Restaurant Grades: Know Then Go

With more than a dozen violations cited by a health department inspector, New China at 1227 Rockbridge Road scored 57  — out of 100, a failing score — on a restaurant inspection report completed on Aug. 11.

The inspection, conducted by the East Metro Health District, which covers Gwinnett, Rockdale and Newton counties, found repeat violations of code (see report below) for separation of raw animal foods, datemarking of food and wearing hair restraints. Many of the violations were corrected on-site, according to health-inspection records.

A followup inspection is scheduled Aug. 19.

Here’s this week’s report on recent Gwinnett County restaurant inspections in Greater Lilburn. Each report includes a synopsis of violations found by the inspector.

To see more inspections, visit the health department's searchable Web site.

Aug. 15

Name: Subway

Location: 4100 Five Forks-Trickum Road, Suite F

Score: 92/A

Previous Scores: 97/A (Jan. 26. 2011); 100/A (July 8, 2010)

Violations Found: There was an open employee beverage cup in prep station (cup must be disposable with a lid and straw, and stored away from prep area); Beverage machine nozzles were soaking in container in hand-washing sink (sink is for hand-washing only); Steak meat left to thaw in prep sink (must thaw under running water if not being thawed in refrigeration); Single-use beverage lids displayed with underside facing up (must be displayed facing downward to avoid contamination).

Aug. 12

Name: Dunkin Donuts/Baskin Robbins

Location: 5161 Highway 78

Score: 82/B

Previous Scores: 87/B (Jan. 21, 2011); 91/A (July 9, 2010)

Violations Found: Employee seen not following hand-washing procedures; No internal thermometer inside mini-fridge at drive-through window; Box of bottled beverage mixes stored on floor in walk-in freezer (must be minimum six inches off the floor); Wet cloth on food prep area (must be in sanitizing bucket when not in use); Inspection report not properly displayed; Single-service coffee mugs stacked higher than cabinetry (must be covered or wrapped if stacked over cabinetry to avoid contamination).

Name: Panda Express #983

Location: 4865 Stone Mountain Highway

Score: 94/A

Previous Scores: 95/A (Jan. 28, 2011); 97/A (July 27, 2010)

Violations Found: Employee seen chewing gum in food prep area (not allowed); Recent food service permit was not posted; Beverage cups stacked above partition at the cash registers (must be covered if stacked above partition).

Name: Quiznos at Shops at Stone Mountain

Location: 4895 Stone Mountain Highway #C

Score: 89/B

Previous Scores: 99/A (Jan. 25, 2011); 95/A (July 15, 2010)

Violations Found: Inside of microwave was not cleaned; Several multi-use food pans were unclean; Other food processing equipment was not cleaned; Pan of sliced tomatoes filled above the cooling line in the prep station (tomatoes stacked at the very top can lose temperature); Wet cloth stored next to hot-held foods (must be in sanitizer bucket when not in use); Inspection report not displayed properly.

Aug. 11

Name: New China

Location: 1227 Rockbridge Road, #210

Score: 57/U

Previous Scores: 86/B (June 3, 2011); 79/C (April 12, 2011)

Violations Found: Hands were not washed with antibacterial soap before starting to work with food/utensils; Employee seen using bare hands to handle and cut cabbage; Employees were eating lunch on the prep table and drink from beverages without lids and straws; No handwashing soap provided at the handwashing sink; Employee mixed cornstarch with raw chicken, then cornstarch with raw beef without washing hands in between, and two cartons of raw shell eggs stored above cabbage in walk-in cooler (repeat violation); Several unclean multi-use food containers and utensils stored as clean; Pork dumplings, barbecue pork and sweet and sour chicken not dated with times of cooking and cool-down (repeat violation); Bulk sauces stored on floor in kitchen and walk-in cooler, cabbage and carrots in direct contact with floor in walk-in cooler, and oyster sauce and bamboo shoots stored in opened cans (repeat violation); Employee seen cooking food without hair restraint (repeat violation); Wet cloth was on prep table next to freshly cut cabbage (must be stored in sanitizing bucket); Recent inspection report was not displayed correctly; No test strips for chlorine sanitizer; Drain for handwashing sink was clogged, causing water to spill onto the floor; Employee foods was stored alongside restaurant foods in the walk-in cooler. (NOTE: Followup inspection scheduled for Aug. 19).

Name: Moe’s Southwest Grill

Location: 4051 Highway 78, Suite 101

Score: 80/B

Previous Scores: 99/A (Jan 29, 2011); 100/A (Aug. 11, 2010)

Violations Found: Open employee drink can seen on prep table (must be in disposable cup with a lid and straw, and be stored away from prep area); Packages of thawed steak and tofu in prep area were above 41 degrees (must be below 41); Cooked rice left cooling in walk-in cooler while tightly wrapped (must be uncovered or loosely covered to prevent warm air being trapped); Packages of raw steak being thawed in water without water running over it and was more than 41 degrees (thawing food should not be over 41 degrees unless thawing is part of the cooking process); Wet wiping cloths were on the food prep table (must be in sanitizer buckets when not in use).

Aug. 10

Name: Motor City Coney Island

Location: 1825 Rockbridge Road #10B

Score: 76/C

Previous Scores: (97/A Feb. 22, 2011; 97/A Jan. 4, 2011)

Violations Found: Several surfaces had residue remaining after cleaning; Pan of hot dogs not held above 135 degrees; Turkey chili, regular chili, cheese sauce and cooked ground beef not dated with date of prep or date to sell or discard; Milk and sliced ham being held after manufacturer’s date of expiration; No thermometer inside reach-in cooler; Fan blowing over food prep area had dust accumulation.