The following are among the food service establishments inspected from March 2-12 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.
March 2
Firehouse Subs
333 Shallowford Road, Gainesville
Score: 92, Grade: A
Repeat violation: Slicer not properly cleaned after use. Dried food debris along blades and inside of cradle. Repeat violation: Lids and containers stored wet nested.
Inspector: Lydia Hoffhines
Chick-fil-A
400 Pearl Nix Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 95, Grade: A
Drink dispenser nozzles at drive-through window have grime and mold build up. Dried tomato pieces and seeds on tomato slicer. Small parts of drop ceiling tiles are missing. Poles holding ceiling racks have an accumulation of dust and debris. Vent above food prep hand washing sink has a thick layer of dust.
Inspector: Hoffhines
March 4
Mama Ruth’s
804 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville
Score: 93, Grade: A
Drink dispenser nozzles have black, tarry substance. Observed ripped/worn aluminum foil used as shelf cover. Observed gaskets/seals on cold-holding units in poor repair. Gaskets have an accumulation of dried food debris and mold/mildew. Water pressure lacking at fixtures that require the use of water. Observed sewage on ground from failed septic system. Observed floor area(s) covered with standing water; both restrooms have standing water.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
March 6
Jeannie’s Cafe and Deli
6274 Ga. 52, Gillsville
Score: 93, Grade: A
Hood/vents need cleaning. Floors need a good cleaning under shelving in dry storage room and under equipment in kitchen (especially in the corners). Dry storage floor with badly peeling paint. Floor/wall juncture needs to be sealed behind cook line. Barewood baseboard needs to be sealed/painted and check seal at floor/wall juncture. Some floor tiles in kitchen are cracked/dented from equipment. Many flies seen in kitchen. Containers of chili to be stored cold on top of make line and reheated as ordered needs to be kept colder.
Inspector: Laurie Wentworth
Taqueria El Zacatecaz
711-D Industrial Boulevard, Gainesville
Score: 51, Grade: U
No one designated as person in charge when owner is not at restaurant. Food handlers do not know basic food handling for food safety. Restaurant has had permit five months with no certified food safety manager on staff as required after three months. Bottles of water in kitchen. Food handlers not washing hands in hand sink — water is too hot — instead using spray arm at three-compartment sink. Beef, chicken and radishes all stored together in bottom of cooler. Several hundred pounds of meat delivered yesterday sitting on drainage rack overnight and all day. There is no place to store all this food. Meat beginning to "thaw" and reach temperatures above 41 degrees F. Thawing large piece of meat sitting in pot on drain board of two-compartment sink (prep sink). There is not enough cooler space for thawing; only one two-door cooler. There is not enough freezer space for the storage of large quantities of meat. There are no thermometers available to monitor the temperatures of hot- and cold-held foods and cook temperatures. Serving food from table at entrance to kitchen that is not protected from contamination by customers. Wiping cloths stored dirty in dirty container of sanitizer. Cutting boards heavily scarred; no longer easily cleanable. Cold water faucet broken at hand sink and cold water turned off to keep faucet from leaking. Hot water too hot for proper handwashing. Fluorescent lighting goes on and off in kitchen. Three-comparment sink only being used to wash and rinse utensils/kitchenware; no sanitizer step.
Inspector: Wentworth
March 9
Arby’s
3652 Mundy Mill Road, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Repeat violation: Keep lids to Dumpster and grease container shut to help prevent insect/rodent attraction. Dumpster needs a drain plug. Keep employee personal belongings separate from food and clean utensil storage areas. Keys set on food contact surface (slicer).
Inspector: Hoffhines
Moe’s Southwest Grill No. 649
3602 Southland Drive, Flowery Branch
Score: 88, Grade: B
Tofu and rice held at 127F. Plastic containers stacked wet nested. Repeat violation: Single-service boxes and equipment stored on floor in dry-storage shed. Dumpster needs drain plug. Grease container needs to properly sit on frame with lid secured on top. Keep personal belongings separate from food, single-service and utensil storage areas to help prevent possible contamination.
Inspector: Hoffhines
Tropical Breeze Restaurant
5545 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch
Score: 97, Grade: A
Food handler not wearing hair restraint; wearing fingernail polish on nails and bracelets. Cloths used to wipe food-contact surfaces must be kept in sanitizer between uses.
Inspector: Donna Black
Woody’s Pharmacy Inc.
5226 Dahlonega Highway, Clermont
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Black
Domino’s Pizza
4841 Hog Mountain Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 96, Grade: A
Pizza cutter stored between wall and prep table. Pizza boxes and plastic to go cups on floor. Repeat violation: Counter laminate peeling off back and sides of prep counter, exposing raw wood underneath. Replace damaged ceiling tiles in men’s restroom.
