Sunday, January 25, 2009
Food, Health + Fitness, Reviews, Atlanta

On the cheap

Atlanta’s full of budget-friendly meals—though some might cost you your health.


Katrina Photo Services
Adam Murphy

By Adam Murphy

If you dine out more than three times a week like me, then you know it can get expensive. Therefore, I’ve made it my mission to locate cheap eats around Metro Atlanta to save you some money in this sluggish economy. Consider dinner at Eats on Ponce De Leon Avenue, where a large lasagna plate costs just $6.50. It’s a delicious meal. I also found the closest thing to a free lunch in Atlanta. The Bureau in the Old Fourth Ward offered a 25-cent Bailout Brunch on Sundays in January. If you missed out on the brunch, there are other items on their menu for under $10. You’ll also be glad to know these restaurants received As on their most recent health inspections.    

However, there were other restaurants in December that failed to make the grade. In Lithonia, This Is It BBQ & Seafood scored a U and only 45 points. The report says there was mold on bell peppers in the cooler. Plus, an employee failed to wash his or her hands after scratching the inside of their ear. I questioned management about the violations, and they told me the moldy bell peppers were thrown out and never served to customers. They also walked me through their kitchen, which was very clean. See below to learn what happened on reinspection.

In Woodstock, Moe’s on Highway 92 failed with a U and 64 points. The report says an employee did not wash his hands after leaving the restroom. I confronted management about it, and they told me the employee did wash his hands, but he didn’t double-wash them. It’s a new health code requirement.

Here’s some more food for thought: Famous Joe’s on Hamilton Mill Road in Buford struggled with 66 points and a U. The report says BBQ pork was at an unsafe temperature, and there was buildup on the drink nozzles. SP
Watch the CBS Atlanta Restaurant Report Card Fridays at 11 p.m. and Monday at noon and 4 p.m. You also can catch all of Adam Murphy’s reports in streaming video at www.cbsatlanta.com.

Worst Scores/December

This Is It BBQ & Seafood: 45 points (U)
7331 Stonecrest Concourse, Lithonia
The report says baked chicken, cooked spaghetti and ribs were at unsafe temperatures. Plus, there was mold on the bell peppers in the cooler and an employee failed to wash their hands after scratching the inside of their ear. This Is It BBQ & Seafood received 99 points and a A on a reinspetion.

Moe’s: 64 points (U)
9745 Highway 92, Woodstock
The report says the dishwasher was not sanitizing properly. Plus, an employee did not wash his hands after leaving the restroom. Moe’s received 96 points and an A on a reinspection.  

Famous Joe’s: 66 points (U)
3290 Hamilton Mill Road, Buford
The report says BBQ pork was at an unsafe temperature. Plus, raw beef was stored over raw fish and there was buildup on the drink nozzles. Famous Joe’s received 96 points and an A on a reinspection.
 

Best Scores/December

Orient Express: 96 points (A)
2921 Paces Ferry Road, Atlanta
KFC: 99 points (A)
2662 West Main Street, Snellville
Firehouse Subs: 100 points (A)
860 Peachtree Street, Atlanta