Arlington health inspectors had a busy start to March, handing out low marks to three eateries, including one spot where they documented evidence of pest contamination. Routine city checks turned up problems ranging from dirty equipment to noncommercial appliances and some very basic hand-hygiene lapses. Two restaurants landed well below the city's reinspection trigger, and all three are now on the calendar for follow-up visits, according to the latest inspection records.
As reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the Asian Bowl at 285 Southwest Plaza received a 68 on March 4 after inspectors noted evidence of pest contamination and equipment that needed cleaning. The same set of compiled city data shows Jamaica Gates Caribbean Cuisine at 1020 W. Arkansas Lane also scored a 68, with inspectors citing non-commercial-grade equipment and employees not properly washing hands or using gloves. Mahogany's Chop House & Lounge was tagged with a 73 on March 5. All three are scheduled for reinspections.
The City of Arlington explains that inspections are scored on a 100-point system, with 100 being a perfect score and anything 75 or below automatically triggering a scored reinspection. City guidance labels a 70 as an “extremely poor” score that requires corrective action, and establishments must now post their earned letter grade. Inspectors can also shut a facility on the spot if violations rise to the level of an imminent health hazard.
What Inspectors Found
Inspection notes obtained by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram show Asian Bowl’s file explicitly lists “evidence of pest contamination,” along with equipment in need of cleaning, contributing to the restaurant’s 68. That score triggered the city’s requirement for a follow-up visit to verify that problems are fixed.
City inspection records show Jamaica Gates was written up for using noncommercial-grade equipment and for employee hygiene issues, including improper handwashing and glove use. Mahogany’s Chop House & Lounge logged a 73, also subject to reinspection under city policy.
Not every kitchen stumbled. Data in the City of Arlington Food Establishment Scores dataset shows eight establishments earned perfect 100s in this inspection cycle, including Jean Massieu Academy, Burton Adventist Academy and T.A. Howard Middle School.
Enforcement And Next Steps
Under city rules, any business that scores 75 or less has to correct violations and then pass a scored reinspection or risk escalating enforcement. If inspectors encounter what they deem an imminent health hazard, they can order an immediate closure until the issue is resolved.
Diners who want to size up a restaurant before sitting down can look for the posted letter grade or search recent scores and violations through the city’s public inspection dataset.
