The following are among the food service establishments inspected from April 18-19 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-thru 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 online.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
APRIL 18
Smoky Springs Retirement Center
940 South Enota Drive NE
Score: 90, Grade: A
Mold, mildew on icemaker baffle, food debris on can opener blade and slicer body and stand. Cleaning cloths on counters, tables and equipment. Hand sink no longer attached to wall. Floors throughout, especially under shelving, equipment, etc., needs detailed cleaning.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
Friendly Restaurant
1421 Athens St., Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Several places in kitchen where tile floor is damaged - behind order counter, under three-compartment sink at floor/wall juncture and around legs of three-compartment sink. Floor needs cleaning under grill (cook line); accumulation of grease can be attraction for insects, rodents. Baseboard (coved) needs to be sealed at corner of grill and along wall in restroom.
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth
Papa Jack's Country Kitchen
7437 B Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 82, Grade: B
Employee entering kitchen not washing hands before touching containers of potatoes. Dishwasher touching clean utensils from dirty utensils without washing hands. Employee drinks in kitchen in plastic cups and some without lids and straws. No dates on foods in walk-in cooler. Most current food inspection not posted and no inspection at drive-thru.
Inspector: Donna Black
New Peking Garden
7338 Spout Springs Road, Suite A2, Flowery Branch
Score: 98, Grade: A
Hood system needs service. Grease container has grease on top and on pavement under it. Floor throughout needs detailed cleaning.
Inspector: McDuffie
Hong Kong King Buffet
635 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 65, Grade: U
Certified food safety manager needs to train employees in approved food handling techniques. Sink at warewasher area was supposed to be converted to a hand sink - not done yet. Broccoli removed from deliver box, cut up and put back into same box. Pans stored wet with food debris. Icemaker has mold, mildew on interior surfaces. Oyster flakes thawed in hot water at 85 F. Use only approved thawing methods. Oyster flakes in bags stored on top of oyster flakes already opened and in bus pan. Ice scoop with handle in ice. Thermal strip on freezer door damaged causing frost, ice issues in walk-in freezer. Cutting board embedded with mold, mildew. Ice machine pipe leaking. Grease container has grease all over the top and grease has dripped onto ground in Dumpster enclosure. Several fluorescent bulbs in kitchen not shielded. Vent openings in ceiling and walls are open enough to allow insects, rodents, birds to enter.
Inspector: McDuffie
APRIL 19
Burger King 3800
806 Athens St., Gainesville
Score: 80, Grade: B
No paper towels at hand sink near four-compartment sink. Dining tables not routinely cleaned and sanitized after each use. Fish in hot hold tray not at required hot hold temperature of 135 F or more (temped at 132 F). Glove for cleaning vegetables, cutting vegetables soiled. Dust accumulation on coke hose cover and racks beneath self service area. Racks in walk-in cooler covered in debris, residue. Coke lines leaking at bag in box. Dumpster missing drain plug. Currently has a screw that appears to be plug. Grease container heavily soiled with grease and dripping below. Floor tiles near mop sink on wall covering needs regrouting, resealed to wall. Coke syrup accumulating at floor wall juncture from bag in box all the way to water heater. Light bulb at sandwich hot hold line is peeling off protective coating.
Inspector: Shelby Finch
Reunion Golf Club
5615 Grand Reunion Drive, Hoschton
Score: 97, Grade: A
Foil on surface. Warewasher needs all interior and exterior surfaces detailed. Hood system needs detailed cleaning. Floors, especially under and behind equipment, need detailing. Personal items stored on food, single-serve items.
Inspector: McDuffie
Fire Mountain DBA Ryans
2415 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 85, Grade: B
Employee rinsing off hands at dump sink in dish area then wiping hands on apron. Majority of hand sinks full of items such as boxes, cups etc. All floor, walls and ceiling need to be cleaned. Repair damaged floor ties, walls damaged in dry storage room repair, several ceiling tiles moldy above steamers in prep room. Light shield missing in prep area.
Inspector: Black
El Sombrero No. 9
601 S. Enota Drive, Gainesville
Score: 65, Grade: U
Person in charge failed to comply with demonstrating proper food safety knowledge by having many violations in the Risk Factor and Public Health Intervention provisions. Recommend basic food safety training for all employees. Food employee touched trash can while wearing gloves then went to prepare plate. No hand soap at bar. No paper towels at hand sink in kitchen or at bar. Prepared salad shells in container beneath hot hold bar and storage not covered. Spinach in cooler not covered. Cheese slicer had food debris. Knives on magnetic holder had food debris. Lids beneath table at dishwasher had food debris and cutting boards. Small cooler struggling to keep food items at 41 F or below (tomatoes 57 F, guacamole 47 F, sour cream 50 F, chicken 42-47 F). Tomatoes kept in large container in ice bath not required cold holding temp of 41 F or below (temped at 58 F). Beef on hot hold steam table not required hot hold temperature of 135 F or more. Beef reheated to minimum temp of 165 F. Sanitizer in sanitizing cloth bucket less than 200 ppm per test strip. Gloves not discarded between tasks. Gloves used between touching trash and plates.
Inspector: Finch