Hair on cheese, ‘grime and debris’ and hiding inspection scores: Jefferson County’s worst restaurant ratings


Seven Jefferson County restaurants scored 84 or below on their most recent health inspection ratings.

Scores below 85 trigger a reinspection within 60 days.

Among the infractions were a piece of hair on cheese, a can opener soiled with “grime and debris” and a restaurant not displaying its most recent health inspection where customers can see it.

Here are the seven restaurants with sub-85 scores, in order from highest to lowest.

Firehouse Subs

1483 Gadsden Hwy., Birmingham

Score: 84

Inspection date: April 29

The person in charge could not show an employee health policy during the inspection.

Meatballs that were prepped one hour before the inspection were out of temperature.

Lettuce and tomatoes prepped 20 minutes before the inspection were out of temperature.

A Wings

1680 Montclair Rd., Birmingham

Score: 83

Inspection date: April 29

A can opener was soiled with “grime and debris.”

An employee was seen cutting lettuce with their bare hands.

The sanitizer bucket did not have sanitizing solution.

The establishment’s most current inspection report was not displayed in public view.

Las Ahogadas

328 Palisades Blvd., Birmingham

Score: 83

Inspection date: April 3

A container of carne asada was stored without a marked preparation date and had to be thrown out.

Chicken and beef were stored uncovered in the walk-in cooler and freezer.

Las Ahogadas did not have food safety training documentation for all of its food handlers.

Several containers were stored while wet.

Burger King #5501

9528 Parkway East, Birmingham

Score: 82

Inspection date: April 10

Ceiling tiles in the food prep area had smoke stains and need to be replaced.

Dumpster doors and lids were opened.

Sausage patties and eggs in the walk-in cooler were not date marked.

Food safety training documentation was not available for all food handlers.

An open box of chicken fries and chicken planks were stored in the walk-in freezer.

Hot Plates

2017 Avenue F, Birmingham

Score: 82

Inspection date: April 1

Hot Plates could not conduct proper dishwashing because the plumbing system from the grease container was unable to properly drain into the floor drain, the inspector noted.

Cooked pasta was not properly datemarked.

Grime and debris were observed on the floors and in a cooler.

Surin West

1918 11th Ave. S, Birmingham

Score: 81

Inspection date: April 3

The ventilation hood was “soiled with residue.”

Food in two coolers did not have proper date marking.

Coconut soup was stored below an acceptable temperature and had to be thrown away.

The walk-in freezer had a condensation leak.

Exotic Wings & Things

1254 Center Point Pkwy., Birmingham

Score: 78

Inspection date: April 29

A piece of hair was seen on cheese stored in the reach-in make table cooler.

Employees with beards were not wearing hair restraints.

Food debris was found behind fryers.

Refrigeration units were leaking condensation.

Catfish for sale did not list the country of origin.


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