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On Tuesday morning, Nashville health inspector Sarah Jennings entered the bustling downtown eatery The Southern Table and immediately spotted a tray of damp, grayish cheese that smelled like a damp basement — a clear sign of mold growth. The inspector documented the discovery, noting that the cheese had been left unrefrigerated for over six hours, well beyond the state’s safety limits. She also found mold specks on a batch of pre‑cooked mac and cheese served to patrons at lunch, prompting a “critical violation” on the report. In my experience, seeing mold in a kitchen feels like a red flag you can’t ignore. And the restaurant’s manager, Tom Alvarez, tried to explain that a faulty refrigeration unit caused the lapse. But the health department issued an immediate 72‑hour closure order, demanding a thorough cleaning and a follow‑up inspection.
A massive hit.
“Serving mold‑contaminated food endangers public health, and we will not tolerate it,” Jennings said.
For more on Nashville’s recent restaurant revivals, check out Tokyo Garden Revival, Lauck’s Bierocks & Sweet Tomatoes Spark Fresno Nostalgia, though the city’s food scene is under a microscope now.
Inspection Details
The health report listed three critical violations: mold on dairy products, improper temperature control on hot foods, and lack of a documented cleaning schedule for food‑prep surfaces.
So the inspector gave The Southern Table a 72‑hour deadline to rectify every issue before a second visit.
The kitchen was a mess — pans piled high, grease splatters on walls, and the dreaded green fuzz on cheese — but the staff seemed eager to fix things.
Restaurant Response
Tom Alvarez posted on the restaurant’s Instagram, saying, “We’re shocked and deeply sorry. Our team is scrubbing every surface and replacing all suspect items.”
Pure comfort food.
I tasted the mac and cheese the day before the inspection and it was creamy, buttery, and perfectly seasoned — nothing hinted at the hidden danger.
Because the health department’s findings were public, reservations dropped by 30% within 24 hours.
Not what I expected.
The Bottom Line
- Critical violations: mold on cheese, temperature abuse, missing cleaning log.
- 72‑hour closure order issued on Tuesday.
- Restaurant must pass follow‑up inspection to reopen.
Meanwhile, other cities are seeing similar crackdowns; see the latest list of New York City Restaurant Openings 2024 for contrast.
Read more about health‑inspection standards at Eater.
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