15 worst Nashville restaurant inspections in February: sewage stink, dirty dishes
In February, the Tennessee Department of Health carried out nearly 1,800 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 15 restaurants that received a score of 73 or below in February 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 February 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
Asian Taste
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Feb. 28.
Examples of violations: Dishwasher was not working; the door of the walk-in cooler had a hole on the inside and was dirty; the person in charge could not answers questions about basic food safety; a warning letter was issued after repeated violation on two consecutive inspections.
See the full inspection report.
116 N. Royal Oaks Blvd., Franklin
The Best City Gyro (food truck)
Score = 65.
Date of inspection: Feb. 26.
Examples of violations: No water for hand sink; no sanitizer for dishes; French fries stored on a floor.
See the full inspection report.
907 Gallatin Pike, Madison
Bungalow 10
Score = 70.
Date of inspection: Feb. 29
Examples of violations: Clean dishes were removed from dishwasher with dirty gloves; water pooling from leak in walk-in cooler; the person in charge said rain leaks into a walk-in cooler.
See the full inspection report.
City Tap House
Score = 67.
Date of inspection: Feb. 21
Examples of violations: Raw meat thawing in standing water; expired whipped goat cheese not discarded; potato cutter was excessively dirty.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 94.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 28.
204 3rd Ave. South
City Winery
Score = 56.
Date of inspection: Feb. 22
Examples of violations: Glasses dirty with food debris in main bar; walk-in cooler leaking onto cases of food; dishwasher leaking onto floor.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 91.
Date of follow-up inspection: March 1.
609 Lafayette St.
Down N The Bayou (food truck)
Score = 66.
Date of inspection: Feb. 21.
Examples of violations: Hand washing sink had no water; employees handled raw meat without washing hands; pans of raw fish were sitting out on the counter.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 92.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 29.
1060 SE Tater Peeler Road, Lebanon
Dynasty Super Buffet
Score = 72.
Date of inspection: Feb. 1
Examples of violations: A strong sewage smell in the kitchen; bugs were crawling on dishwasher; same spoon used to dip raw chicken and raw beef.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 90.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 13.
5433 Nolensville Pike
Elotes La Milpa
Score = 65.
Date of inspection: Feb. 21.
Examples of violations: Raw shrimp stored above fruit; exhaust hood vents had excessive grease build-up; staff could not show a basic knowledge of proper food handling.
See the full inspection report.
939 Richards Road
Great Wall of China
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Feb. 6
Examples of violations: No hand washing was seen during inspection; floors were dirty and sticky; dented cans were stored on shelves.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 95.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 16.
2176 Hillsboro Road, Franklin
Harper's Nashville
Score = 73.
Date of inspection: Feb. 29.
Examples of violations: Lobster was being thawed in standing water; expired brie cheese stored in the walk-in cooler; raw seafood stored above cooked chicken.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 92.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 29.
2 Lea Ave.
Jalisco Mexican Restaurant
Score = 71.
Date of inspection: Feb. 8.
Examples of violations: Ice maker had pink residue inside; employee's uncovered drinks on prep table near dry food; pan of cooked refried beans stored on a shelf beside stove for three hours.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 96.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 15.
1290 Sparta Pike, Lebanon
Jasmine
Score = 70.
Date of inspection: Feb. 22.
Examples of violations: Bags of rice stored on the floor of an outside shed; the walls were dirty; kitchen staff were not washing their hands.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score = 96.
Date of follow-up inspection: March 1.
8105 Moores Lane, Brentwood
La Mulita (food truck)
Score = 65.
Date of inspection: Feb. 15.
Examples of violations: No hot or cold water for a week and dishes had not been washed properly; partially cooked chicken stored in a grocery bag; the person in charge did not know what temperature to cook raw chicken.
See the full inspection report.
Follow-up score: 96.
Date of follow-up inspection: Feb. 15.
4000 Lebanon Pike, Hermitage
Subway (#7161)
Score = 72.
Date of inspection: Feb. 28.
Examples of violations: Hole in grease trap causes water to run onto floors when sink drained; employee did not wash hands before putting on gloves; person in charge did not show basic knowledge of food safety.
See the full inspection report.
907 Rivergate Parkway, Goodlettsville
Tacos Jr. Lopez (food truck)
Score = 69.
Date of inspection: Feb. 27.
Examples of violations: Hand sink lacked hot water and enough water pressure; a broken refrigerator was 65 degrees; floors and walls are dirty.
See the full inspection report.
301 Gallatin Pike South, Madison
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville health inspections: Nashville restaurants with bad reports
