Chattanooga Food Establishment Health Inspections: October 8, 2024
The vibrant city of Chattanooga is known for its rich culinary scene, but it’s always good to keep an eye on how our favorite eateries are doing in terms of health and safety. The Hamilton County, Catoosa County, and Walker County health departments routinely inspect food service establishments twice a year, using a grading scale of 100 points. Let’s just say that not all restaurants are created equal when it comes to cleanliness and safety protocols.
Recent Scores and What They Mean
Each week, several establishments are graded, and those that don’t quite meet the standard are reinspected. For the week ending October 8, the results are a mixed bag.
The low performer for this week was Chopstix, located at 6903 Lee Highway, with a score of **68**. A whopping list of red flags was noted during the inspection. For starters, the manager appeared to struggle with controlling foodborne illness risk factors—a serious concern for any dining experience. Workers were not washing their hands, and there was a concerning lack of hot water at the hand sink by the bar. It doesn’t stop there; unmarked food items and improperly stored products made for a challenging food safety situation. This kind of score is certainly a wake-up call.
On the brighter side, there were several establishments that shined bright. The cozy Home Bar on Market Street scored a commendable **80**, although it had its own share of issues, including improper food storage practices and cleaning solution concentrations. Next up, Seasons Hibachi held a decent **90**, but again faced some minor infractions with food storage.
The Good, the Bad, and the Excellent
Now, let’s take a moment to celebrate those establishments that scored 90 and above! The beloved Edley’s BBQ, El Trio Mexican Restaurant, and La Altena II all secured a score of **91** each, demonstrating a strong commitment to keeping things clean and safe. Meanwhile, several others like Miller’s Ale House and Pickle Barrel
The scoreboard shooting for stars included popular spots like Apple Spice of Chattanooga, Chicken-w-Bones, and Chick-fil-A (UTC), all reaching an impressive **98**. Let’s give a big shoutout to those serving our community with the utmost care in health and safety. On the top of that list, the ultimate health heroes were 8F Ice Cream, Arby’s, and Bento Sushi (UTC)cleanliness and safety don’t get any better than this.
Getting Involved
These inspection scores are not just numbers; they are important indicators of food safety and health practices in our community’s eateries. If you’ve ever had doubts about a restaurant’s cleanliness or if you’ve had an experience that raised a red flag, don’t hesitate to take action. Each health department provides a telephone number for complaints!
- For Chattanooga-Hamilton County, call: 423-209-8110
- Catoosa County: 706-406-2030
- Walker County: 706-639-2574
Staying informed is a key ingredient in ensuring a safe dining experience. So next time you grab a bite to eat in our lovely city, you can keep in mind these health inspection scores and make informed choices. Here’s to hoping our next round of inspections highlights even more shining examples of cleanliness in Chattanooga’s dining scene!
Keep eating well, friends!
