Buffet restaurant receives 34 on food inspection

COVINGTON, Ga. — A buffet restaurant in Covington had one of the lower inspection scores we've seen: a 34.
 
Channel's 2 Carol Sbarge found out one of the violations involved a rodent.
 
Thomas's Country Buffet is a busy place throughout. The restaurant on Emory Street got the score of just 34 out of 100 on Feb. 25.
 
One of the repeat violations the inspector found was a dead rodent in a trap in the restaurant, and that inspector said restaurant managers needed to have pest control come out and they needed to remove that dead rodent.
 
Other violations include a mold-like substance inside the ice machine, an employee observed handling soiled dishes then handling clean dishes without washing hands in between, and observed foods that are potentially hazardous not being held at 135 degrees or higher as required.
 
Some people who like Thomas's Country Buffet were surprised by the violations and low score.
 
"Because the food's good," Marlon Grant told Sbarge.
 
Sbarge went to find out what is being done about the violations.
 
The owner did not want to talk on camera but says they are addressing all of the violations and are working closely with the county health inspector.
 
In November, Thomas's Country Buffet got an 81 on its inspection. Last July, it got a 72. When Sbarge went inside this time, she did not see the current score visibly posted.

Thomas's Country Buffet called Channel 2 Action News this afternoon to tell us they were reinspected today and got an A.

The restaurant emailed a copy of the new inspection, showing the restaurant received a score of 99.

WSBTV