Tuscaloosa County restaurants are scored out of 100 by the county health department; under 60 means immediate closure. Search scores online. 205-562-6900.
Last checked Oct. 17, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Food Establishment Scores, scoring system and establishment closings pages, and the Tuscaloosa County Health Department.
Restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores in Tuscaloosa County are inspected by environmental staff at the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, part of the Alabama Department of Public Health. Each inspection is scored on a 100-point scale, with points taken off for each violation. You can look up any establishment’s scores in the state’s Food Establishment Scores database.
Who to call
- Tuscaloosa County Health Department, Environmental Office (complaints, permits): 2350 Hargrove Road East, 205-562-6900
- State help line: 1-800-252-1818, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays
- Search scores: foodscores.state.al.us
How the scores work
The overall score sets how soon the health department comes back, under the state’s scoring system:
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 85 to 100 | Satisfactory compliance; inspected on the routine schedule |
| 70 to 84 | Follow-up inspection within 60 days |
| 60 to 69 | Follow-up and reinspection within 48 hours |
| Below 60 | Closed immediately |
Priority violations carry more points and are marked in red on the report. They must be fixed as soon as possible: within three days for priority violations and 10 days for priority foundation violations, whatever the overall score. Food found out of compliance is thrown out on the spot. Priority items include hand washing and bare-hand contact with food, holding temperatures for hot and cold food, cross-contamination, sanitizing of food-contact surfaces, hot water and plumbing, and pests.
Reading a score fairly
- A score is a snapshot of one visit. Conditions can change the next day, for better or worse.
- Most food service establishments are inspected at least three times a year, depending on the food they prepare; a convenience store may be inspected once a year.
- State law requires every place that sells food to hold a current permit from the county health department and to post its permit and latest inspection report where customers can see them.
Closings: when a place must shut
An establishment must stop operating at once for an extended loss of power or water, no refrigeration, no hot water, a sewage backup, misuse of toxic materials, an apparent foodborne illness outbreak, other hazards to public health, or a score below 60. In most cases the problem is fixed and the business reopens within a few hours, the department says.
ADPH lists enforcement closings from the last 90 days on its closings page. For Tuscaloosa and Northport addresses, the list on Oct. 17, 2026, showed:
| Date | Establishment | Address | Reason ADPH gave |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 9 | Hardee’s | 2515 Bryant Drive, Tuscaloosa | Sewage backing up in the parking lot |
| Oct. 7 | Ms. Stephanie’s | 1701 McFarland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa | Sewage backing up from drains |
| Oct. 7 | Red Fan Foodmart | 3001 Fifth St., Northport | Complete lack of hot water |
| Oct. 6 | Shop and Go BP | 501 Bridge Ave., Northport | Roach infestation |
| Sept. 24 | Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen | 2450 McFarland Blvd., Northport | Sewage coming up from outside drains |
| Aug. 25 | Baymont, Tuscaloosa kitchen | 5021 Oscar Baxter Road, Tuscaloosa | Lack of adequate refrigeration |
| Aug. 19 | Hilton, The Great American Grill | 800 Hollywood Drive, Tuscaloosa | No hot water; lack of adequate refrigeration |
| Aug. 19 | Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen | 3712 McFarland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa | Lack of adequate refrigeration; air conditioning not working |
| Aug. 18 | Best Western Tuscaloosa, breakfast area | 3801 McFarland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa | Lack of adequate refrigeration |
| Aug. 7 | Global Flavor | 915 Patriot Parkway, Tuscaloosa | Inspection score below 60 |
None of the reasons on this list is a foodborne illness outbreak. To check whether a place has reopened, call the Environmental Office at 205-562-6900.
Reporting a problem
To complain about a restaurant or food store, call the Tuscaloosa County Health Department at 205-562-6900 and ask for the Environmental Office, or use ADPH’s environmental complaint page. If you think you got sick from food, ADPH explains what to do on its foodborne illness page.
Opening a food business
Food and hotel permits come from the county health department. ADPH’s starting a restaurant page and plan review checklists cover the steps. Food trucks and temporary event vendors have their own rules.
More guides: new businesses in Tuscaloosa, Tuscaloosa farmers markets and who to call at City Hall.
Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a restaurant inspection score in Tuscaloosa?
Search the Alabama Department of Public Health’s Food Establishment Scores database at foodscores.state.al.us. Restaurants must also post their latest inspection report where customers can see it.
What is a good restaurant inspection score in Alabama?
A score of 85 to 100 means satisfactory compliance and a routine inspection schedule. A score of 70 to 84 brings a follow-up within 60 days, 60 to 69 a reinspection within 48 hours, and below 60 an immediate closure.
Who inspects restaurants in Tuscaloosa?
Environmental staff at the Tuscaloosa County Health Department, part of the Alabama Department of Public Health, at 2350 Hargrove Road East. Call 205-562-6900 and ask for the Environmental Office.
How often are restaurants inspected in Alabama?
Food service establishments are generally inspected at least three times a year, depending on the type of food prepared, the state says. A typical convenience store may be inspected once a year.
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