A recent health inspection conducted on November 14, 2025, at Cinco De Mayo Mexican Restaurant in Nashville, Tennessee, resulted in a low score of 63. The inspection, carried out by the Tennessee Department of Health, flagged multiple health code violations that require immediate attention.
Health Code Violations Identified
The inspection report indicated a total of five priority violations and 17 minor violations, underscoring a need for improved managerial control. Among the critical issues highlighted, the restaurant lacked a written employee health policy, and the individual in charge demonstrated limited knowledge of reportable diseases.
Additionally, several concerning findings were noted during the inspection. There was no soap available at the server station hand sink, and raw shell eggs were improperly stored above salsa containers in the protein walk-in cooler. The interior of the ice machine was found to contain excessive black particulate and grey biofilm, indicating inadequate sanitation practices.
Another alarming detail was that sliced tomatoes, cut at 10 AM, were held at a temperature of 51°F, which exceeds safe holding temperatures. Furthermore, the report noted the absence of a visible thermometer in the cook-line grill prep table cooler, while a broken thermometer was identified in the walk-in freezer.
Additional Concerns and Required Actions
The inspection also revealed various other violations that raise significant concerns about food safety. A crawling insect was observed on top of the expo steam well, and there were issues with the state of the restaurant’s facilities. The base of the back door and the door sweep were excessively damaged, while pooling water was found in the base of the cook-line salad prep-table cooler.
Other violations included improper storage practices, such as an employee drink left on top of the grill prep cooler and tortillas stored in plastic grocery bags at the cook line. Grease accumulation was noted on the oven hood, and damp towels were improperly stored on a prep table adjacent to the office.
The report concluded that the restaurant must address these risk factor violations within 10 days of the inspection. If the issues are not corrected and violations persist, the restaurant could face the revocation of its food service establishment permit.
A detailed health inspection report is accessible online for public review, allowing patrons to stay informed about the establishment’s compliance with health regulations.
