Restaurant Report Card: The Drugstore Deli

BYRON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Your gateway into the past starts with chime and a friendly laugh.

“That keeps my customers coming back,” said The Drugstore Deli Owner Jo McLean, as she chuckled.

The Drugstore Deli prescribes a dose of Byron’s history and gives you nature’s medicine: some good food.

“The drugstore was a drugstore–it was built in 1900,” said McLean.

“It all tastes alike–just absolutely wonderful,” said Byron Mayor Larry Collins. “I’ve been coming here since I was 10 years old–I’m 76.”

It must take a special place to bring people back for decades.

“A good experience a lot of ambiance. Through the course of the day all of your friends will be in and out at least one time.”

But behind a special drugstore is a special kind of pharmacist.

McLean has owned The Drugstore Deli for about five years now.

“Did some other things and decided food was my thing,” said McLean.

Jo’s menu has sandwiches, pasta salads and desserts on it.

“Some people read cheap novels I read cookbooks, what can I tell ya?”

Her passion for healing an empty stomach and keeping the community together is obvious.

“She knows a lot of people,” said Collins. “She keeps up with things–just a real asset to Byron.”

“I couldn’t make it with just the population in Byron,” said McLean. “So we draw from a lot of different communities.”

Plus, health is always number one–and so is the health inspection score.

“I got a 96 and I was just crushed. I was like I’ve never had a 96 I’ve always had a 100 what do you mean a 96?”

The Drugstore Deli is making the grade this week, and here’s a restaurant that needs to step it up: Firehouse Subs on Watson Boulevard scored a 68.

There was no certified food safety manager there, they had an open soda bottle near the prepared food, and the meatballs and chili weren’t being reheated to hot enough temperatures.

Other scores this week:

478 Country Buffet on Ga. Highway 49 – 90

American Buffalo on Commercial Heights Drive – 100

Casa Mexico on Highway 49 – 100

Claudette’s Kitchen on Peach Parkway – 88

Georgia Bob’s on Cane River – 99

Grammy’s Shaved Ice on Highway 49 – 100

Kountry Kitchen on Main Street – 84

Miss Jackee’s Hotwing Shoppe on Orange Street – 87

Peachtree Cafe on Lane Road – 81

The Railroad Cafe on Lowe Street – 95

Twin Dragon on Highway 49 – 100