Dirty Dining
Speed Queen
-
Local BBQ institution Video by tmj4.com
video
Want to check out a Milwaukee restaurant's health inspection history? Click on the Journal Sentinel's database of restaurants here.
Milwaukee: It's a Milwaukee institution. Many call it the best BBQ in town, and now it's the latest destination for Dirty Dining. Speed Queen on 12th and Walnut. A staple in the community for more than 50 years. From rib tips to fried chicken and fish fry, Speed Queen has some things to clean up. Like hot food not kept warm enough. Pulled pork at 105 degrees, pork roast at 120 and ribs at 87 degrees. Potentially hazardous food must be hot held at 135 degrees or above. It's a problem Speed Queen has had before in 2007, 2008, and January of this year. Owner Giovanni Gillespie talked to us about the problem. "Why am i having a temperature problem? Poor following up. That falls under me under management and ownership. I'm not making any excuse at all." But he did tell us part of the problem is the hot holding unit. Gillespie says when they're serving up a lot of food the lid is on and off and the temp fluctuates. The inspector also found no expiration dates on prepared food. Again a violation this spot has had before. Gillespie said, "it's not sitting here for more than a day. That's why the labeling thing is a tough one for us." But as Gillespie showed us, Speed Queen is now date marking. Potentially hazardous food, like meat, not being cooled correctly. Gillespie claims he's also fixed *that* problem. But the past six health inspections have violations something this owner tells me they're on top of when I asked if his restaurant is clean. "My restaurant, yes. 100% without a doubt." Gillespie is appealing some of the latest violations with the city.
This site uses Facebook comments to make it easier for you to contribute. If you see a comment you would like to flag for spam or abuse, click the "x" in the upper right of it. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use.