The following are among the food service establishments inspected from Nov. 14-18 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 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. 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 at dph.georgia.gov/environmental-health-inspections.
To register a complaint against a food service establishment, contact the Hall County Environmental Health Department at 770-531-3973.
NOV. 14
Branch House Tavern
5466 McEver Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 91, Grade: A
A food handler was observed cutting ready-to-eat lettuce with bare hands.
Happy China
2458 Limestone Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
New Holland Core Knowledge Academy
170 Barne St., Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Pupuseria El Guanaco Mex Grill
3616 Atlanta Highway, Flowery Branch
Score: 94, Grade: A
The floor drain of the hand washing and meat preparation sinks were found clogged at the time of inspection.
Taco Bell No. 4317
1409 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Taqueria Las Palmas No. 2
1276 Industrial Blvd., Gainesville
Score: 91, Grade: A
Raw eggs were observed being stored above salsa in the reach-in cooler.
Zaxby’s
3724 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood
Score: 90, Grade: A
Chicken tenders held in the top portion of a breading cooler were measured at temperatures between 48-50 F. Ambient air thermometers in some of the coolers were cracked or damaged.
NOV. 15
El Taco Veloz No. 3
950 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 95, Grade: A
Haydee’s Cafe
3204 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville
Score: 93, Grade: A
Styrofoam cup with Sprite without lid or straw observed on a rolling cart with tortilla press in kitchen.
Lyman Hall Elementary School
2150 Memorial Park Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Papa John’s No. 4523
1943 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Shoney’s On The Go
4942 Bristol Industrial Way, Buford
Score: 98, Grade: A
Waffle House No. 1688
2880 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 91, Grade: A
Flour tortillas were observed being stored in cold drawer directly on top of bagged raisin bread without their plastic container. An ice scoop holder at the ice machine was found with grime along the bottom.
NOV. 16
Enota Multiple Intelligence Agency
1340 Enota Ave., Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Fair Street Elementary School
695 Fair St., Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Lanier Career Center
2723 Tumbling Creek Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Little Italy Pizza
990 Riverside Drive, Gainesville
Score: 88, Grade: B
The dish machine was found to not be dispensing any amount of sanitizer solution at the time of inspection. No dates were found on ready to eat foods such as lasagna, pasta, sliced ham, or turkey.
Mei Garden
3885 Mundy Mill Road, Oakwood
Score: 97, Grade: A
Pollo Tropical
1198 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
Project Success Lanier Career Academy
2723 Tumbling Creek Road, Gainesville
Score: 94, Grade: A
Commercially packaged turkey luncheon meat observed with an opening date of Nov. 7 past the seven-day allowable use or discard date.
NOV. 17
Gainesville High School
850 Century Place, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Lanier Charter Career Academy-Bistro
2719 Tumbling Creek Road, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
Restaurante Y Pupuseria Salvadorena
1870 Atlanta Highway, Gainesville
Score: 84, Grade: B
Inspector observed heads of cabbage in the bottom of a vegetable sink that had not been sanitized. No prepared foods were found with date labels. The cook was observed peeling unwashed carrots.
Sherry’s Bait & Barbeque
2807 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 91, Grade: A
Smoked chicken was found in warming cabinet measuring a temperature lower than the 135 F required by food safe guidelines.
Waffle House No. 615
3175 Frontage Road, Gainesville
Score: 71, Grade: C
At the time of inspection, the person in charge had not been sufficiently trained to oversee staff food safety practices in the absence of a manager. A cook was observed switching from the handling of raw animals foods (laying bacon strips or cracking eggs onto flattop) to handling ready-to-eat foods (plating toast) without changing gloves.
Woods Mill Academy
715 Woods Mill Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
NOV. 18
E.E. Butler Headstart/Pre-K
1300 Athens St., Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Hong Kong King Buffet
635 Jesse Jewell Parkway, Gainesville
Score: 93, Grade: A
Mechanical ware-washing machine only dispensing sanitizer solution with a concentration of less than 10 ppm. Presence of rodents, pests visible in dry storage area underneath shelving, on shelving and on commercially packaged canned goods.
McDonald’s Restaurant No. 11113
965 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 96, Grade: A
Orient Express
302 Shallowford Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Riverside Military Academy
2001 Riverside Drive, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Alexander Popp