Kitchen Cops: Problems at Poppy & Parliament

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Kitchen Cops Report On Poor Ratings At Poppy & Parliament

The weekly Kitchen Cops inspections have been conducted, and the results present a mixed bag of scores. While most establishments in the area performed relatively well, there were a number of problematic findings with one notable downtown Huntsville restaurant.

Poppy & Parliament under the Radar

The Poppy & Parliament, an upscale restaurant nestled on the downtown Huntsville Courthouse Square, scored a disappointing 76 this week. Health inspectors found several concerning issues which contributed to the low score. Among the findings was the absence of a temperature indicator for the dishwasher, as well as temperature inconsistencies with various food items such as cheese, salad, gravy, and sauces. Additional infractions included a dirty soda nozzle and an incident where an employee was observed preparing ready-to-eat foods without any gloves on.

The low score of Poppy & Parliament comes close on the heels of another upscale downtown restaurant, Commerce Kitchen, scoring 72 on their recent health inspection.

Other Establishments Scrutinized

Aside from Poppy & Parliament, a few other businesses were called out for health and safety issues. The Sparkman Cornerstore in the Sunoco at Blue Spring & Sparkman Drive ended up with a score of 80 after it was discovered they were operating a dirty ice machine and a food thermometer without batteries. The lack of paper towels and soap products in the restroom further tarnished the score.

The Bridge Street Barnes & Noble was not exempt from the scrutiny either. They received a score of 83 due to no hot water in the restroom and dairy products stored at inappropriate temperatures.

Limestone and Morgan Counties Inspections

In Limestone County, the only establishment pulling down the overall averages was the Arby’s on 13th Street in Athens. Their score of 82 was primarily a result of a damaged grease skimmer and improper food temperatures with various meats, cheeses, and vegetables. Observations of numerous flies around the kitchen, storage areas, and lobby made matters worse.

Down in Morgan County, 6 Pockets Billiards took a hit with a score of 79. The reasons included the storage of chemicals on the food prep table and the finding of an employee’s open drink bottle in the customer ice. The same county’s Jack’s location near the bridge finalized at 80 due to a dirty can opener and inadequate sanitizer levels in the dishwashing sink. The BP gas station at Highway 31 south and Cedar Lake Road scored an 83 owing to dirty soda nozzles.

Overall, the weekly Kitchen Cops reports continue to demonstrate the necessity for vigilant health and hygiene standards across all food establishments. Businesses with lower scores will have an opportunity to correct issues and improve upon their ratings in future inspections.