KINGSTON MEXICAN RESTAURANT GETS NEAR-FAILING HEALTH INSPECTION SCORE

Last month, Don Eduardo’s Mexican Grill located at 1202 N. Kentucky St in Kingston barely passed its health inspection with a score of 70, the minimum passing grade.

Issues included an employee not washing hands after returning from outside, no soap available, a broken dishwasher, no hot water due to a faulty heater, and improper food storage temperatures (lettuce, cheese, tomatoes at 51°F and chicken at 61°F, all discarded). The sanitization bucket was compliant.

A follow-up inspection showed significant improvements, with a new score of 91.

Routine Inspection: March 18, 2025

Score & Grade: 70 (passing, minimum passing score is 70)
Key Violations:
- Employee Hygiene: An employee failed to wash hands after returning from outside.
- Handwashing Facilities: No soap at the kitchen hand sink, and no soap refills available.
- Food Storage: Raw chicken and egg yolks stored over ready-to-eat foods in the cooler.
- Sanitization: Sanitizing bucket lacked bleach (used Fabuloso instead); dishwasher broken, relying on a three-compartment sink.
- Temperature Control: Multiple foods (lettuce, cheese, tomatoes, chicken, etc.) in coolers were above 41°F (51°F and 61°F), leading to embargo of affected items.
- Equipment/Facilities: No thermometers in coolers, uncovered food, stained cutting boards, dirty equipment, no hot water, cluttered exterior, and facility in disrepair (floors, walls, ceilings, walk-in cooler door).
- Other: Wet wiping cloths improperly stored, open dumpster door.
Compliant Areas: Person in charge present, no bare hand contact with ready-to-eat foods, proper food sourcing, and compliance with TN Non-Smoker Protection Act.

Follow-Up Inspection: March 28, 2025

Score & Grade: 91
Key Updates:
- All critical violations corrected, including handwashing, food storage, sanitization, and temperature control.
- Non-critical violations still present: lack of thermometers, uncovered food, improper wiping cloth storage, equipment maintenance issues, no hot water, exterior clutter, and facility disrepair.
Compliant Areas: Maintained compliance in areas like person in charge presence, food sourcing, and TN Non-Smoker Protection Act.
Note: No PIC signature due to technical issues with the inspection app.

The restaurant initially scored a low passing grade of 70 due to significant hygiene, sanitization, temperature, and facility issues. By the follow-up, critical violations were resolved, raising the score to 91, though some non-critical issues persisted.

Those interested can read the full health inspection here: https://inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/tennessee/permit/?permitID=77853398-9F57-4582-95EC-0D8B256B3978