Restaurant Grades: Know Then Go

Below are the results of recent Gwinnett County restaurant inspections in Norcross by the Gwinnett, Newton and Rockdale County Health Departments. Each report includes a synopsis of deficiencies found by the inspector.

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

Name: The Grand Ballroom

Location: 6100 Live Oak Parkway, No. 16

Score: 74/C

Previous scores: 97/A (Dec. 19, 2011); 94/A (May 9, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Failure to post food safety certification in public view; employees touched washed and cut limes with bare hands; no soap or paper towels found at back handwashing sink; ice machine has buildup of mold-like substance around ice chute; hot water not available at any sink in facility; several live roaches observed in various areas of facility.

Name:

Location: 5345 Jimmy Carter Boulevard, Suite J1

Score: 81/B

Previous scores: 80/B (Oct. 18, 2011); 100/A (Sept. 28, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Cold foods not maintained below appropriate temperature; foods not properly cooled by effective methods; small pieces of raw chicken stored in vegetable preparation sink; utensils for hot foods not stored in container of 135-degree water; single-service articles stored improperly; small prep cooler next to cashier area no maintaining proper temperatures; wooden prep area in kitchen not considered easily cleanable; non-food contact surfaces not clean; pressure for hot water in back kitchen handsink not adequate.

Name: Pho 24

Location: 1210 Rockbridge Rd., Suite L

Score: 77/C

Previous scores: 88/B (Dec. 2, 2011); 78/C (Oct. 12, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Citations not available.

Name:

Location: 2055 Beaver Ruin Rd., Suite P-O

Score:  82/B

Previous scores: 67/U (June 14, 2011); 82/B (Dec. 5, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Cooked foods not cooled within time frame and correct temperature; potentially hazardous foods not properly cooled by effective methods; hose attached to faucet without a backflow pevention device installed; ceiling tiles water damaged by walk-in cooler; exterior back doors not self-closing; flypaper throughout kitchen in inappropraite areas such as above food prep areas and storage areas; previously failed inspection.

Name:

Location: 5824 Singleton Rd., Suite 104

Score: 100/A

Previous scores: 100/A (Nov. 19, 2011); 88/B (March 18, 2011)

Deficiencies found: N/A

Name:

Location: 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd., F-108

Score: 99/A

Previous scores: 80/B (Dec. 20, 2011); 83/B (May 2, 2011)

Deficiencies found: No chlorine test paper was available for checking concentration of sanitizer.

Name:

Location: 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite A-13

Score: 87/B

Previous scores: 66/U (June 7, 2012); 86/B (Dec. 21, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Foods not cooled from 135 degrees to 41 degrees within a total of six hours; foods not properly cooled by effective methods; utensils for hot foods not stored in container of 135-degree water; a large cooking pot was being stored on the kitchen floor. . An additional routine inspection will be performed within 45 to 60 days.

Name: Super 8

Location: 5150 Willow Oak Trl.

Score: 97/A

Previous scores: 100/A (May 3, 2012)

Deficiencies found: Food not stored at least six inches above the floor.

Name: Sweet Apple Cafe

Location: 6200 Buford Hwy. Suite K&L

Score: 86/B

Previous scores: 100/A (May 30, 2012)

Deficiencies found: Cold food not maintained below 41 degrees; no time control/documentation in place for cold food; concentration of sanitizer for buckets and manual dishwashing too high; front display cooler not maintaining proper temperature.

Name:

Location: 5945 Oakbrook Pkwy.

Score: 91/A

Previous scores: 82/B (Oct. 31, 2011); 82/B (March 26, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Cooking thermometer had large diameter probe and unable to measure temperature below 60 degrees; in-use, wet wiping cloths not stored in an approved sanitizing solution; inspection report behind food service counter; tong being stored outside customer area unprotected from contamination; single-service articles stored improperly.

Name: Contigo Peru Sports Bar and Grill

Location: 1241 Indian Trail Rd., Suite Q

Score: 82/B

Previous scores: 90/A (Feb. 7, 2012); 37/U (Feb. 6, 2012)

Deficiencies found: Employee went outside and to the bathroom wearing an apron; employees use food prep sink to wash hands; found five unlabeled chemical bottle throughout the facility; two large food containers has missing labels; employee with too long hair worked with food without hair restraint; employee wore bracelet while working with food; door to the dumpster was left open; lights above warewashing/prep area was missing protective shielding; door that leads to dumpster area has openings along the bottom which allow pest and rodents to enter facility.

Name: Costa del Sol

Location: 5265 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

Score: 82/B

Previous scores: 83/B (Dec. 15, 2011); 80/B (June 22, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Failure to post food safety certification in public view; cold food not maintained below appropriate temperature; line towel covering and directing touching food items in walk-in cooler; one-door cooler was found to have ambient air above appropriate temperature.

