All Shook Up (and Shook Down): Louisville’s Food Safety Hits and Misses (June 16th–22nd)
Welcome back, LouVUE food sleuths! This week, the only thing spicier than the hot wings are the inspection reports. Whether you’re a drive-thru devotee, a craft beer buff, or a local taco connoisseur, there’s something in this week’s dish for you. So buckle up—because a few kitchens got a little too close to the edge of safety, and others soared right back onto the A-list. Let’s plate up the facts!
Report covers inspections from June 16th through June 22nd, 2025.
LouVUE by the Numbers: A Quick Bite
- Total Inspections: 76
- Regular Inspections: 67
- Other Types: 1
- Follow-up (Re-checks): 8
- New ‘C’ Grades: 4 (Yikes!)
Remember, folks! Louisville’s food safety grades aren’t just for show:
- Grade A (Green): 85-100%—and absolutely NO critical violations. That’s the gold (er, green) standard.
- Grade B (Blue): Assigned when a place passes a follow-up after previous issues. Heads up: This often means they had to work their way back from trouble.
- Grade C (Red): Score below 85% or ANY critical violation. Serious business—follow-ups required, and YOU should take note.
Second Servings: Repeats, Redemptions, and Re-calls
This week’s follow-up inspections read like a cross between comeback stories and “oops, we did it again” moments. Why do follow-ups matter? Because a single critical violation can land a restaurant in hot water, but it’s the follow-up that shows if they fixed the issue—or if it’s time to change your dinner plans.
Let’s break down the highlights:
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BURGER KING #889 (2700 CRITTENDEN DR)
- Grade: C, Score: 96
- This Whopper stop can’t catch a break. After a previous stumble (yep, this one’s been on LouVUE’s radar), the follow-up still found them in C territory. Not following required time-as-public-health procedures is a big deal—those rules are there to stop foodborne bugs in their tracks. Folks, a high score doesn’t erase a critical violation—so steer clear until they get the all-clear next round.
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CLOVERLEAF CHICKEN STOP (4441 MANSLICK RD)
- Grade: A, Score: 99
- Winner, winner, chicken dinner! This spot went from trouble to triumph, clawing back to a top grade. A solid comeback and proof that follow-ups CAN lead to food safety redemption.
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CRAFT HOUSE PIZZA (816 W KENWOOD DR)
- Grade: A, Score: 99
- No more crusty infractions! Craft House nailed their follow-up, tossing violations out of the kitchen and serving up an A.
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CVS #6209 (4101 OUTER LOOP)
- Grade: N/A, Score: 100
- A perfect score but no grade listed—unfortunately, the report leaves us hungry for detail. Sharing as is for the sake of transparency, but we can’t quite toast their comeback without the full picture.
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FAZOLI’S (6011 PRESTON HWY)
- Grade: A, Score: 99
- Pasta la vista, previous problems! Fazoli’s cleaned up nicely—no more safety faux-pastas here.
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SANAG HALAL (5312 S 3RD ST STE 101)
- Grade (First inspection): N/A, Score: 100
- Grade (Second inspection): A, Score: 98
- Double the checks at Sanag Halal this week—one with a perfect 100 but no grade assigned (so, transparency but not much else) and another a solid A. Looks like they’re dialing it in!
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THORNTONS #261165 (4170 TAYLOR BLVD)
- Grade: A, Score: 100
- Gas up with confidence—they’re running a tight ship behind the counter.
Bottom line: Most follow-ups ended in redemption, but Burger King #889 is still stuck in the drive-thru of disappointment. Remember: a “B” means they’re just squeaking by; a “C” means a critical safety risk persists.
Cautionary Cuisine: The Red Light District
Let’s talk C grades—the culinary equivalent of the check engine light. In Louisville, a ‘C’ grade means a place either scored below 85% or racked up at least one critical violation. It’s not just about numbers; it’s about real risks to your health. These spots require a follow-up within 7–10 days to prove they’ve made things right.
AGAINST THE GRAIN (401 E MAIN ST, LOUISVILLE, KY)
Grade: C Score: 94 Violations:
- Critical: Proper date marking and disposition — “Temperature controlled for safety foods held beyond 7 days.” (Chili made 5/29, beer cheese 6/4, chicken wings 6/10—all past their prime and thankfully discarded.)
LouVUE’s Take: At this brewpub, the only thing that should be aging is the beer, not the chicken wings! Outdated food in the fridge? That’s a recipe for more than just funky flavors. Until they get their cold case cleaned up, I’d hold off on the happy hour snacks.
BURGER KING #889 (2700 CRITTENDEN DR, LOUISVILLE, KY)
Grade: C Score: 96 Violations:
- Critical: Time as a public health control—“Not following written procedures for using time as a public health control.”
LouVUE’s Take: Déjà vu, anyone? Back on the C-list, and not for the first time. This Burger King still can’t get their timing right, and that’s a whopper of a problem. Food safety procedures aren’t optional, especially for fast food. For now, my advice: flame-grilled caution.
TACO LOCO (5622 PRESTON HWY, LOUISVILLE, KY)
Grade: C Score: 91 Violations:
- Critical: Toxic substances properly identified, stored, used—“Insect killer being sprayed by mop sink. It was also stored in dry storage above food.”
- Critical: Proper cooling time and temperature—“Proper cooling method not used for TCS food. Rice made the day before with internal temperature of 49-51 degrees in walk-in.”
LouVUE’s Take: This place lived up to its name—and not in a good way. Pesticides near food and rice cooling at less-than-chill temps? A double dose of critical violations. For now, steer your taco cravings elsewhere until they show they’re serious about safety.
THE SERVICE STATION (208 E BURNETT AVE, LOUISVILLE, KY)
Grade: C Score: 90 Violations:
- Critical: Proper cold holding temperatures—“TCS food not maintained at 5°C (41°F) or below. Cooked chili and mashed potatoes at 57°F in kitchen cooler. corrected.”
- Critical: Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices—“Plumbing system is not designed, constructed and/or installed according to law. Restrooms not available. Toilets not connected to required plumbing.”
LouVUE’s Take: When your restaurant is called The Service Station, you hope for full service—not plumbing issues and food cooling fails. No restrooms, no proper cold holding, and that score? Yikes. This is one pit stop you’ll want to drive past.
The Check, Please: Don’t Get Burned—Stay Informed
No one wants their dining experience to turn into a stomach-churning thrill ride. That’s why your pal LouVUE keeps it real, week after week.
Remember: A-grades mean green lights, but Cs mean it’s time to pump the brakes. If your favorite spot is on the C-list, give them time to clean up before your next visit. And if you spot something sketchy when you eat out—don’t be shy, let the health department know. Food safety is everyone’s business!
Hungry for more? Check back next week for the latest scoop. Until then, stay sharp, stay safe, and may your meals be memorable in all the right ways.
Stay saucy, Louisville! 🍴