Food For Thought Report 4.21 - KCBD NewsChannel 11 Lubbock

The Lubbock Health Department paid visits to 60 eateries this week. Several of them received rave reviews but a couple of them needed improvements. Out of all the reports, nine restaurants made the list of our top performers, but two others were at the bottom. 

We begin at Old Texas Bar B Que #2 on Avenue A, where inspectors cited them for 6 critical violations:

• Eggs were stored more than 20 degrees above the safe temperature. They were thrown out during the inspection.
• Plastic bottles were found in a sink used for washing hands.
• Beef brisket wasn't labeled with an expiration date, or the day it was made.
• There was no cold water in the hand sink.
• Inspectors found a broken, tip-sensitive food thermometer.
• Utensils were stored in cold water rather than hot in between uses.

Most of the violations were corrected during the inspection. The manager of the restaurant says the other problems have been corrected within the given time.

Our next stop is MamaRita's Border Cafe at 6602 Slide Road. There were 5 critical violations found during their inspection.  

• Hot food was found cooling in the refrigerator above the safe temperature.  
• Tomatoes and guacamole were stored above the safe temperature in another refrigerator that wasn't cooling properly according to the report.  
• Cooked meat was not reheated at the proper temperature in the allotted time.  
• Cans of glass cleaners were stored next to salt and pepper shakers and to go containers.  
• Inspectors say the ice bin and nozzles on a coke machine were dirty. 

According to the report all the problems were corrected and the refrigerator was repaired the very next day. 

At the top of our list you'll find something for every taste bud:

• Christaki's Burgers at 1111 34th Street.
• Cuevas Drive-In at 2013 N. Ash Avenue.
• Glazed Honey Ham Company at 3424 82nd Street.
• Harrigan's at 3827 50th Street. J&M BBQ at 3605 34th Street.
• Popeye's at 2505 82nd Street.
• Red Lobster at 5034 50th Street.
• Taco Bell at 2408 82nd Street.
• Tokyo Japanese Seafood and Steakhouse at 4637 50th Street.

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