Health department allows Lexington restaurant to open after reinspection
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- The health department cleared Mango Thai to reopen on June 23.
- Mango Thai scored 99 out of 100 on the June 23 re-inspection.
- The restaurant was closed June 22 for improper storage, sanitizing and handwashing.
The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department cleared a Fayette Mall food court restaurant to reopen after it passed reinspection on June 23.
Mango Thai was allowed to resume operations after scoring 99 out of 100.
The restaurant had been ordered closed on June 22 after failing repeated inspections, according to the health department.
Restaurants are closed when the health department finds an imminent risk to public health, such as insect or rodent infestation, lack of running water or sewage contamination. Restaurants can also be closed if the establishment scores too low during an inspection.
Establishments that score below 60 on an inspection are closed immediately.
Poor scores on inspections, dangerous noodle-handling
Inspection reports released on Thursday show that the restaurant had scored a 74 on an inspection on May 28, when the inspector found multiple violations including employees not washing hands after handling raw chicken then merely rinsing hands in tap water from a three-compartment sink after being told to wash their hands by the inspector; raw chicken stored improperly; and fried chicken stored at unsafe temperature.
At a follow-up inspection on June 11, the restaurant scored even worse, dropping a point to 73. The inspector again noticed raw chicken and cooked chicken improperly stored, and no soap or hand towels at hand sink, among other issues.
At another follow-up inspection on June 22, the inspector found an employee using bulk food storage containers as a table to eat from; improper sanitizing; foods not properly date marked and noodles cooling in the three-compartment sink while an employee improperly washed a utensil over the food, prompting closure.
Other restaurant closures
This was the second Lexington restaurant closed by the health department in two months.
Subway at 360 Southland Dr. was closed on May 15 after an inspector noted multiple issues including no food manager on duty, no employee health reporting agreement available, no biohazard kit available, frozen meat set on table to thaw, box of cups stored on floor in back storage area, urinal in men’s restroom not flushing properly and leaking from handle, and floors, walls, ceilings in disrepair and with accumulation of soil in some areas.
The restaurant was allowed to reopen May 20, although many issues remain, according to an inspection report, including a leak at the hand sink in back prep area, unclean restrooms, leak in men’s restroom and urinal not flushing properly and accumulation of soil in some areas of floors, walls and ceilings.
What happens when a restaurant is closed
When the health department closes a restaurant, a red sign is placed on the door to notify potential customers that food service has been halted. But the health department does not publicize that restaurants have been closed.
Restaurants must correct the issues to pass reinspection before they can re-open.
