The following are among the food service establishments inspected from Sept. 22-25 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.
Sept. 22
Papa Jack’s Country Kitchen
7437B Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 87, Grade: B
Personal medications on shelving above silverware. Thermometers missing in most coolers, etc. Employees not wearing hair restraint. Gaskets on some coolers have an accumulation of mold/mildew and food debris. Gasket on upright cooler in cook area heavily damaged. Ware washer not dispensing sanitizer. Repeat violation: Grease container has grease on outer surfaces and surrounding area. Dumpster lids open.
Inspector: McDuffie
Waffle House
7415 Spout Springs Road, Flowery Branch
Score: 90, Grade: A
Repeat violation: Soda dispenser nozzles have an accumulation of mold/mildew. Dairy products out of date: 12, 16-ounce cookies and cream "milk shake" dated Sept. 17; 12, 16-ounce chocolate "milk shake" dated Sept. 20; four 16-ounce vanilla "milk shake" dated Aug. 20; two half-gallon buttermilk dated Sept. 18. Grease collection container open and dripping on outside surfaces and surrounding area. Dumpster open.
Inspector: McDuffie
TJ Applebee’s
1705 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 88, Grade: B
Knives on knife rack have dried food debris on blades. Bottom of container holding utensils has sticky residue and debris. Some cups and pans on drying rack have dried food residue. Baked potatoes washed and left in bottom of prep sink against drain. Need to keep sanitizer buckets up off the floor. Repeat violation: Ice bin leaking water at bar area. Repeat violation: Dish machine also leaking water onto floor. Hose under two-compartment sink leaking. Water leaking from under equipment at corner of cook line. Cold water faucet at two-compartment sink needs leak fixed. Pans stored wet nested on air drying rack. Repeat violation: Floors need better cleaning under equipment at bar area. Lots of trash, condiment containers and food debris collecting under racks and shelves in kitchen. Giant hole in tile floor in front of fryers. Hole in tile beside hand washing sink at warewashing machine needs fixed. Replace/repair all missing tile in kitchen and food prep areas. Fill in grout between tiles where standing water collects and where grout has wore own. Light in walk-in freezer needs a shield.
Inspector: Hoffman
Atlanta Bread Co.
944 Dawsonville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 89, Grade: B
Many drinks without lids on prep tables while employees are preparing foods. Cups missing lids and straws behind food counter and half-eaten cookie behind register. Lemon wedge slicer has dried food debris. Cutting boards stored propped on top of sink faucet and leaning against wall. Baskets holding breads have accumulation of crumbs and food residue. No sanitizer registering in some buckets. Cloths stored stacked above sanitizer solution line in buckets or left out on cutting boards and top of equipment.
Inspector: Hoffman
El Pollo Loco
537 Shallowford Road, Gainesville
Score: 93, Grade: A
No sanitizer available for three-compartment sink. No sanitizer available for sanitizer buckets.
Inspector: Hoffman
Sept. 23
Mac’s Pit Stop Grill
3008 McEver Road, Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Gaskets on double door cooler damaged. Aluminum foil on shelving.
Inspector: McDuffie
Papa’s Pizza to Go
2988 Gillsville Highway, Gainesville
Score: 98, Grade: A
Gasket on walk-in cooler is damaged. Accumulation of dirt and food on floor, especially under shelves and equipment.
Inspector: McDuffie
Pueblos Mexican Cuisine
3630 Thompson Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 73, Grade: C
Hand sink next to grill blocked with prep table in front. Hand sink near dishwasher without paper towels. Knives and knife magnetic with food residue. Ice machine with mold on baffle. Three large containers of cheese dip in walk-in cooler with temps 55-57 degrees. Foods not being dated. Shoes stored on rack that holds can goods. Aprons being put on that are heavily stained. Personal foods in cooler not labeled. Cloths not being stored in sanitizer between uses and buckets stored on floor. Make-line cooler and possible walk-in cooler struggling to maintain 41 degrees or below.
Inspector: Black
Rabbittown Cafe
2415 Old Cornelia Highway, Gainesville
Score: 95, Grade: A
Open bottle of water stored in prep cooler in kitchen. Several coolers with gaskets ripped and in need of cleaning.
Inspector: Wentworth
Taqueria El Mirador
2275 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 89, Grade: B
Repeat violation: Hand sinks not stocked. Mold/mildew on ice machine baffle. Grease container covered with grease, dripping onto surrounding area.
Inspector: McDuffie
Crossroads Deli and Yogurt
2888 Browns Bridge Road, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: McDuffie
Sept. 24
El Sombrero No. 9
601 S. Enota Drive, Gainesville
Score: 89, Grade: B
Make-line cooler failed. Gaskets on coolers have an accumulation of food debris; some gaskets damaged. Dumpster open, grease container open. Grease containers have a buildup of grease on outer surfaces, dripping on the surrounding area. Floors need a thorough cleaning, especially behind and under equipment.
Inspector: McDuffie
Shogun Japanese Steak House
5855 Spout Springs Road, Suite A 401, Flowery Branch
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Wentworth
Skogies No. 2
212 Spring St. SW, Gainesville
Score: 99, Grade: A
Test strips need to be available for dish machine, so that level of sanitizer can be checked.
Inspector: Black
Taqueria Durango
1705 Cleveland Highway, Gainesville
Score: 81, Grade: B
Dish machine not dispensing correct amount of sanitizer. Chicken in pan on counter with temperature of 81 degrees. Beans in cooler with temperatures of 49-52 degrees. Shrimp and meat sitting in standing water and on counter to thaw. Replace missing test strips used for checking sanitizer levels at dish machine and cloth storage buckets. Coved baseboard damaged in kitchen area and dry storage. Holes in walls in restroom. Ceiling tiles damaged in dry storage.
Inspector: Black
Wendy’s
587 South Enota Drive, Gainesville
Score: 91, Grade: A
Soft drink dispenser nozzles have mold/mildew. Cleaning cloths on tables, counters, equipment. Gaskets on coolers have an accumulation of mold/mildew, water, and food debris; most make line cooler gaskets are damaged. Dumpster area has a buildup of trash under dumpster; grease container has grease running down outer surfaces and on the ground. Floors in kitchen have food and trash, especially under shelving and equipment; walls behind three-compartment sink have mold/mildew.
Inspector: McDuffie
Sept. 25
Chestnut Mountain Elementary
4841 Union Church Road,
Flowery Branch
Score: 84, Grade: B
One-pound packages of margarine stored in moldy strainer pan, some mold on margarine packages. Trash/food on ground between Dumpster and concrete wall of enclosure, food spills on ground below Dumpster doors. Dishwasher loading soiled trays/kitchenware and dipping hands in bucket of soapy water before putting away clean trays/kitchenware. Four two-pound containers of yogurt expired.
Inspector: Wentworth
Taqueria El Zacetecaz No. 1
711-D Industrial Boulevard, Gainesville
Score: 100, Grade: A
Inspector: Wentworth
Megan Gill