Fall Flavors, Fresh Scores, and a Few Food Safety Frights
Halloween week brought its own kind of spookiness to Louisville kitchens — and we're not just talking about the candy corn debates. From October 26 to November 1, inspectors made their rounds across the city, turning up some genuine treats and a handful of tricks. Let's dig in.
LouVUE by the Numbers
- Total inspections: 89
- Regular inspections: 81
- Follow-ups: 7
- Other: 1
A fairly typical week on paper, but as always, the real story is in the details.
A Quick Refresher on How the Grades Work in the Ville
- Grade A (green): A passing grade indicating a generally safe facility. Score of 85–100 with no priority violations — serious issues most likely to cause foodborne illness, such as improper food holding temperatures.
- Grade B (blue): Facility is "under review" while health officials work with them to pass future routine inspections. Issued after failing two routine inspections in a row, or automatically during a follow-up inspection if the facility had to close because of an imminent health hazard (regardless of prior grades). Patrons should be mindful.
- Grade C (red): Facility has failed its inspection. Issued for any of these reasons: (1) one or more priority violations, such as poor hygienic practices, lack of hot/cold water, or improper sanitizing — even with a score as high as 98; (2) score below 85 due to a high number of non-priority violations; or (3) an imminent health hazard requiring closure (e.g., infestation, loss of electricity or water). These are serious and require a follow-up within 7–10 days.
- Priority violations: High risk for foodborne illness. Even one is enough to drop a place to a C.
Second Servings: Redemption Arcs All Around
Most of this week's follow-ups came back with their heads held high:
- Bearno's Little Sicily bounced from C to a sharp A (99)
- St. Bernard Concession climbed all the way to a perfect 100
- Railyard Billiards & Sports Pub racked up an A (98) — a solid comeback
- Tandoori Wings and Auntie Anne's both stuck the landing with A grades (99 and 100, respectively)
- Bellarmine Simply To Go Pasteur Hall posted a perfect 100
One spot, Sankalp Louisville, scored a strong 99 but remains at a B — a reminder that under Louisville's rules, a B means officials are still keeping close tabs even when the numbers look good. Progress, not quite a done deal yet.
Cautionary Cuisine: Trick, Not Treat
Five restaurants landed a C grade this week. Remember: a C means a required follow-up within 7–10 days, not necessarily that the restaurant is unsafe to visit today — but these violations are worth knowing about.
Delicias Honduras La Bendicion — Score: 94
- Gray water (used wastewater) was observed discharging into a blue tub instead of being disposed of through an approved sewage system — a sanitation red flag.
- Food wasn't properly date-marked, meaning there's no reliable way to track whether items were kept past the safe window before being used or tossed.
- LouVUE's Take: A high score undone by priority violations — proof that in Louisville, even one serious issue can flip the grade. Worth a return visit once the follow-up clears.
Saraga International Grocery — Score: 93
- LouVUE's Take: No critical violation details reported this round, but the C stands. We'll watch for the follow-up to see what tipped the scale.
Moby Dick — Score: 94
- Several TCS (temperature-controlled) foods were found well above the safe 41°F threshold — raw fish at 49°F, cooked green beans at 46°F, and mac and cheese at 48°F, which was quarantined on the spot.
- LouVUE's Take: Cold holding failures are one of the most common — and most fixable — issues out there. Good on the inspector for quarantining the food immediately; we'll be watching for the follow-up.
Palermos 2 Italian Restaurant — Score: 92
- Roaches were spotted near the dish machine area and around cold holding units — a pest presence that's an automatic priority violation.
- LouVUE's Take: Bardstown Road regulars, give this one a beat before your next slice. Pest issues require real remediation, not just a quick spray.
Lucky 7 — Score: 92
- LouVUE's Take: No specific critical violation listed, but the C grade means a follow-up is already on the books. We'll report back.
The Check, Please: Something to Chew On
A week of highs and lows — plenty of comeback stories, a perfect 100 from Dynacraft Employee Cafeteria, Red Hog, Which Wich, and Green District Salads, but also some sobering reminders that cold holding and pest control aren't optional extras. As always, check LouVUE before you decide where to dine, and we'll keep serving up the facts — no garnish required. See you next week, Louisville.