By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Kitchen inspections, June 3-11
Placeholder Image

The following are among the food service establishments inspected from June 3-11 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 establishment.

A new food service establishment that has never served food must score 100 (A) to receive a food service permit to operate. 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. The rules and regulations are 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.

June 3

Taqueria El Zacatecaz No. 1

711D Industrial Blvd., Gainesville

Score: 95, Grade: A

Container of cilantro/onion mix with tongs for customers to serve themselves. Previous inspection not on vehicle. Single-service spoons in container for customers to "grab-out."

Inspector: Laurie Wentworth

June 4

Dairy Queen

951 Green St., Gainesville

Score: 83, Grade: B

Tomato slicer and some utensils had accumulation of food debris. Pesticide spray dispensers above kitchen entry and customer waiting areas. Thermometers missing from chest freezers and reach-in freezer near fryer. All employees must wear hair restraints when preparing food. Repeat violation: Dumpster open and grease container has build up of grease. Repeat violation: Floors all the way to floor wall juncture need thorough cleaning and grease appears to be throughout kitchen. Nonfood contact surfaces (i.e. chest freezers, below waffle counters and interior of ice cream cooler) have accumulation of food debris and grease and should be free of accumulation to prevent possible contamination.

Inspector: Shelby Finch

June 5

Taqueria La Fogata

5120C Thompson Bridge Road, Murrayville

Score: 87, Grade: B

Food handler changing gloves without washing hands in between glove change to work with food. Food handler working with ready-to-eat foods without gloves at start of inspection. Improper date marking of prepared foods. Breaded steak prepped May 27 according to label.

Inspector: Wentworth

June 6

Lanier National Speedway

One Raceway Drive, Braselton

Score: 81, Grade: B

Chili on steam table with temperatures ranging from 27 degrees F to 140 F. Ice for drinks stored in container lined with black trash bag. Cook without proper hair restraint. Current inspections posted inside main concession and a 2007 inspection posted inside pit concession. Hand sinks in main restrooms without hot water. No covered trash container provided in main ladies restroom. One set of lights need end caps in main concession and fluorescent lights in dry storage all need plastic sheaths with end caps — liners and equipment stored uncovered. Both concessions with many flies — none of the order window screens fit tight, neither of the doors fit properly to prevent insect entry.

Inspector: Wentworth

June 8

Taco Bell No. 4317

1409 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville

Score: 96, Grade: A

Food debris on pans and utensils on air-drying racks. Grime build up on drink dispenser nozzles.

Inspector: Lydia Hoffhines

Mac’s Pit Stop Grill

3008 McEver Road, Gainesville

Score: 96, Grade: A

Slime mold present along baffle of ice machine.

Inspector: Hoffhines

Magic Dragon

130 John Morrow Parkway, Gainesville

Score: 87, Grade: B

Foods uncovered and some stacked on top of other uncovered foods. Several knifes dirty and stored in dirty containers. Cutting board stored on top of moldy cloths. Foods being cut and prepared on top of chest freezer. Repeat violation: Cloths not in sanitizer. All shelves, insides of coolers, and door seals need a deep cleaning; lots of sticky residue. Tops missing on dumpster. Floors need cleaned and water pooled under tiles at bar. Flies in kitchen and screen door torn.

Inspector: Donna Black

El Maguey Mexican Restaurant

2888 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville

Score: 91, Grade: A

Foods in coolers not covered. Can opener and measuring cups with food debris. Dirty dishes left all night. Can opener with duct tape. All spices must be labeled. Repeat violation: Ceiling tiles torn above three-compartment sink and dirty above bar area. Tile broken on wall next to grill. Paint peeling behind three-compartment sink. Lights not working in bar area and very dim in dry storage.

Inspector: Black

Taqueria Don Raul

1870 Atlanta Highway, Suite A, Gainesville

Score: 91, Grade: A

Beans and chicken in two-door cooler past seven-day use-by date. Screen in back door not tight allowing for insect entry into kitchen.

Inspector: Wentworth

El Carreton No. 1

608 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville

Score: 60, Grade: U

Food handler took orders, made change, prepped sandwiches and talked on phone without changing gloves and washing hands as required. Plastic cup with straw in prep/cook area at start of inspection. Beef in steamer (reportedly from 8 a.m.) holding at 125 degrees F. Homestyle fry and refrigerated drawers under flat top/grill not maintaining potentially hazardous foods stored in them at required 41 degrees F or below — storage temperatures 44 F to 59 F. Pork and chorrizo filling with expired use by dates. Flan prepared Friday (inspection Monday) not dated with seven-day discard date (or preparation date). Food handler washing gloves after taking money and before prepping sandwiches. Food handler’s cell phone laying in bin with wrapped straws at start of inspection. Gaskets on drawers of cooler under grill need to be repaired (replaced) to help cooler do better job at holding temperatures.

