DeKalb Restaurant Fails Health Inspection

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A DeKalb County Applebee’s is working to restore its food safety protocols after failing a recent health inspection.

The restaurant on Stonecrest Circle in Lithonia scored a 64 on its June 16 inspection, with the inspector staying at the restaurant for over two hours to detail the problems. The Applebee’s was reported to house vermin, employees reportedly had poor personal hygiene, and cold holding temperatures were not properly set.

“Upon arrival observed employee placing green bell peppers in a plastic bag with bare hands. COS-pepper were discarded. Advised no bare hand contact with ready to eat foods,” the inspection reads in part. This was a repeat violation, according to the inspector.

Other violations included:

• Observed employee drinking from open container in kitchen area.
• Observed hand sink with no paper towels.
• Cold-held potentially hazardous foods not maintained below 41F; no time controls/documentation in place.
• Observed boxes of sweet potato fries and shrimp stored on the floor in the walk in freezer.
• Observed employee wearing a watch while preparing food.
• Observed plumbing leaks underneath the prep sink and dish machine.
• Observed floors in the walk in freezer with excessive debris.
• Observed several flies throughout the kitchen.

The restaurant will be re-inspected next week and must pass in order to remain open, according to protocol.

An Applebee’s spokesperson told WSB-TV that management takes the failure seriously and is making every effort to properly re-train employees to ensure this failure is not repeated in the future.