The upscale Buckhead Diner is one of the city’s destination restaurants.

Located at 3073 Piedmont Road, it’s a place to go not only for its award-winning cuisine, but also to glimpse celebrities and other notable big wigs dining out.

The diner has had impeccable health inspection reports since opening more than two decades ago, with high grades consistently in the 90s.

But over the past month scores have plummeted.

In early March, the diner received a 75 out of 100. That’s a C. Then during a follow-up inspection March 14 they got a failing score of 57.

Nothing has changed much in the kitchen. General Manager Maureen Baker said the staff is doing same things as always. And the food quality hasn’t diminished either, she said.

What have changed are Fulton County’s food service health regulations.

The sanitizer bucket can no longer be stored in the food prep area, for example. Thermometers in coolers now have to be placed where they can be easily read when opening the door. Points were taken off for each of these during the diner’s last inspections.

There were other code violations. The inspector said barriers are needed to separate stored food, and also one is required to separate the hand sink and the dump sink from equipment utensils and food contact surfaces.

All food in the coolers has to be labeled and dated. And even boxed food can’t be stored on the floor.

Baker said the restaurant is working to comply with all of the regulation changes. Another follow-up inspection is expected.

“We’re doing everything possible to get back in line with those [previous] scores,” Baker said.

“I think our guests will look at our consistently high scores. Three months ago we got an A,” she added.

Here are other current inspection scores from area restaurants.

Cobb County

• Atlanta Bread Company, 1255 Johnson Ferry Road, Marietta: 83/B.
• Green Tomato Buffet, 3719 New Macland Road, Powder Springs: 100/A.
• Kong’s Wok, 298 Veterans Memorial Highway SE, Mableton: 98/A.

DeKalb County

• Hudson Grille, 4046 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta: 70/C.
• Rincon Latino, 5055 Buford Highway NE, Doraville: 88/B.
• The Corner Pub, 627 E. College Ave., Decatur: 95/A.

Forsyth County

• Bailey’s Gyros & Wings, 5535 Bannister Road, Cumming: 100/A.
• Fajita Grill, 3952 Canton Highway, Cumming: 91/A.
• O’Charley’s, 920 Buford Road, Cumming: 99/A.

Fulton County

• Paschal’s Restaurant, 180-B Northside Drive SW, Atlanta: 95/A.
• The Spot, 124 Devore Road, Alpharetta: 86/B.
• Thelma’s Rib Shack, 302 Auburn Ave., Atlanta: 89/B.

Gwinnett County

• Bleu House Market, 62 College Street, Norcross: 73/C.
• Ionies Caribbean Kitchen, 1142 Athens Highway, Grayson: 84/B.
• Wild Wing Café, 3265 Lawrenceville Suwanee Road, Suwanee: 71/C.

Paulding County

• Catfish Den, 2475 Hiram Douglasville Highway, Hiram: 92/A.
• Folks Southern Kitchen, 5096 Jimmy Lee Smith Parkway, Hiram: 94/A.
• Sal’s Pizzeria & Bristro, 2538 Cedarcrest Road, Acworth: 94/A.

— by Laura Berrios for the Food & More blog

(Commenting is closed on this post.)

– Previous reports | Search inspections by county