Inspector: Wentworth

June 9

Vinny’s New York Pizza & Grill

4977 Friendship Road Suite 102, Buford

Score: 64, Grade: U

Food employes failed to wash hands after engaging in activities that would contaminate hands (i.e. touching dirty dishes, clean dishes, garbage can, etc.). Chemical sanitizer not registering in warewashing machine. Slicer had food debris. Cheese in make line above 41 degrees F. Tomato sauce and meat sauce at temperatures above 41 F in walk-in cooler. Tomato meat sauce and tomato sauce cooked day before and stored in large containers in walk-in cooler. Temperatures range from 58 F to 84 F in tomato sauces. Repeat violation: Several items should be labeled with date of expiration of seven days, includes day of preparation, or if opened from original container if food is being held over 24 hours and is maintained below 41 F (i.e. boiled eggs, calamari in dairy sauce, etc.). Multiple chemical containers with no label identifying chemicals. Wiping cloths being kept in food handlers pockets. Several nonfood contact surfaces (i.e. freezer bottom, walk in cooler racks, hood racks, and pizza hood) need cleaned frequently to prevent accumulation of food debris and residue.

Inspector: Finch

Sweet Magnolias

118 Main St. SW Suite 10, Gainesville

Score: 90, Grade: A

Butter, cheese, dressings, and other foods in cooler with temperatures 49-59 degrees. Small cooler with temperature 59 degrees — large, two-door cooler with elevated temperatures and water dripping from top.

Inspector: Black

Cici’s Pizza

250 John Morrow Jr. Parkway, Gainesville

Score: 92, Grade: A

Dishmachine out of sanitizer. Chute for self service ice machine with build up of pink mold. Cloths not in sanitizer. Knife and pizza cutter wedged in between prep cooler.

Inspector: Black

Papa Jack’s Country Kitchen

7437 B Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch

Score: 85, Grade: B

Most of the tea urn nozzles with build up of mold. Rice held on top of oven at 108 degrees F. Several items (green beans and gravy) in hot holding cabinet at below required holding temperature of 135 degrees F. Hot holding cabinet door does not shut completely — bottom latch is broken. Drawer under prep table with food accumulation. Floor needs a good cleaning under stove and oven. Personal items (phones and pocketbooks) stored on shelves with equipment, towels, and dry storage. Need test strips for QUAT tablets being used for sanitizer in spray bottles.

Inspector: Wentworth

Taqueria Silao

1710 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville

Score: 84, Grade: B

Pork, beef and chicken sitting on counter with temperatures 74-81 degrees. Food not labeled and dated. Breads and cut pineapple stored in plastic to-go bags.

Inspector: Black

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store No. 641

4758 Friendship Road, Buford

Score: 92, Grade: A

Repeat violation: Slicer with dried food debris and greasy back of blade. Soda dispensing diffusers with some mold build up. Automatic dispensing mechanism not working for sanitizer used in cloth storage containers. Repeat violation: Dumpster area needs cleaning around grease container. Grease container needs cleaning and accumulation of spilled grease on lid. Dumpster closest to grease container missing drain plug and appears liquid is leaking from under this Dumpster into drain in dumpster area.

Inspector: Wentworth

June 10

Pueblos Mexican Cuisine

3630 Thompson Bridge Road No. 1, Gainesville

Score: 91, Grade: A

Paper towels missing in employees restroom. Soap missing at hand sink near dishmachine. Foods uncovered in cooler and freezers. Dishmachine not dispensing sanitizer. Food residue on chopper and other utensils. Tops to Dumpster open. Grease on ground in front of grease container and Dumpster leaking.

Inspector: Black

Thai Dish

5911 Spout Springs Road, Suite B, Flowery Branch

Score: 72, Grade: C

Employee eating meal at prep table in kitchen. All utensils on magnetic knife rack not clean to sight or touch (knifes and peelers). Cutting board at make line cooler needs better cleaning, stained. Cooked sauces not labeled with preparation date and/or discard date. Pressurized sprayer in kitchen without label. Many squirt bottles, containers, and bowls of spices, seasonings that are not labeled. Make-line cooler leaking condensate from upper storage plate onto lids, plastic wrap over raw vegetables stored in reach in below. The insides of all coolers and the outsides of all coolers and equipment with build up of grease/food debris. Cardboard boxes, single-serve pans used to store spices in.

Inspector: Wentworth

June 11

Skogies

2151 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville

Score: 99, Grade: A

Salad make-line cooler leaking condensate from underneath unit.

Inspector: Wentworth

Cafe Merdal Gainesville

1112 Airport Parkway SW, Gainesville

Score: 99, Grade: A

Shelves and underneath grill with grease and sticky residue.

Inspector: Black

Islands Grill and Edy’s Ice Cream

7000 Holiday Road, Buford

Score: 99, Grade: A

Ceiling vents dusty.

Inspector: Wentworth

Boardwalk Cafe, Island Oasis, and Dippin Dots

7000 Holiday Road, Lake Lanier Islands

Score: 86, Grade: B

Disposable cup on prep surface without lid and straw. Three packages of turkey outdated. One package of roast beef outdated. Food handlers without hair restraint working with food in kitchen. Floors need detail cleaning. Light lens missing over fluorescent light fixture over grill area. Appears there may be rodent activity in dry storage and behind equipment.

Inspector: Wentworth

Megan Gill