Eight restaurants and eating establishments in Jefferson County scored 84 or below on their health inspections during May — a threshold that triggers a reinspection within 60 days.
One of those establishments — the lowest rated in the county last month — already had its reinspection before the calendar was flipped over.
Violations ranged from flying gnats to dead insects. Multiple establishments didn’t have signs telling employees they must wash their hands, and one — again, the lowest rated in the county for May — had workers who came back from trips to the dumpster without using hot water and soap.
Here they are those eight establishments, in descending order:
Bessemer Food Mart
2800 9th Ave., Bessemer
Score: 84
Inspection date: May 1
Chicken wings that were cooked an hour before the inspection were out of temperature.
The ceiling vents throughout the sales floor had an “accumulation of dust.”
The establishment did not post a sign notifying workers to wash their hands by every hand sink.
Bo’s Kosher Café
3960 Montclair Rd., Birmingham
Score: 84
Inspection date: May 22
Two cooking pans were found “soiled with food debris.”
The floor was “soiled with debris and residue” while liquid spots were observed “throughout the kitchen area.”
There were no paper towels in the hand sink.
Irondale Chevron/Sneaky Pete’s
1804 Crestwood Blvd., Irondale
Score: 79
Inspection date: May 2
Live insects were observed along the window of the seating area of Sneaky Pete’s.
Several dead bugs were spotted in light fixtures in the back room of Sneaky Pete’s.
Pizza, corn dogs, Philly cheesesteak and bacon, egg and cheese were out of temperature.
The floors were dirty in both Chevron and Sneaky Pete’s.
There was no soap in the hand sink at Sneaky Pete’s next to the three-compartment sink.
China Way
5220 Oporto Madrid Blvd., Birmingham
Score: 78
Inspection date: May 7
Lettuce, chicken and shrimp were out of temperature.
There was no toilet paper in the employee unisex restroom.
Interior of several reach-in coolers were soiled with residue and debris.
Hot Spot
5429 Beacon Dr., Irondale
Score: 78
Inspection date: May 13
A can opener was “soiled with black grime” on shelving underneath the prep table.
Several aluminum pans were “soiled with residue and food debris” while two slicers were soiled with grease.
The inside of the reach-in coolers were dirty.
Air ducts were dusty and the ventilation hood had “heavy grease and grime.”
Purple Onion
1545 Montclair Rd., Irondale
Score: 72
Inspection date: May 8
No employees had food handler certifications at the time of the inspection.
Cheese was out of temperature.
A “heavy accumulation of ice” was spotted on the floor and walls of the walk-in freezer.
Shelving in dry storage was “soiled with rust, dirt and grime.”
Pans were stacked wet.
N&S Food Mart
1601 Pinson Valley Pkwy., Tarrant
Score: 70
Inspection date: May 7
Gnats were flying “throughout the facility, mostly in the back room near soured mops.”
The coffee, drink and slushie machines were soiled with residue.
The handwashing sink did not have soap. It also did not have a sign notifying employees to wash their hands.
The establishment could not provide a health policy stating what actions workers must take if they have symptoms of diseases that can be transmissible through food.
El Patron Mexican Restaurant VII
325 Walker Chapel Plz., Fultondale
Score: 53
Inspection date: May 1
*Note – El Patron was reinspected May 3 and was given a 93 score upon reinspection.
A roach was found in the microwave next door to the kitchen.
Employees did not wash hands after trips to the dumpster, picking items up the floor or after changing tasks.
Several ingredients and foods were out of temperature.
Cheese grinder was stored with cheese debris still in it.
The deflector shield on the ice machine was soiled with mildew.
