A Munford restaurant scored low enough at a routine health inspection this month to require a same-day follow-up visit — the sixth time in its last seven routine inspections that’s happened, according to Tennessee Department of Health records. The follow-ups have not come consecutively: one routine inspection, in April 2024, passed without needing a second visit.

Margaritas of Munford, at 11299 Highway 51 South, scored an 85 out of 100 at a routine inspection July 7. The score itself is not a failing mark — Tennessee’s inspection system does not use a pass/fail designation — but the violations found were serious enough to trigger a mandatory follow-up, conducted the same day, which raised the score to 95.

What inspectors found July 7

The inspection, conducted jointly with a second inspector, logged 11 violations across seven categories:

• Food storage: Uncovered carnitas, chili rellenos, salsa and red sauce found in the walk-in cooler, plus half a head of cabbage stored directly on a rack under the condenser unit — about 1 pound of cabbage was embargoed. Both issues were corrected on-site.
• Sanitizing: No sanitizer present in the dishwasher when tested. Corrected on-site.
• Thermometers: No visible thermometer in a reach-in cooler.
• Equipment and utensil storage: Metal pans wet-nested on a wire shelf above the three-compartment sink, and spoons stored handle-side down in holders above the queso station.
• Cleanliness: Black, mold-like buildup on the ice machine’s sliding doors, and dirty walk-in cooler shelves with debris hanging over uncovered ready-to-eat food.
• Restrooms: No lid on the trash can in the employee restroom, and no lidded trash receptacle in either stall of the ladies’ room.
• Storage practices: Sacks of onions stored on the floor of the storeroom.

At the same-day follow-up, the uncovered food, missing sanitizer and utensil-storage issues were corrected. Five items — the missing thermometer, wet-nested pans, ice machine and shelf cleanliness, restroom trash receptacles, and floor-stored onions — remained and carried forward as open items, though none were classified as priority violations at that point. The follow-up score was 95.

A pattern stretching back to 2023

State records show Margaritas of Munford has had seven routine inspections since December 2023. Six of them scored low enough to require a follow-up visit; one did not.

Dec. 19, 2023 — Score: 88
Nine violations, including missing thermometers and food stored on a walk-in freezer floor. Same-day follow-up: 93

April 30, 2024 — Score: 97
The restaurant’s only routine inspection in this span that did not require a follow-up.

Oct. 17, 2024 — Score: 84
Ten violations, including unlabeled chemicals and food stored on the floor. Same-day follow-up: 94.

April 10, 2025 — Score: 88
Seven violations, including a hand sink with no hot water. Follow-up six days later: 96.

Nov. 3, 2025 — Score: 75
Fourteen violations and roughly 76 pounds of food embargoed in one visit — dented canned tomatoes, carnitas held at 54 degrees overnight, salsa at 52 degrees, raw tilapia at 45 degrees. Follow-up 10 days later: 92.

March 9, 2026 — Score: 70
The restaurant’s lowest score on record. About 25 pounds of raw shrimp, beef, chicken and steak were embargoed after being found held overnight above the required 41 degrees. Fifteen violations were logged in total. Two of them — improper cold holding and a lack of date marking on prepared food — were cited as the second consecutive violation of the same item, which prompted the inspector to write that a Permit Revocation Warning Letter was being requested. The report does not indicate whether the health department issued the letter, and no later inspection references its status. A follow-up 10 days later corrected the two priority violations; the score rose to 89.

July 7, 2026 — Score: 85
This week’s inspection, detailed above. Same-day follow-up: 95.

Recurring problems across the span: missing or broken thermometers, improperly stored kitchen equipment and unlabeled containers.

Other Tipton County inspections, July 6-10

Pool closed over chlorine levels

Covington City Pool, 760 Bert Johnston Ave., was closed to the public after a July 7 inspection found no measurable chlorine residual — an imminent health hazard under state rules, and the one closure of the week. Inspectors also cited cracks in the pool decking, low total alkalinity, algae in the kiddie pool and debris in the water. Score: 88.

At a follow-up the next day, person in charge Katie Vaughn had restored proper chlorine levels and the pool was cleared to reopen. Score: 92. No further follow-up required.

Food service establishments

Midsouth Subs — 1921 Highway 51 South, Covington — 97 (July 9) An ice scoop stored with its handle touching ice was corrected on-site. Also cited: a shortage of drainboards at the three-compartment sink and an employee beverage near the handwashing sink.

Loving Hearts Day Care Kitchen — 100 Logan St., Covington — 99 (July 9) One violation, corrected on-site: a scoop stored in a sugar container with its handle touching the product.

Making Memories Christian Child Care — 62 Blaydes, Atoka — 100 (July 6) No violations. Inspection covered food supplied through the Summer Food Service Program.

Atoka Railroad Adventure LLC — 80 Michael Ave., Atoka — 97 (July 6) Cited: a missing refrigerator thermometer, improperly stored plastic utensils and a shortage of drainboards at two sinks.

2KC Cookie Co. — 89 N. Main St., Brighton — 100 (July 6) No violations noted.

Mobile units inspected outside the county

Both units are based in Tipton County but were inspected at the Lauderdale County Tomato Festival in Ripley.

Llama’s Diner — based at 4463 Meade Lake Road, Millington — 100 (July 10) No violations noted.

Tacos Locos — based at 421 Munford Ave., Munford — 99 (July 10) One violation: a 25-pound bag of rice stored on the floor.

Scores and violation details are drawn from Tennessee Department of Health inspection reports, available at inspections.myhealthdepartment.com/tennessee.