I can't believe I "rate" the whole thing...

My favorite new site as of late is the Environmental Health Restaurant Rating database for Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles county, the health inspectors give restaurants a letter rating: "A" being the best, "B" being not that great, and "C" being stay the hell away from here. As friends of mine well know, I'm very leery of eating at any place that has lower than an "A" rating. I've made friends pick a different restaurant if the one they originally chose has a "B" and there's one with an "A" nearby.

Thanks to my friend Iowa Matt, I've gotten hooked on the Environmental Health Restaurant Rating website. What's great is that you see the actual number that the restaurant received and the reasons why the restuarant got the rating.

I've taken it upon myself to find out why certain restaurants which I've liked in the past now have "B" ratings. The most telling one in recent time is an Arby's that I used to go to in Santa Monica. It's the one at 1340 LINCOLN BLVD. The score...an 81. The reasons:

HOLDING OF PHF - MULTIPLE SERVINGS (MINOR)

RISK FOR CONTAMINATION

DISREPAIR

NON - FOOD CONTACT SURFACES - NOT CLEAN (MINOR)

UNAPPROVED TYPE / IMPROPER USE / IMPROPER INSTALLATION

DETERIORATION / UNAPPROVED MATERIALS

HOOD - NOT CLEAN / DISREPAIR / MISSING FILTER(S)

RODENTS - ACTIVE INFESTATION (MAJOR)

"Major active RODENT infestation?!?!?" Oh wait sir, those aren't onion bits in your beef 'n cheddar sandwich bun...AHHHHH! And even with rodent infestation, the place got a "B." Now, do you see why I'm leery of a "B"-graded restaurants!

All right...time to brave the rain and have lunch at Fatburger. At least they've got a 94. :-)