Name: Big Wong BBQ

Location: 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd. Suite 112

Score: 93/A

Previous scores: 83/B (Oct. 21, 2011); 96/A (Sept. 27, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Several bulk containers of salt and MSG were not labelled with common name of food; pork was stored on floor of the walk-in freezer.

Name: Agha Juice and Cafe

Location: 5050 Jimmy Carter blvd., Suite 180

Score: 84/B

Previous scores: 93/A (Dec. 7, 2011); 91/A (April 29, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Raw shell eggs stored over apples in fridge; bag of food and other containers of food were stored on floor; spoons were being dispensed with food contact surface of spoons toward patrons' hands; plastic lids were stored on floor; overflow tube missing for the dipper well; no quat sanitizer test paper available for sanitizer solution.

Name: Ashiana

Location: 5675 Jimmy Carter Blvd.

Score: 87/B

Previous scores: 81/B (Dec. 29, 2011); 94/A (Nov. 23, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Dishwasher not dispensing appropriate amount of chlorine; hot foods not maintained above appropriate temperature.

Name:

Location: 6083 S. Norcross Tucker Rd., Unit A

Score: 95/A

Previous scores: 85/B (Dec. 13, 2011); 92/A (June 20, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Facility unable to provide test strips for sanitizer; two live roaches were in kitchen prep area. 

Name:

Location: 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite F113

Score: 82/B

Previous scores: 82/B (Nov. 21, 2011); 85/B (May 23, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Beef soup cooked yesterday still above 41 degrees; soups in walk-in cooler were not labeled with date cooked; large container of sop did not reach 41 degrees within six hours.

Name: McDonald's

Location: 6165 McDonough Dr.

Score: 100/A

Previous scores: 90/A (Oct. 4, 2011); 96/A (April 23, 2011)

Deficiencies found: N/A

Name: Mariscos Las Islitas

Location: 5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd., Suite B-25

Score: 77/C

Previous scores: 85/B (Dec. 19, 2011); 86/B (Sept. 19, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Bucket with wipe cloths in front handwash sink; items in prep cooler above appropriate temperature; shrimp broth in walk-in cooler not labeled by date; wet wiping cloths stored in bucket with sanitizer concentration too low; prep unit and three-door display unit not holding below appropriate temperature.

Name: Waffle House No. 1485

Location: 1586 Indian Trail Rd.

Score: 87/B

Previous scores: 91/A (Oct. 21, 2011); 87/B (Feb. 9, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Failure to post food safety ceritifications in public view; cold foods not mantained below 41 degrees; no time controls/documentation in place for cold foods.

Name: Fina Estampa Restaurant

Location: 1560 Indian Trail Lilburn Rd., Suite 104

Score: 92/A

Previous scores: 87/B (Dec. 27, 2011); 70/C (Nov. 4, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Opened gallon of milk and cooked ribs without proper date marking; two containers of cooking oil stored in direct contact with floor; chlorine sanitizer buckets/sanitizer rags with concentration below appropriate rate; equipment and utensils stored wet.

Name:

Location: 4771 Britt Road #F

Score: 76/C

Previous scores: 82/B (Oct. 22, 2011); 86/B (May 31, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Paper towel dispenser by back handsink not working; faucet of tea dispenser had buildup of debris/dirt; walk-in cooler not maintaining food at or below 41 degrees; cut tomatoes and pasta salads on cold buffet not cooling rapidly; pizza sauce being kept under time control not marked by date; croutons at salad bar and open container of ketchup at pizza buffet not adequately protected; container of cut celery and container of minestrone soup stored on the floor in the walk-in cooler; keys being stored on shelf above prep area; purse stored with food items on shelf below prep area.

Name: Mezquite Grill

Location: 1461 Pirkle Rd., Suite 105

Score: 63/U

Previous scores: 96/A (Dec. 8, 2011); 88/B (July 5, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat foods; employees eating in food prep/storage areas; raw animal foods not separated from each other during storage, preparation, holding and display; cold foods not maintained below 41 degrees; cooked beef intestines cooled overnight were found to be above appropriate temperature in walk-in cooler; food not properly cooled by effective methods; air temperature in walk-in cooler found to be above appropriate temperature; back handsink found to be leaking water at the hot and cold water wall connections.

Name:

Location: 2077 Beaver Ruin Rd., #250

Score: 100/A

Previous scores: 100/A (June 21, 2011); 100/A (Nov. 30, 2011)

Deficiencies found: N/A

Name:

Location: 6180 McDonough Dr.

Score: 74/C

Previous scores: 70/C (June 1, 2011); 89/B (Dec. 30, 2011)

Deficiencies found: Raw chicken thawed in running water in tub above crabs in sink below; raw chicken also stored over seafood in walk-in freezer; sanitizer concentration in washing machine too low; food preparation fridge that did not have appropriate temperature; end caps missing on light covers in storage room;