News Summary

Recent health inspections in Huntsville revealed several restaurants struggling with insect infestations, particularly flies and gnats, affecting their hygiene scores. Notable establishments like Mellow Mushroom and Rosie’s Mexican Cantina reported lower scores due to improper food storage and sanitation issues. The Madison County Health Department continues to monitor the situation, as summer heat exacerbates these challenges. Despite the setbacks, some restaurants maintained high health compliance scores. The ongoing inspections emphasize the importance of food safety practices in the local dining community.

Huntsville Restaurants Face Health Inspection Challenges Amid Summer Insect Invasions

The Madison County Health Department recently released its health inspection scores for various food establishments inspected between June 30 and July 3, 2025. Several restaurants in Huntsville suffered lower scores largely due to insect infestations, particularly flies and gnats, within their cooking environments.

The Mellow Mushroom, located on Providence Main Street, and Rosie’s Mexican Cantina on University Drive both received scores of 81 during inspections after issues with flies were noted in their kitchen areas. Mellow Mushroom’s deficiencies included cheese and tomatoes stored at improper temperatures and insufficient sanitizer in the dishwasher. Similarly, Rosie’s was cited for keeping fish and cheese at incorrect temperatures, storing medication in the food prep area, and having multiple pots displaying black marks inside.

Another establishment inspected, Ol’ Heidelberg on University Drive, scored 84 due to the presence of gnats in its storage areas. The restaurant also faced confusion regarding the dating of its potato salad, where a label marked June 15 contradicted the actual preparation date of July 1, prior to the inspection.

The lowest score of the week was recorded at the Marathon, situated at Highway 72 and Jeff Road, which received an 80. Findings included an unlabeled chemical spray in the kitchen, absence of a food thermometer, and black residue found in soda nozzles and at least one ice machine.

Red Lobster, located at University and The Parkway, earned a score of 83 due to food temperature violations involving mashed potatoes and the presence of cracked containers. Sunrise Inc. on Clinton Avenue also garnered an 83, with issues such as rotten potatoes and flies in a grease container, as well as a lack of toilet paper in the restroom. The South Parkway Applebee’s was noted for having brown residue in its ice machine, alongside several food temperature violations, earning a score of 84.

Despite these findings, it was reported that nine establishments achieved a perfect score of 100 during the inspection period. Notably, no significant health issues were reported from nearby DeKalb County and Franklin County, suggesting localized concerns primarily affecting Madison County.

The Madison County Health Department has indicated plans to provide further updates regarding the condition of a deli in Colbert County, which scored an 82 during the same inspection period.

Health inspection scores are calculated on a 100-point scale, reflecting each establishment’s compliance with food safety protocols and hygiene regulations. With summer heat contributing to the proliferation of insects, local restaurants are faced with additional challenges as they strive to maintain high standards of cleanliness and food safety amidst these seasonal barriers.

As inspections continue throughout the summer, both restaurant employees and patrons are urged to remain vigilant regarding food safety practices to ensure the health and wellbeing of the dining community.

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Additional Resources

• WAAY 31: Dead Flies in the Cooking Grease
• Wikipedia: Food Safety
• WAAY 31: Nobody Wants Warm Raw Meat
• Google Search: Restaurant Health Inspections
• WAAY 31: Roaches on the Wall in Providence
• Google Scholar: Food Inspection Standards
• WAAY 31: Old Meat, Veggies, Pizza Droppings
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Food Hygiene
• WAAY 31: Somebody’s Sleeping in the Kitchen
• Google News: Food Safety Violations

Author: STAFF HERE HUNTSVILLE WRITER

The HUNTSVILLE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREHuntsville.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Huntsville, Madison County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Panoply Arts Festival, Rocket City Brewfest, and Huntsville Comic & Pop Culture Expo. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce and HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, plus leading businesses in aerospace, defense, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Boeing, SAIC, and Mazda Toyota Manufacturing. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREBirmingham.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.