Ready, Set, Grill: Louisville’s Food Safety Roundup for May 19th - 25th, 2025
Hey there, Ville food lovers! If you thought your BBQ cravings were the only things smokin’ this week, think again. Welcome to the LouVUE lowdown where we sizzle and spice up your dining choices with a side of food safety facts. From smoked ribs to Mexican grills and pizza pies, this week’s report is packed with some finger-lickin’ good follow-up success stories—and a few spots where the heat was a little too low on safety.
LouVUE by the Numbers
Alright, let’s break down the food safety feast:
- Total Inspections: 139
- Regular Inspections: 127 (the bread and butter)
- Other Inspection Types: 7
- Follow-Up (Re-check) Inspections: 5
This week, the Louisville food scene faced the health inspector’s gaze more than a hundred times—proof that our city is serious about what lands on your plate.
Second Servings: Smoke & Salsa Follow-Ups Flame Up!
Y’all know follow-up inspections are like encore performances—they tell us if a kitchen has really stepped up after a stumble. And this week, the spotlight’s on five stars who aced their encore:
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HERB’S SMOKED BBQ (no address listed, Louisville) fired up a perfect score of 100 and a Grade A. Looks like Herb’s got that smoke ring and the food safety game down pat.
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INDI’S RESTAURANT at 1033 W BROADWAY pulled off a near-perfect 99, securing an A grade. That’s some spicy recovery!
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LA TORTA LOCA at 5213 PRESTON HWY settled in at 95 with an A. No loco business here, just loco good safety practices.
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NIC & NORMANS LOUISVILLE at 108 W WASHINGTON ST dazzled with a clean 100 score and an A. These folks are clearly in it to win it.
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QDOBA #2632 at 312 S 4TH ST scored an impressive 98 and an A grade. Guac and safety? Yes, please.
Why do these follow-ups matter? Because they show that when problems pop up, eateries can fix them quickly and thoroughly—turning potential safety disasters into dining delights. A B grade often comes from these successful follow-ups, but this week? All A’s. Louisville’s food pros are bringing their A-game.
Note: One follow-up had a follow_up_score of 0 with no grade, which doesn’t give us enough info to judge—so let’s keep our eyes peeled next time.
Cautionary Cuisine: Bardstown Road’s C-Grade Chronicles
Alright folks, a ‘C’ grade in Louisville means the kitchen either scored below 85% or has at least one critical violation—a serious red flag for potential foodborne illness risks. These places are on notice and must improve fast (follow-ups in 7-10 days!). Here’s the scoop on the Ville’s three ‘C’ graders this week:
KOKO & RAE MOM’S KITCHEN
- Address: 1511 BARDSTOWN RD, LOUISVILLE, KY 40205
- Score: 92
- Inspection Date: 2025-05-22
- Violations:
- PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES (Critical): TCS food at buffet not maintained at 57°C (135°F) or above.
- PROPER COOLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE (Critical): Cooked chicken cooled too slowly (over 2 hours from 135°F to 70°F).
LouVUE’s Take: When it comes to keeping your fried chicken hot and your buffet safe, time and temperature are everything. Koko & Rae’s Mom’s Kitchen is playing with fire here—and not the good kind that adds flavor. Two critical violations in the same inspection? That’s like double-dipping into food safety no-nos. At a 92, this place is skating too close to the edge of a B grade. Louisville diners, keep your eyes on this one—buffet temps gotta be hotter, and cooling times need to chill faster.
NOCHE MEXICAN BBQ
- Address: 1838 BARDSTOWN RD, LOUISVILLE, KY 40205
- Score: 86
- Inspection Date: 2025-05-20
- Violations:
- PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES (Critical): TCS food not kept at or below 5°C (41°F) — discarded.
- TIME AS A PUBLIC HEALTH CONTROL: PROCEDURES AND RECORDS (Critical): No written procedures for time as a control (Cooked onions - corrected on site).
- PROPER DATE MARKING AND DISPOSITION (Critical): Food (cut watermelon) not clearly date marked.
LouVUE’s Take: Noche Mexican BBQ is a little too caliente on the safety front. Holding temps too high and missing date markings? That’s a recipe for foodborne flare-ups. The good news? They corrected the time as a public health control issue during inspection, showing they’re willing to listen. But an 86 score with three critical hits means there’s work ahead. Noche, it’s time to put those tacos on ice and keep those records crisp.
PAPA JOHNS PIZZA #10
- Address: 5709 BARDSTOWN RD, LOUISVILLE, KY 40291
- Score: 97
- Inspection Date: 2025-05-19
- Violation:
- PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES (Critical): Hand sink removed from ware washing area.
LouVUE’s Take: Papa Johns Pizza #10 is slicing it thin on plumbing safety. That missing hand sink in the ware washing area? Critical violation alert! Hand sinks are the frontline defense for clean hands and safe food prep. Despite a high score of 97, that critical hit drops them into ‘C’ territory. Pizza fans, it’s a reminder that even the tastiest slices need top-notch hygiene backing them up.
The Check, Please: Final Bites of Wisdom
Louisville, this week’s food safety scene reminds us that even our favorite spots can slip up—sometimes on the basics like temperature control or plumbing. But shoutout to the five follow-up victors who’ve shown they can bounce back better than a comeback album.
When you dine out, remember: those A grades mean the kitchen’s on point, but C grades mean caution. Don’t be shy to ask about food safety or even check online before chowing down. After all, great food tastes even better when you know it’s safe.
Stay hungry, stay savvy, and as always—keep it LouVUE clean and keen!
Until next week, keep those forks ready and those food safety standards high! 🍴🔥