together and were reinspected UP to an A. I read that Georgia is going to letters in the near future.

As a teenager, I worked at ‘A’ restaurants and knew they weren’t absolutely sanitary, so I could only imagine what a B/C type establishment was doing.

There was a brand new restaurant on Flat Shoals (Frank’s Place) that opened with a 100. On my second visit, they had dropped to a 94. I told the guy serving my food that they needed to watch those inspections and not fall below 90. He said, “oh yeah, what does that mean?” I went in recently and they were in the 80s; I will not be back.

It’s really pretty sad because the inspection form is pretty clear. It’s like having the answers to a test before you take it. The expectations of the inspectors are clear. Just do it.

By AV8R

September 13, 2007 6:17 PM | Link to this

When I was in college I worked at a prominent Steak house Very near the Foxhad a cow out front, The inspection report was always great98 to 100 consistantly. The inspector never got any further than the bar, Since then I’ve never had any faith in the system, I always look around before I eat at a new restaurant, most are filthy and I move on.

By concerned

September 14, 2007 8:25 AM | Link to this

After nearly 20 years working in the food service industry I can say the scores do matter!!!! If it is under 93 then do not eat there. If they do switch to this A, B, C…. grading system then my family will be eating healthier because we won’t be eating out. I am all for the inspections written legibly and posted just inside the front door and on the menu board for the drive through. If the public knew what goes on in the kitchens they would never eat out again. Another indicator is how clean their restrooms. As a child we would always wait when we got to a restaurant for my mother to check the restroom. If it wasn’t clean she made us leave. Again with what fast food pays remember you get what you pay for… If they are understaffed then they are under cleaned.

By Rod

September 14, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

Elizabeth Lee - or anyone else, can you tell us what the law requires as far as posting the score sheet. Is it required to be by the cash register, front door, plain site, etc? I think it should be required to be by the front door. Do you know who to contact about changing that requirement?

By court_fanatic

September 14, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

YES, they matter to me - I check the scores either online or as I walk into the restaurant and look at the posted score. But, evidently, they don’t matter to the Board of Health. Otherwise, Spondivits would have been shut down on the spot when they received a 48 - 2 weeks before the woman died from eating their oysters!

By Kim

September 14, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Yes, the rating matters. If we see a score below 80, we should run the other way. Why should we pay hard earned money, for businesses that blatantly cut corners? Especially when it comes to what we are putting in our bodies!

By lucky

September 17, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

Restaurants should be required to post a copy of their last two health inspections on the front of every menu. Filthy restaurant managers should be put on community service and made to clean streets every time they get a poor score.