The following are among the food service establishments inspected from March 22-24 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 online.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
March 22
Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
5745 Old Winder Highway, Braselton
Score: 95, Grade: A
Food uncovered. Rusty shelves under prep tables; rusty blade for food processor; stone, cement pots used as kitchenware, utensils; resurface, replace shelves; replace blade and remove pots.
Inspector: Donna Black
Dogwood Forest
Assisted Living
3315 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 92, Grade: A
Drink on prep table. Cloths laying on counters. Floors and walls dirty around steam until and in dry storage area. Ceiling in dry storage is moldy and needs repairing.
Inspector: Black
O’Charley’s
1711 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 80, Grade: B
No employees shall consume food in food prep areas. Employees not permitted to chew gum in food prep areas. Bar hand sink needs paper towels; check for liquid in kitchen soap dispensers frequently. Foods must be covered in RI coolers and freezers. Dried food debris and pieces of bread on clean bread pans. Metal pieces and grime buildup on can opener blade. Film buildup along walls and bottom of dipper wells. Film and buildup on drain board and sides, bottom of veggie sink. Chemicals mislabeled or without labels. The outer layer of all employee clothing shall be clean and free of previous food spills and stains. Wiping cloths must be stored in a sanitizing solution between uses and buckets stored off the ground. Lids to coolers must be stored off the ground and protected from potential contamination. Durable scoops designed for washing and reuse must be used for foods, avoid using single-service items. Containers on top shelf of service line have old food debris, face of heat lamps have food splatter, body of blender at bar has syrup residue. Chicken and grease along bottom edge and ground of Dumpster and Dumpster area. Lid to grease container has grease residue. Accumulation of debris under soda syrup racks in dry storage, puddling water under table in dry storage. Accumulation of dust along ceiling and vents above ware washing machine and throughout kitchen.
Inspector: Lydia Hoffhines
Checkers Drive-In Restaurant
943 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 93, Grade: A
Tomato slicer has food debris. No inspections posted. Pans stacked wet-nested, allow utensils to completely air dry before stacking. Bag of trash on ground in Dumpster area.
Inspector: Hoffhines
Starbucks No. 632
4025 Winder Highway, Flowery Branch
Score: 99, Grade: A
One gasket on each reach in is torn. Gaskets on reach-ins have food, water, etc.
Inspector: Kathleen McDuffie
Arby’s
3652 Mundy Mill Road, Gainesville
Score: 89, Grade: B
Ice maker surfaces with accumulation of mold, mildew. Employee handling food without hair restraint. Gaskets on make lines have an accumulation of mold, mildew, food debris, water. Garbage on the ground in Dumpster enclosure, Dumpster open, grease container dripping into enclosure, open at time of inspection; clean enclosure thoroughly; keep Dumpster closed, keep trash on the ground; keep grease container clean and closed. Floors in dry storage need better cleaning, especially under shelving. Hood system dripping grease.
Inspector: McDuffie
Pastability
658 B Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
One make-line cooler struggling to maintain required temperatures. Frozen meat thawing on counter. Dedicated vegetable sink used for meat prep.
Inspector: McDuffie
Corner Cafe
6099 Lula Road, Suite 3, Lula
Score: 93, Grade: A
Cups on prep table with drinks. Leak at CO2 pump underneath front counter — contact paper peeling off shelf over prep table — shelves getting rusty in walk-in coolers. Top on knife holder dirty, fans with dust including evaporator fan in cooler in dry storage. Floor tiles damaged in dry storage and behind stove. Ceiling tiles damaged in dry storage and kitchen. Grease on floor behind stove. Water pooled on floor in dry storage. Hole in wall beside hand sink. Walls dirty in several locations.
Inspector: Black
Happy China
2458 Limestone Parkway D, Gainesville
Score: 95, Grade: A
Several chemical bottles with no labels. Ziploc bags and other single-service bags being washed and reused.
Inspector: Black
Starbuck’s Coffee Company
821 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Domino’s Pizza
890 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 90, Grade: A
Hand sink in kitchen has no hot water; employee restroom with no paper towels. Spray bottle not labeled. Bottle of baby oil on wire rack over three-compartment sink; personal items (lotions, meds, inc) must be stored away from any food, single serve items and food contact surfaces. Faucet assembly in ladies’ employee restroom no longer attached to sink.
Inspector: McDuffie
China Garden
5900 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 83, Grade: B
Foods uncovered. Several utensils dirty — dirty knives, forks in bowl with tools. Chemicals stored next to foods and on top of utensils; keep chemicals completely separate. Food containers being stacked on top of uncovered foods in top make line; move rice out from under 3-compartment sink. Cloths must stay in sanitizer between uses. Inspection must be posted within 15 feet of front door and where customers can walk up to it within 1 foot. Pans, utensils stored on top of cooker that has grease. Wooden box that is rotting being used to store knives. Floors dirty underneath sinks.
Inspector: Black
Flowery Branch Auction and Antiques
5540 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch
Score: 99, Grade: A
Insulation showing in reach-in freezer inside door.
Inspector: Black
Flowery Branch High School
6603 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 93, Grade: A
Cooling grits in a container on rolling cart in walk-in cooler with containers tight around the grits container and a metal pan over the grits container not allowing for heat to escape properly for quick cooldown. Salsa out for service in dining room without proper shielding; plastic wrap used as cover was wadded up on edge of container.
Inspector: Wentworth