The Buffet Stop food hygiene rating
Restaurant/Cafe/Canteen · Epping Forest
The Buffet Stop holds a 5, the highest food hygiene rating there is. At its last inspection the restaurant met every standard the inspector checked, with nothing needing attention.
The rating: 5 - Very good
The rating dates from 23 June 2023, more than 3 years ago. A lot can change in a kitchen in that time, and a rating this old says more about the business then than now. Councils prioritise re-inspecting higher-risk premises, so a long gap often means the business is considered low-risk.
Address: Epping & Ongar Railway Ongar Station, High Street, Ongar, CM5 9BN
How it compares in Epping Forest
That puts The Buffet Stop among the 760 places in Epping Forest holding top marks, 84% of everywhere the council rates. A 5 is the norm here rather than the exception, so it is the rating to expect, not to be impressed by.
| 5 out of 5 | 760 | 84% | ← The Buffet Stop | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 out of 5 | 96 | 11% | ||
| 3 out of 5 | 36 | 4% | ||
| 2 out of 5 | 7 | 1% | ||
| 1 out of 5 | 11 | 1% | ||
| 0 out of 5 | 0 | 0% |
A further 148 businesses in the area are awaiting inspection or exempt, so are not counted above.
What the inspector found
- Hygienic food handling Good
- Cleanliness & condition of the building Good
- How well they manage food safety Good
An inspection scores three things: how food is handled, the physical condition of the premises, and how much the inspector trusts management to keep standards up. At The Buffet Stop none of the three raised a concern, the overall rating is only ever as strong as its weakest area, so a clean sweep is what produces a high score.
Questions about The Buffet Stop
What is The Buffet Stop's food hygiene rating?
The Buffet Stop has a food hygiene rating of 5 out of 5 (very good), given by Epping Forest Council on 23 June 2023.
Is The Buffet Stop safe to eat at?
The rating covers hygiene standards found at inspection, not the food itself. At 5 out of 5, the inspector found hygiene standards at this restaurant to be very good, the top end of the scale.
When was The Buffet Stop last inspected?
The Buffet Stop was last inspected on 23 June 2023, more than 3 years ago. Food hygiene inspections are unannounced, and the rating is published by Epping Forest Council rather than by the business.
What did the inspector find at The Buffet Stop?
The inspector scored three areas. Hygienic food handling was rated "good", the cleanliness and condition of the building "good", and confidence in the management of food safety "good". Lower concern in all three is what earns a high overall rating.
How does The Buffet Stop compare to other places in Epping Forest?
84% of the 910 rated food businesses in Epping Forest hold the top rating of 5, and The Buffet Stop is one of them.
Who decides the rating?
Epping Forest Council inspects The Buffet Stop and sets the rating; the Food Standards Agency publishes it. Neither the business nor this site can change a rating, a business that disagrees can appeal to its council, and can request a re-inspection once it has fixed the problems.
Tell me when this changes
The Food Standards Agency publishes only a business's rating today, not what it scored before, and not when it moves. We check every UK rating each night. Watch The Buffet Stop and we will email you the morning after its rating changes.
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Understanding this rating
More food hygiene ratings near here
The Buffet Stop is one of 78 rated food businesses in Ongar. See every hygiene rating in Ongar →
Epping Forest inspects and rates 1,058 food businesses across its whole area. See every food hygiene rating in Epping Forest →
The official record is held by the council: http://www.eppingforestdc.gov.uk
Rating from the Food Standards Agency under the Open Government Licence. Ratings reflect standards found at the time of inspection and can change. If you think a rating is wrong, the official record is held by the FSA and the local authority; corrections there flow through here. How ratings work →