Golden Corral of Tifton #661

190 S Virginia Ave, Tifton, GA 31794

American

License: Food Service

Last inspected: Dec 3, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

The health department has logged five inspections at Golden Corral of Tifton #661, the earliest from 2024. The latest inspection on file is from Dec 3, 2025. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.

Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around two violations to closer to four violations per visit.

The pattern that stands out is “time as a public health control”, which has been cited three times.

Restaurants in Tifton average 94, so Golden Corral of Tifton #661 trails the local norm. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Dec 3, 2025

Routine

3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 corrected on site.

View 4 violations

6-1D - time as a public health control: procedures and records (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed time/temperature control food (deviled eggs) being placed out on salad bar using time as a public health control above 41 degrees F. COS: Eggs taken back to walk-in cooler before being placed out using time as a public health control.

511-6-1.04(6)(i)

6-1B - proper hot holding temperatures (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Time/temperature control for food not held at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or above in upper warmer cabinet located in main kitchen (see temp log). COS: All foods under 135 degrees F found in warmer cabinet were discarded. Other foods that were just cooked and were 135 degrees F or above in same cabinet were moved to a different warmer.

511-6-1.04(6)(f)

6-1D - time as a public health control: procedures and records (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed several food items on salad bar using time as a public health control without a time marking when placed out of cold holding. Items included cottage cheese, honeydew, shredded cheese, ranch, eggs, diced ham. COS: Item time sticker shall have name of product on sticker if not stuck to container. COS: Correct time stickers were placed on food products

511-6-1.04(6)(i)

4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed dish machine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. COS: Will use three compartment sink to sanitize all dishes until dish machine is repaired with proper sanitizing solution. Service called during inspection.

511-6-1.05(6)(n)

Jun 25, 2025

Routine

2 major violations. 2 corrected on site.

View 2 violations

4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed old food stuck to clean pans that were put up as clean in main kitchen. COS: Ensure pans are cleaned to site and touch before putting up as clean. Dirty dishes taken back to dish area to be rewashed.

511-6-1.05(7)(a)

4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed mechanical dishwasher without minimum sanitizing concentration. COS: Ecolab serviced machine yesterday. PIC called. Ecolab repaired dishwasher during inspection and stated motor went out. Motor was replaced and sanitation concentration was at minimum max strength before leaving establishment.

511-6-1.05(6)(n)

Dec 2, 2024

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

5-1B - proper reheating procedures for hot holding (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed taco meat, tamales, okra and tomato soup placed in hot holding cabinet before products reached 135 degrees F as all were commercially packaged products. COS: All products were taken out of hot holding cabinets and finished reheating in steamer to 135 degrees F within 2 hours of starting the reheating process. (see temp log)

511-6-1.04(5)(h)

Mar 27, 2024

Followup

1 minor violation. 1 corrected on site.

View 1 violation

11A - proper cooling methods used: adequate equipment for temperature control (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed food being cooled by nonapproved method. Observed lettuce and cabbage being cooled after chopping in deep containers. COS: Lettuce and cabbage moved to walk-in freezer and spread in shallow containers to finish cooling process. Train food employees to follow this method each time prepping these items.

511-6-1.04(6)(e)

Mar 6, 2024

Routine

2 critical violations. 1 minor violation. 3 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

6-1D - time as a public health control: procedures and records (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed cut melon, lettuce on salad bar without a time stamp on product when using Time as a Public Health Control. Observed cottage cheese being held past the discard time. COS: Items discarded. Ensure PIC trains all salad bar staff to place proper time marking on all products when placed out on salad bar using Time as a Public Health Control.

511-6-1.04(6)(i)

6-1C - proper cooling time and temperature (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed Time/Temperature Control for Safety Food (eggs) prepared from/mixed with ingredient(s) at ambient temperature not cooled to 41F within 4 hours. COS: Eggs discarded. CA: Eggs and any foods mixed or prepped shall be cooled to 41 degrees F within 4 hours after prepping. Items shall be cooled in the walk-in freezer uncovered in shallow container to reach 41 degrees prior to covering in deep container and placed in reach-in cooler.

511-6-1.04(6)(d)

11A - proper cooling methods used: adequate equipment for temperature control (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed food (potato salad, eggs, cut melon) being cooled by nonapproved method (deep pans and covered) in walk-in cooler. COS: Items were placed in shallow containers and moved to walk-in freezer to finish cooling process (other than eggs, these were discarded). Ensure employees are trained in proper cooling methods by PIC.

511-6-1.04(6)(e)

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Golden Corral of Tifton #661 last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Golden Corral of Tifton #661 on file is from Dec 3, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Golden Corral of Tifton #661?

Across the inspection record, “time as a public health control” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Golden Corral of Tifton #661.

How does Golden Corral of Tifton #661 compare to other restaurants in Tifton?

Golden Corral of Tifton #661 most recently scored 58 out of 100, which is lower than the Tifton average of 94.

Has Golden Corral of Tifton #661's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Golden Corral of Tifton #661 have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Golden Corral of Tifton #661 means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

How often is Golden Corral of Tifton #661 inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Golden Corral of Tifton #661 is inspected around three times per year on average.

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