The Tennessee Department of Health performed more than 1,700 inspections of restaurants, food trucks and other food service kitchens in the Nashville area in March. Most received high marks, with nearly 400 establishments achieving a perfect score.
However, not all restaurants scored that well. Listed below are the 10 Nashville restaurants that received a score of 68 or lower on initial March inspections.
The Health Department gives restaurants with low scores a chance to correct issues, sometimes performing a follow-up inspection the same day. We listed all follow-up inspection scores available.
Want to learn more about restaurant health inspections in Tennessee? See our explainer. The Tennessean also posted a searchable database with health inspection scores dating back to August 2022.
More: What you need to know about restaurant health inspections
Full inspection reports can be found on the Tennessee Department of Health website.
Juicy Seafood & Hibachi Grill
Score = 61
Date of inspection: March 20
Examples of violations: Raw shrimp and scallops stored above bean paste; raw chicken and beef stored above cooked rice and onions; raw chicken thawing on the table at room temperature; cigarettes and lighter on prep table with food; excessive grease and dirt buildup on floor under the cooking equipment and prep coolers.
Follow-up score = 92
Date of follow-up inspection: April 2
141 Gallatin Pike N., Madison.
See the full inspection report.
Church’s Texas Chicken
Score = 61
Date of inspection: March 20
Examples of violations: Three-compartment sink dirty with old food debris; iced tea container dirty, only one bathroom for 50 chairs in the restaurant, floor throughout kitchen greasy and in poor repair, hot holding cabinets dirty inside and out.
Follow-up score = 87
Date of follow-up inspection: April 2
3127 Dickerson Pike.
See the full inspection report.
Korea BBQ & Sushi
Score = 62
Date of inspection: March 26
Examples of violations: Raw salmon and tuna stored above avocados and sauces in sushi reach-in cooler; uncovered buckets of raw beef stored directly beside raw vegetables and above kimchi in walk-in; raw fish and squid thawed in containers of water under the three-compartment sink; buildup of brown substance inside ice machine; black buildup on lid of ice well under soda fountain; excessive buildup of a gray substance on the floor around the three-compartment sink drain.
Follow-up score = 88
Date of follow-up inspection: April 4
6688 Nolensville Pike, Suite 102.
See the full inspection report.
Sphinx Restaurant
Score = 62
Date of inspection: March 11
Examples of violations: Swai fish listed as standard American catfish on menu; non food-grade-safe bleach used as dish sanitizer; employee removed date mark sticker from cooked ground beef and would not allow inspector to read it; excessive grease build up on cooking equipment, flooring, some reach-in coolers “excessively dirty.”
Follow-up score = 89
Date of follow-up inspection: March 20
855 Briley Pkwy.
See the full inspection report.
Hot Stuff Spicy Chicken and Fish
Score = 62
Date of inspection: March 13
Examples of violations: Policy in place to re-fry cooked chicken and fish left out at room temperature for up to an hour for orders within that window; raw swai held at 56 degrees in reach in cooler; raw chicken liquid pooling under 5-gallon buckets of raw chicken in reach in cooler.
Follow-up score = 87
Date of follow-up inspection: March 20
1309 Bell Rd #218, Antioch.
See the full inspection report.
Cafe Coco’s Italian Market & Kitchen
Score = 63
Date of inspection: March 18
Examples of violations: Employee handled raw chicken, walked outside, returned and rinsed hands without fully washing; kitchen and walk-in cooler walls and ceilings excessively dirty; pizza prep-table cooler not holding food at 41 degrees or lower.
Follow-up score = 91
Date of follow-up inspection: March 27
411 51st Avenue, N.
See the full inspection report.
The Bee Ice Cream & Mini Donuts
Score = 64
Date of inspection: March 31
Examples of violations: Employee washing hand in three-compartment sink over dishes; mold-like fuzz on cucumbers; employee putting away dishes that had not been sanitized; boxes of produce on the floor in front of the cooler and hand sink.
Date of follow-up inspection: Not yet performed.
2610 Nolensville Pike.
See the full inspection report.
Broadway Brewhouse
Score = 68
Date of inspection: March 11
Examples of violations: Raw alligator and shrimp stored above ready-to-eat fruit in walk-in cooler; black substance on white guard of ice machine; built-up grime in the back of server ice well; grease caked on sides of the stove and flat top grill.
Follow-up score = 94
Date of follow-up inspection: March 21
317 Broadway
See the full inspection report.
Panda House
Score = 68
Date of inspection: March 11
Examples of violations: Excessive grease build-up found on cooking equipment; dirty knife found stored on magnetic strip with clean knives; can opener blade excessively dirty.
Follow-up score = 91
Date of follow-up inspection: March 20
853 Briley Pkwy.
See the full inspection report.
Pepperfire Hot Chicken
Score = 68
Date of inspection: March 27
Examples of violations: Hand sinks not supplied with soap and paper towels; dishes and equipment stored in hand sink basins; excessive grease buildup under fryers on cook line; raw chicken in bowl at dredging station reading 46°F.
Follow-up score = 95
Date of follow-up inspection: April 4
5104 C. Centennial Blvd.
See the full inspection report.
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