Sunday, October 26, 2008
Frightening food
September's results for Adam Murphy's Restaurant Report Card
SEPTEMBER SCORECARD
Worst Scores
Topolino: 48 points (U)
488 Gwinnett Drive, Lawrenceville
Problem Areas: Raw veal was stored above lettuce and tomatoes. Plus, beef and sour cream were stored at unsafe temperatures. Inspectors also noticed an employee’s purse sitting on top of plates, and there were several live roaches in the restaurant. Topolino received 88 points and a B on a reinspection.
Panda Garden: 54 points (U)
3823 Austell Road, Austell
Problem Areas: There was moldy rice under the warming table. Plus, an employee wiped their nose with their hand and then washed dishes. Panda Garden received 90 points and an A on a reinspection.
Anne & Bill’s Restaurant: 65 points (U)
1057 Main St., Forest Park
Problem Areas: Two employees handled cooked food with their bare hands. Plus, potatoes, sausage and pork were sitting out at room temperature. Anne & Bill’s Restaurant received 97 points and an A on a reinspection.
Best Scores
J. Christopher’s: 100 points (A)
1675 Cumberland Parkway, Smyrna
Oyster Barn: 96 points (A)
411 Beaver Ruin Road, Lilburn
Mustard Seed Café: 92 points (A)
250 Gilmer Ferry Road, Ball Ground
By Adam Murphy
There are plenty of scary restaurant scores out there, but what about frightening food? I’m talking about Atlanta’s haunted restaurants. Yes, they do exist! Despite their ghost stories, these hot spots typically do very well on their health inspections. Rumor has it that one of the most haunted in the city is Anthony’s in Buckhead. This restaurant is located inside a Southern plantation home that was moved to Buckhead from Wilkes County, Ga. As the story goes, a woman was married in the home in the 1800s, and, even today, people have sensed her presence near the staircase. Others have heard children singing there. I’ve heard that some employees have even quit working at the restaurant because they thought it was haunted.
It has also been said that the Shakespeare Tavern in Midtown is haunted. Legend has it that an entire cast of ghosts can be seen throughout the theater. You might even catch a glimpse of a figure walking along the stage’s catwalk at night. It sounds a bit spooky to me, so dine at your own risk and always check the health score.
I uncovered some health violations in September that might upset your stomach. In Lawrenceville, Topolino scored a U and only 48 points. The report says an employee’s purse was sitting on top of plates, and there were several live roaches in the restaurant. I tried to confront management about the violations, but they had temporarily closed the business to clean up the mess. Topolino received 88 points and a B on a reinspection. In Cobb County, Panda Garden on Austell Road failed with a U and 54 points. The report says an employee wiped their hand with their nose and then washed dishes. Yuck! Panda Garden received 90 points and an A on a reinspection.
Here’s some more food for thought: Anne & Bill’s Restaurant on Main Street in Forest Park struggled with 65 points and a U. The report says two employees handled cooked food with their bare hands. Employees must wear gloves when handling food. Anne & Bill’s received an A and 97 points on a reinspection. SP
Watch Adam Murphy’s CBS 46 Restaurant Report Card this Friday at 11 p.m. and the following Monday at noon and 4 p.m. You can also catch all of his reports in streaming video at www.cbs46.com.