A routine health check turned into a headache for Mount Juliet’s Persis Biryani Indian Grill, which logged a score of 64 during an April 22, 2026, visit from the Tennessee Department of Health. Inspectors cited a string of food-safety violations, from shaky temperature control to sanitation and storage problems, and ordered the restaurant to address the issues before a reinspection.
Inspection findings
According to the Tennessee Department of Health, inspectors found several items sitting in the temperature danger zone. Cooked rice was measured at 78°F, soft-boiled eggs that had been left out for two hours were recorded at 47°F on a prep tray with ice, and a pan of cut cabbage came in at 61°F. Inspectors also reported employees using personal mobile phones and then handling food without washing their hands, and they found a hand-wash sink with an empty paper-towel dispenser.
Sanitation and storage problems
Photographs and the written report documented two buckets of uncovered food products stored on the walk-in freezer floor, a cooler door missing a seal and patched with duct tape, and a bottle of sinus medicine and oven cleaner stored above uncovered food and clean dishes, according to WhatNow. Inspectors also flagged utensils left in standing water, grease buildup on cooking equipment, dust on walls and ceilings, an in-use knife stored in an apparently unsanitary spot, and non-inverted dishes behind the prep line.
Follow-up and enforcement
The restaurant’s 64-point score meant it was “required to correct all violations before a reinspection is conducted,” according to the inspection paperwork, and a follow-up visit will determine whether those problems have been resolved. Officials note that the report is a snapshot of conditions on April 22 and does not necessarily reflect the restaurant’s current status. The printable version of the inspection is available through the Tennessee Department of Health.
About Persis Biryani
Persis Biryani Indian Grill is part of a regional group of restaurants known for Hyderabadi dum biryani and a mix of North and South Indian dishes. The Mount Juliet restaurant lists its address as 630 S Mt Juliet Rd #310. The website for Persis Biryani includes hours and ordering information for the Mount Juliet location.
What diners should know
Restaurant inspection reports in Tennessee are posted online as a public resource. The health department maintains links to these records on its website, and the Tennessee Department of Health advises diners to check the most recent report or the paperwork posted at the restaurant to see whether violations noted on April 22 have since been addressed.
