Richmond and Columbia County Restaurant Inspection Scores: Oct. 23-29

Augusta Health Inspections Reveal Stark Contrast in Local Kitchens

When health inspectors walked into a downtown Augusta cafe last month, they found raw shrimp thawing in standing water on a countertop, milk sitting in a cooler past its use-by date, and sanitizer buckets stored directly inside a handwashing sink. Those infractions resulted in a score of 77, according to inspection records.

The October 23 through 29 inspection sweep across Richmond and Columbia counties captured a sharp divide in local commercial kitchens. While several school cafeterias and fast-casual chains secured perfect marks, others struggled with basic temperature controls, pest management, and sanitation protocols.

When Food Safety Fails the Countertop Test

At Cafe On Eighth, located at 226 8th St. in Augusta, inspectors documented a total score of 77. Beyond the improper shrimp thawing methods and expired bar milk, the restaurant was cited for holding raw shrimp, biscuit mix, and eggs above 41 degrees on a countertop. Inspectors also noted that an employee had opened food stored directly on a prep table rather than in designated break areas.

Just down the road, Olde Time Burgers in Grovetown posted an 80, hampered by both live and dead bugs on the establishment’s floors, alongside refrigeration units failing to maintain safe cold-holding temperatures below 41 degrees for items stored since 11 a.m. Meanwhile, the Best Western in Grovetown slipped to an 88 after inspectors observed a hot-holding food item dipping below 135 degrees and noted multiple insects inside the main kitchen area.

At Paris Banh Mi Augusta on Columbia Road, an 83 score resulted from a cascade of operational oversights, including an unassigned person in charge during the owner’s absence, missing ceiling tiles, and produce boxes stored directly on the floor instead of the required six inches above it.

Where the Kitchens Passed

The same inspection cycle highlighted dozens of local establishments meeting or exceeding regulatory standards. Cross Creek High School, The Academy Of Richmond County, Cedar Ridge Elementary, and Freedom Park Elementary all posted flawless 100 scores alongside commercial operations like Zaxby’s and Mot’s Pit Cooked Barbecue in Martinez.

Restaurants earning “A” grades ranged from Caribou Coffee at 96 to Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers at 94 and The Brunch House of Augusta at 92, proving that high-volume kitchens can maintain consistent temperature tracking and cleanliness standards under routine scrutiny.

Establishment	Location	Inspection Score	Notable Infraction
Cafe On Eighth	Augusta	77	Expired milk, improper shrimp thawing
Olde Time Burgers	Grovetown	80	Insects present, temperature failures
Paris Banh Mi Augusta	Augusta	83	Inconsistent date marking, floor storage
Best Western	Grovetown	88	Hot-holding failure, insects in kitchen

State health authorities mandate that scores of 70 and below constitute an official failure. While none of the establishments in this cycle dipped below that critical line, the cited violations demonstrate how quickly minor lapses in temperature logs and storage practices accumulate on a routine county audit.