The following are among the food service establishments inspected from April 16-27 by the Hall County Environmental Health Department. Food service establishments are 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 are conducted based on risk categorization. The risk type is 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 rules are available at the Hall County Environmental health Office. The rules and regulations are also available here.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
2480 Old Cornelia Highway, Gainesville
Score: 97, Grade: A
Evaporator fan covers in walk-in cooler with large accumulation of dust. Ceiling panels and diffusers dusty throughout kitchen. Floor needs good sweeping in dry storage behind cabinet at hand sink and behind washer/dryer. Accumulation of crumbs (dry storage), leaves and food debris (behind washer/dryer combo and cabinet).
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth
Blonde
212 Spring St. SW, Gainesville
Score: 90, Grade: A
Prepared foods not discarded within seven days of preparation. Many outdated packaged food products — buttermilk, sour cream. Make line prep cooler (salad cooler) still has condensate leak that allows water to puddle inside. This water is nonpotable. Door gasket of reach-in freezer is split allowing for debris (food) accumulation in crack — replace gasket. Floor under cook line, around, under 3-compartment sink and grease container all need a good cleaning. Accumulation of grease and food debris can be attraction for insects, rodents.
Inspector: Wentworth
3603 Southland Drive, Flowery Branch
Score: 84, Grade: B
Blades to cole slaw chopper, can opener and veggie press have gunk and dried food residue. Prep cooler at cook line unable to maintain foods at 41 F or less. Gaskets on coolers cracked and split, replace to prevent deep pockets from holding food debris. Contact paper on shelves rippled and trapping food particles; surfaces should be smooth, nonabsorbent and easily cleanable. Grill press has accumulation of baked residue along edges and corners of press. Fan guard in walk-in cooler has accumulation of dust and debris — tops of racks in walk-in cooler have debris — grease accumulation on hood vents, dust accumulated along walls and hood vents. Floors behind fryers have accumulation of grease.
Inspector: Donna Black
Todino’s Pizza
150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Suite E6, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
Foil on walls surrounding stove is dirty and peeling off — remove foil and leave off walls. Floors behind pizza even and cooler and beside stove and walls with food splatter. Light shields missing over pizza and in hood over pizza oven.
Inspector: Black
Waffle House No. 1211
4395 Cornelia Highway, Lula
Score: 83, Grade: B
Slime mold in tea urn spout and interior of ice machine. Gravy held below 135 F for hot holding. Cloths must be kept submerged in sanitizer solution between uses and not kept out on counter tops or cutting boards.
Inspector: Black
995 Riverside Drive, Gainesville
Score: 91, Grade: A
Containers, lids, and cutting board had food debris and trapped residue in cutting boards. Cutting board not properly washed and sanitized prior to storage. Chemical dispenser and plunger stored too close to single service items in dry storage. An unlabeled and uncovered container of powder cleaner stored in dry storage and sanitizer (chlorine) for milkshake machine less than 200 ppm per test strips. Separate and clearly label all chemicals from single-serve items. Keep sanitizer (chlorine) within recommended safe levels. Ware-washing sanitizer solution dirty with food debris. Keep ware-washing solutions clean and free of food debris to allow proper cleaning and sanitizing. Sanitizer test strips for shake machine (chlorine) not available. Keep sanitizer test strips available to monitor concentration of sanitizer and to ensure proper amount.
Inspector: Shelby Finch
322 Spring St., Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Cove molding by cook area coming away from wall. Grease dripping in hood.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
Great American Cookie Company
150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Suite E4, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Brenau Dining Services Tea Room
One Centennial Circle, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
1002 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 87, Grade: B
Mold, mildew in soft drink diffusers; mold, mildew above ice machine. Employee handling food without hair restraint. Gasket on walk-in cooler heavily damaged. Counter for customer’s self-serve condiments and all containers for condiments need thorough cleaning more frequently; gaskets on some coolers need detailed cleaning. Toilet in ladies’ room no longer attached to floor. Grease container leaking, spilled onto asphalt; running toward unpaved areas. Dumpster open. Cove tiles broken, missing, no longer sealed. Cove tiles throughout kitchen, coolers, etc. need to be replaced and resealed to provide a smooth, durable floor/wall juncture. Floor tiles broken, missing. FRP coming away from walls, especially at corners; holes in wall. Storage sheds outside need work; shed attached to Dumpster enclosure needs extensive cleaning, especially the floor. Ceiling needs repair; free standing shed needs floors, shelves cleaned. Vents to one hood system installed sideways. Vents to other hood system not sealed to the outside, allowing insect, rodent entry.
Inspector: McDuffie
Chili’s
669 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
Soda nozzles and one soda gun in bar have accumulations.
Inspector: McDuffie
Bojangles
1235 Jesse Jewel Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
Employee drinks in lidded coffee cups.
Inspector: McDuffie
1714 Atlanta Highway, Unit A, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Wentworth
Tony’s Gourmet Naked Dawg
5201 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Black
Burger & Shake II
5866 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Black
Waffle House No. 615
3175 Frontage Road, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Gaskets have accumulation of food, water.
Inspector: McDuffie
Dairy Queen
3156 Frontage Road, Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Dumpster open. Grease dripping from container. Floors need detailed cleaning, especially under equipment. Hood system needs service; grease, dust on fixtures.
Inspector: McDuffie
McDonald’s Restaurant
3183 Frontage Road, Gainesville
Score: 84, Grade: B
Employee wearing two pairs of gloves, took off outer gloves and returned to handling food. Employee handling food without hair restraint. Gaskets on all wall freezers and one make line damaged. Both Dumpsters open. Floor tiles and grout are broken, missing in many high traffic areas. Cover tile missing in most of dish area.
Inspector: McDuffie
Jennifer Messer