Heatwave or Health Wave?
Louisville, we wrapped the last full week of August with inspections hotter than the sidewalk on Bardstown Road. This report covers the week starting August 25th through August 31st, 2025. From a spotless follow-up to a caterer’s critter trouble, here’s the scoop you actually want before you scoop your plate.
LouVUE by the Numbers
- Total inspections: 14
- Regular inspections: 9
- Survey/consultative visits: 4
- Follow-up (re-check) inspections: 1
- C-grade establishments: 1
Quick refresher on Louisville’s color-coded grades:
- Grade A (Green): Score 85–100% and no critical violations — the gold standard of green.
- Grade B (Blue): Often shows a place passed a follow-up after prior issues or a closure. That’s improvement, yes — but it flags recent trouble. If you see a blue B, be mindful.
- Grade C (Red): Score below 85% or any critical violation. One critical will drop you to a C. Follow-up required in 7–10 days.
- Critical violations: High risk for foodborne illness — cooking temps, cross-contamination, pests, unsafe food — the big, non-negotiable stuff.
Second Servings: Market Make-Good
Follow-ups are the accountability round — inspectors return to verify issues are truly fixed, not just tidied for show.
- PRESTON MARKET CENTER (Follow-up on 2025-08-29)
- Outcome: Grade A, Score 100
- LouVUE’s Take: A perfect 100 on a follow-up is chef’s-kiss redemption. Whatever tripped them up before got corrected top-to-bottom. This is how you do a reset: fix the problems, lock in the systems, and earn back that green. If you ever spot a blue B on a follow-up week elsewhere, remember: it often means recent failures or serious issues that only just cleared — proceed with eyes open. Not the case here — Preston Market Center aced it.
Cautionary Cuisine: Silver Spoon, But Not Silver Lining
A C grade means serious concerns — either a sub-85 score or at least one critical violation. This week’s C came with a twist: a high numeric score but critical issues that slam the brakes.
SILVER SPOON CATERING — 604 S 3RD ST, LOUISVILLE, KY 40202
- Grade: C (Score 90 on 2025-08-26)
- Address: https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=604%20S%203RD%20ST,%20LOUISVILLE,%20KY%2040202
- What triggered the C:
- Critical: “FOOD IN GOOD CONDITION, SAFE, AND UNADULTERATED” — Comments: “Unwholesome spoiled fruits, vegetables or other foods. (various items in walk-in visibly spoiled)”
- Critical: “INSECTS, RODENTS AND ANIMALS NOT PRESENT” — Comments: “Presence of rodents.”
- LouVUE’s Take: A 90 can still be a red C when criticals are on the table — and these are the kind that end dinner parties fast. Visible spoilage in the walk-in says quality control took a nap. Add rodents, and we’ve got a full-on nope rope. Expect a mandatory follow-up within 7–10 days; catering demands pristine storage and rock-solid pest control, so management should purge spoiled items immediately, deep-clean and seal entry points, tighten vendor and receiving checks, and keep rigorous logs. Diners: If you’re booking catering, ask about their most recent grade and what steps they’ve taken since inspection. Transparency is the new truffle oil.
The Check, Please: Swipe Right on Clean Kitchens
Before you tuck in, take two seconds to peep that placard — green A means go, blue B means be mindful, red C means caution until a clean follow-up lands. Major props to Preston Market Center for the 100-point comeback. Silver Spoon Catering: the ball’s in your court — show us the glow-up. Louisville, keep your standards high and your leftovers safe. As always, I’ll keep the receipts — you bring the appetite.