These health departments seem more adept at making excuses for low standards than at enforcing high ones. We also need a higher level of criticism of food establishments. That begins with customers being more willing to complain when something goes amiss. Now there is too much of a tendency to grin and bear it. If the public doesn't insist on high standards and complain when they are not delivered, they are likely to continue to be disappointed.
Most customers hesitate to send a meal back.
They should not. There should be no hesitation in rejecting a defective product, whether a meal, a dish, or a widget. We also need a higher quality of restaurant reviews. For example, now the restaurant review department of many city magazines is little more than an adjunct of the advertising and marketing operation. I've even seen publications than tie good reviews to advertising business.