The following are among the food service establishments inspected from Dec. 1-10 by the Hall County Environmental Health Department. New rules and regulations for food service began on Dec. 1, 2007. Food service establishments will now be given a letter grade that coincides with a percentile: "A" (90-100), "B" (80-89), "C" (70-79), "U" 69 and below. Inspections (frequency of) a food service establishment will be conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type shall be determined by the menu items served, the food preparation processed performed, and the previous food safety history in the food service establishment.
A new food service establishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a food service permit to operate. When a restaurant changes ownership, a new food service permit must be issued. To be issued a food service permit for a change of ownership, the establishment must score a 95 (A) or above with all Foodborne Illness Risk factors and Public Health Interventions in compliance. Permits must be posted in public view at all times. Food service establishments with drive-through windows will also be required to have the top one-third of a copy of the most current inspection report visible through each window allowing customers to easily read the score, date of inspection and establishment information, in addition to the copy posted inside the establishment. Copies of the new rules are available at the Hall County Environmental health Office. The rules and regulations are also available online at health.state.ga.us/programs/envservices/index.asp.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
Dec. 1
Kentucky Fried Chicken
1904 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth
Dec. 2
Chef Wang Chinese Restaurant
275 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 88, Grade: B
Foods not covered. Knives placed back in drawer with food residue — can opener with residue. Cloths laying on prep surfaces — no sanitizer buckets. Several containers, utensils and pans with cracks. Hood over grill with accumulation of grease. Floor tiles broken and need replacing. Clean floors underneath equipment better. Personal items stored with items for customer.
Inspector: Donna Black
Sugar Hill Elementary School
3259 Athens Highway, Gainesville
Score: 92, Grade: A
Coffee travel mug with coffee on prep table next to thermometers. Slicer with dried meat debris on blade ring.
Inspector: Wentworth
Ninja Steak House
5753 Old Winder Highway, Braselton
Score: 91, Grade: A
Employee cutting raw vegetables with bare hands.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
Shane’s Rib Shack
5877 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 93, Grade: A
Knives stored back on knife magnetic with food residue. Cloths lying on counters.
Inspector: Black
Rabbit Town Cafe
2415 Old Cornelia Highway, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
Fresh hamburger out of date. Light lenses chipped in prep area and dry storage. Lights protected plastic sheath over fluorescent light at food is cracked.
nspector: Wentworth
Pupuseria Guanaco MEX Grill
3616 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch
Score: 82, Grade: B
All food service establishments required to have a CFSM on staff by Dec. 1. Ice scoop in ice bin with handle break. Replace scoop with handle up or keep outside of ice bin. Spatulas stored in room temp; water at grill. No dating system. Employees not wearing hair restraint. Gasket make lines and walk-ins damaged. Dumpster open.
Inspector: McDuffie
Thai Dish
5911 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 80, Grade: B
Foods in freezer/cooler not covered. Knives stored dirty behind pipe, knives stored dirty on rack; employee washed/rinsed utensils — did not sanitize; sauces stored in dirty containers. Date labeling system not in use. Storage on floor. Rice scoops in room temp standing water. Gaskets have food debris and mold/mildew. Floors throughout have an accumulation of grease, dried food, trash. Clean floors all the way to the floor/wall juncture to prevent contamination and insect/rodent attraction. Grease dripping in hood system.
Inspector: McDuffie
Dec. 3
Moe’s Southwest Grill
333 Shallowford Road, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Hand-washing sink leaking at faucet.
Inspector: Shelby Finch
Taqueria el Mirador No. 3
2275 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Las Palmas
3050 Athens Highway, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Little Caesars
2159 Browns Bridge Road, Suite 101, Gainesville
Score: 95, Grade: A
Walk-in cooler has condensate drippage above evaporator. Employee restroom and other hand sinks had inadequate supply of water temperature above 100 degrees. Floors cracking at three-compartment sink.
Inspector: Finch
International House of Pancakes
430 Broad St., Gainesville
Score: 84, Grade: B
Some pans and utensils with food debris and stored wet. Eggs in ice bath 44 degrees F and reach-in cooler items (tomatoes, butter, sausage, and roast beef) struggling to maintain proper temperatures of 41 F. Soup on stove (81) not above 135. Crepes (74.5) cooling in walk-in cooler were prepared 7 a.m. and not cooled to 70 deg F within the required two hours. Wrapped cheese below cooler was not on an ice bath; however, food employees have one hour limit to use based off their policy. No time label was placed on the cheese and it is placed back in cooler if not busy. Reach-in cooler top items need additional assistance with ice baths during the rush due to heat from grills, smaller portions of eggs should be used for ice bath if they are not 41.
Inspector: Finch
Taqueria el Mirador No. 4
2275 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 75, Grade: C
Food service establishments were required to have a CFSM on staff by Dec. 1. Foods uncovered in cooler. Ice maker has mold/mildew on baffle. No date-marking system — foods prepped/opened in house must be labeled. Chicken stored in grocery bags. Employee cutting meat without hair restraint. Gaskets on several coolers are torn. No sanitizer test strips. Hand sinks no longer attached to wall. Roaches seen on floor, equipment.
Inspector: McDuffie
C.W. Davis Middle School
4450 Hog Mountain Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 86, Grade: B
Dining tables being wiped down after use with cloths not stored in sanitizer. Electric can opener with dried food debris. Milk boxes not able to maintain milk at 41. Sauce in hot-holding at 129. Last Dumpster (furthest from back door) is rusted through along the front at the bottom.
Inspector: Wentworth
Martin Elementary
4216 Martin Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 99, Grade: A
Ladies restroom trash container is missing lid.
Inspector: Wentworth
China Wok
1015 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 87, Grade: B
Mug of coffee on prep table; glass of tea on counter. Foods uncovered in coolers and stacked on top of each other. Chicken thawing in standing water. No thermometer in freezer and cooler — no correct steam thermometer.
Inspector: Black
Smokey Springs Retirement
9405 Enota Drive, Gainesville
Score: 87, Grade: B
Plastic cup with drink next to grill. No paper towels at back hand sink. Several utensils with debris; utensils in drawers with built-up food debris. Foods in walk-in cooler past seven day expiration dates. Gloves not being removed and rinsed off with sprayers. Paper and phone on prep table.
Inspector: Black
Jennifer Messer