Best and Worst Restaurant Inspection Reports in the Chattanooga Area for the Week Ending May 21, 2024

Detail Highlight from The Inspection

Restaurant inspections conducted in Hamilton County, Catoosa County, and Walker County for the week ending May 21, 2024, underscore a range of sanitation standards maintained by establishments in the Chattanooga area. Health departments in these counties administer inspections of restaurants twice yearly, grading them on a 100-point scale. Any score below 70 necessitates corrective action, and restaurants failing to meet critical standards are subject to re-evaluation. The scores presented here are unmodified and do not reflect adjustments made during inspection, which may occasionally result in score improvements.

The Low Scorers

During this week’s inspections, the lowest score of 74 was recorded by ‘Fat Boy’s’ at 8210 Apison Pike. Inspectors cited a variety of reasons including lack of demonstrable control over foodborne illness risk factors, absence of paper towels in the hand sink in the kitchen and additional prep room, the dishwasher’s ineffectiveness in proper sanitation, improper temperature in the reach-in cooler, storage of single-use service items on the floor in the storage shed, a broken handle on the reach-in cooler, a dirty soda fountain ice nozzle, and a dry ingredients bin contaminated with food residue.

Scores Above the Rest

On a brighter note, several restaurants demonstrated excellent adherence to sanitation standards. A sizable number of establishments, including ‘Athena Inn’, ‘Barnyard Grill’, ‘Chick-fil-A Express’, ‘Dalewood Middle School’, ‘Dave & Buster’s’, ‘El Maguey’, ‘Happi Pappi’, ‘Hunter Museum Catering Kitchen’, ‘Laureano’s’, ‘Mark’s Munchies’, ‘No Hard Feelings’, ‘Olive & Oak Charcuterie’, ‘Panda Boba’, ‘Panda Express’, ‘Portobello’s’, ‘Sidetrack’, ‘Taco Roc’, ‘Unknown Caller’, ‘Wally’s Fro-Yo Trailer’, and ‘Whiskey Thief’, scored a perfect 100/100.

Following Up on Inspections

If individuals wish to lodge health-related grievances, they may contact the respective health department. In Chattanooga-Hamilton County, the health department can be reached at 423-209-8110. Catoosa County’s health department contact number is 706-406-2030, and Walker County’s health department can be contacted at 706-639-2574.

Conclusion

Restaurant inspections play a crucial role in ensuring public health and safety. While the majority of restaurants in the Chattanooga area maintain high standards of cleanliness, this periodic exercise serves as a critical reminder for those who fall short of expectations. Restaurants that receive a score of less than 70 are provided with an opportunity to make corrections and reestablish their commitment to food safety.