Inspector: Black
Gainesville RYDC
450 Crescent Drive, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Brenau University Dining Room
1 Centennial Circle, Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
Soft drink dispenser nozzles have mold/mildew. Repeat violation: Cove molding not sealed in employee ladies’ room. Repeat violation: Floors in dish room; tiles broken and missing.
Inspector: McDuffie
Scott’s On the Square
110 Main St., Gainesville
Score: 85, Grade: B
Employees’ drinks in open containers. Employee restroom has no paper towels. Foods on steam line below required temperatures for reheating/hot holding: soup 130F and 128F and gravy 116F. Current inspection not posted. Gaskets on reach-in coolers/freezers heavily damaged.
Inspector: McDuffie
March 10
Peachtree Plantation
4251 Hudson Drive, Oakwood
Score: 93, Grade: A
Cups without lids and straws. Back door going directly into kitchen propped open with chairs.
Inspector: Black
Wang’s Chinese Restaurant
4211 McEver Road, No. 201, Oakwood
Score: 99, Grade: A
Knives stored in between prep table and counter. Cloth linens used to cover kitchenware.
Inspector: Black
Domino’s Pizza
Limestone Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 80, Grade: B
Dish container holding clean utensils with food residue; no sanitizer in three-compartment sink. Ham, sausage, beef, etc. in top half of prep cooler with temperatures 49-61 degrees. Cloths not stored in sanitizer. Must post current inspection report. Repeat violation: Laminate at counter peeling exposing raw wood. Repeat violation: Test strips missing for sanitizer. Many ceiling tiles in dry storage gone and exposing "attic" space.
Inspector: Black
March 11
Wild Horse Grill - Armadillo
1605 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville
Score: 80, Grade: B
No paper towels in any dispenser in restroom. Chest freezer not working and spoiled food stored inside with mold growth and sitting in water; spoiled onions in cooler. Repeat violation: Soda guns, ice machine and utensils with food debris. Men’s and women’s restrooms dirty with trash over flowing, dirty toilets and dirty floors. Damaged ceiling tiles in bar area; floors with chipped tiles and dirty in kitchen; covered baseboard damaged on wall near order area.
Inspector: Black
Hall County Correctional Institution
1685 Barber Road, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Cutting boards in use are heavily scarred. Light shields missing end caps. One light shield cracked.
Inspector: Wentworth
Keith Bridge Petro
2808 Gillsville Highway, Gillsville
Score: 80, Grade: B
Hot-holding cabinet not maintaining food stored in there at required hot-holding temperature of 135 degrees F. No stem thermometer available to monitor cooked, reheated, and hot- and cold-held foods. Wiping cloths not stored in provided chemical sanitizer between uses. No chlorine sanitizer test strips to monitor strength of sanitizer (bleach) being used. Utensils/kitchenware not being sanitized at three-compartment sink.
Inspector: Wentworth
March 12
China Gourmet
150 Pearl Nix Parkway, Suite E8, Gainesville
Score: 81, Grade: B
Cooked eggrolls on trays stored on top of containers of raw beef in walk-in cooler. Egg rolls dated with preparation date of March 5, past seven-day time limit for storage at 41 degrees F or less. Shelf on top of wall that separates three-compartment sink from prep sink needs a smoother, durable, and non-absorbent covering; laminate peeling and chipped, and utensils are laid on this surface. Shelf in service area that holds plates does not have a durable, cleanable and non-absorbent surface. Drain from small ice machine (plastic hose) not draining into drain; dripping onto floor and accumulating at floor/wall juncture behind ice machine. Tile baseboard forced off wall behind cook line due to build up of grease/food behind tiles. Build up of grease/food at floor/wall juncture throughout kitchen. Hood vents need to be removed for cleaning; large build up of grease. Ceiling panels ripped.
Inspector: Wentworth
Smoothie King
890 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 88, Grade: B
Repeat violation: No soap provided at hand sink beside ice machine. Mold growth on bottom edge of ice machine baffle. Floor/wall juncture needs a good cleaning behind cooler/freezer and dry storage shelving in back room. Floor around drain inside dumpsink cabinet and floor drain need a good cleaning; accumulation of mold. Lid to make-line cooler being stored on floor between three-compartment sink and ice machine.
Inspector: Wentworth
Royal Lakes Restaurant
4700 Royal Lake Drive, Flowery Branch
Score: 91, Grade: A
Soda gun in bar has black, tarry substance. Make-line cooler at bar struggling to maintain temperatures. Silverware storage and utensil drawers have food debris, dust, etc. Floors need detailed cleaning, especially under equipment and in coolers and freezer. Bulbs in walk-in cooler and freezer are exposed. Exhaust hoods dripping grease and build up of dust.
Inspector: McDuffie
Megan Gill