‘Numerous flies’ found at East Knoxville restaurant during health inspection

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The restaurant with the failing grade serves Mexican food. The score is the lowest we’ve seen all year.

The grade is a 57 at Don Chuy’s Fresh Mex and Cantina, 2904 Knoxville Center Drive in East Knoxville. A 57 out of 100 is a failing score as any grade of 69 and below is considered failing.

Don Chuy’s Fresh Mex & Cantina, Grade: 57, Follow-up: 93

First off, the inspector wrote that an open personal drink cup was sitting on the cook line. Sipping drinks is allowed in kitchens, but cups must have a lid on them to prevent any accidents and they’re supposed to be placed far away from food.

A cook wearing gloves handled raw chicken, then without changing his gloves, he used a spatula to stir the cooking chicken, thus contaminating the spatula with bacteria from the raw chicken. A second cook picked up that contaminated spatula and used it to put food onto a plate.

There’s more. The inspector found pieces of bacteria-filled raw shrimp that had fallen into a container of pineapple.

Numerous flies were seen buzzing around the kitchen. Insects are uninvited guests at restaurant kitchens.

Finally, the inspector wrote that the person in charge did not demonstrate managerial control because of numerous critical violations.

The inspector returned to Don Chuy’s Cantina on Knoxville Center Drive. He checked to see if the original critical violations were corrected. They were. The new grade is 93.

Top Scores of the Week

• Five Guys, 7531 Barrett Way, Powell — 100
• Marble City Pub, 108 Jack Dance St, Knoxville — 100
• It’s About Time Tavern Ii, 1812 Maryville Pike, Knoxville — 100
• Clanton’s Bbq, 2507 Gov. John Sevier Hwy, Knoxville — 100
• Wingstop, 4409 Chapman Hwy, Knoxville — 100
• Landing House, 1147 Sevier Ave, Knoxville — 100
• Taco Bell, 6790 Malone Creek Dr, Knoxville — 100
• La Real Michoacana, 851 Main St, Oak Ridge — 99

If you notice a health issue while dining, let the manager know or call the health department in the county where you live. An inspector will be sent out for a special surprise visit.

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