Health inspections: Cockroaches keep hanging around Augusta Mall food court, many more violations

The Georgia Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Section, conducts regular restaurant inspections to help keep residents and visitors safe.

The following is a list of restaurants in Richmond and Columbia counties that have been inspected between March 15 and 21, accompanied by their scores and, in some cases, the health infractions that lowered those scores.

Disclaimer: On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment. A few more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.

Perfect scores

Here are restaurants in Richmond and Columbia counties that passed recent food-service inspections between March 15 and 21 with scores of 100, without a single health violation:

2 Boys Pizza and Grill, 3851 Evans to Locks Rd., Ste. 109, Martinez

Geaux Cajun, 2550 Otis Ln., Harlem

Georgia War Veterans Nursing Home, 1101 15th St.

Hawaiian Style BBQ II, 2801 Washington Rd., Unit 105

Lemon Crush, 1040 Newmantown Rd., Grovetown

Maggie Jaynes Mobile, 1963 Appling-Harlem Hwy., Appling

McDonald's, 2902 Washington Rd.

Pops Kettle Corn & Lemonade, 7025 Evans Towne Center Park Dr.

PruittHealth Augusta Hills, 2122 Cumming Rd.

Rhineharts - Sub Club, 3051 Washington Rd.

Sweet Azalea, 2569 1/2 Central Ave.

Warren Road Elementary School, 311 Warren Rd.

So close

Here are restaurants in Richmond and Columbia counties that passed recent food-service inspections between March 15 and 21 with scores of 99, posting just one health violation. Inspectors’ comments are included:

Operation Donuts Inc., 1000 Market St.

Inspector's comments: "Clean food containers/unit/shelves, etc."

Curtis Baptist Church School, 1326 Broad St.

Inspector's comments: "Observed expired test strips for sanitizer. Obtain new test strips."

Tobacco Road Elementary School, 2397 Tobacco Rd.

Inspector's comments: "Observed dumpster lids left open. Be sure to close dumpster lids when not in use."

"Observed slight build up forming in inner corners of ice machine. Clean."

Westside High School, 1002 Patriots Way

Inspector's comments: "Observed the dumpster doors left open. Ensure the dumpster doors are closed when not in use."

"Observed the mop sitting in water inside the mop bucket and stored in the chemical closet. Store mops hanging to air dry."

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Getting warmer

Here are restaurants in Richmond and Columbia counties that passed with "A" scores in recent food-service inspections between March 15 and 21, followed by their scores:

World Of Beer, 2819 Washington Rd.: 98

St. Mary on the Hill School, 1220 Monte Sano Ave.: 97

Starbucks, 228 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy.: 97

Chicken Salad Chick, 2817 Washington Rd.: 97

Sue Reynolds Elementary School, 3840 Wrightsboro Rd.: 96

Soca Vegan Kitchen, 630 Crane Creek Dr.: 93

Soul Truckin Good, 1000 Market St., Evans: 92

Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, 615 12th St.: 92

Cold Stone Creamery, 210 Robert C. Daniel Jr. Pkwy.: 91

Jim Hudson Luxury Cars, 3410 Washington Rd.: 90

Not quite done

Here are restaurants in Richmond and Columbia counties that posted the lowest recent food-service inspections between March 15 and 21, followed by their scores and, where available, inspectors’ comments. Scores of 70 and below are considered failing:

Sarku Japan, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd.: 87

Inspector's comments: "Observed no soap in handwashing facility. Ensure that handwashing facilities are stocked with soap and paper towels at all times."

"Observed buildup inside the bulk ice machine and at the front service drink station. Clean the ice machine and drink station. Increase cleaning frequency."

"Observed prepped against a non-food contact surface in the main kitchen. Only prep food on food prep/contact surfaces that are cleaned and sanitized."

"Observed cooking oil stored on the floor inside the main kitchen. Store all food items at least 6 inches off of the floor."

"Observed an employee wearing wrist bands while cooking food at the front food service area. Ensure no jewelry is worn on wrists and arms during food prep/cooking."

"Observed several scoop handles being stored inside or on top of food. Ensure all scoops are properly stored."

"Observed wet nesting of clean dishes. Allow dishes to properly air dry before stacking."

Dippin' Dots, 3328 Washington Rd.: 86

Inspector's comments: "Observed no servsafe certification posted. repeat violation. Obtain servsafe or food handler certification as soon as possible."

"Observed handwashing sink not working and faucet broken. Have hand sink repaired."

"Observed juice with a date of 1/15/24. Observed several cartons of candy that expired in 2023. Discard of out of date juice and candy. Monitor expiration dates closely."

Vallarta Restaurante Mexicano, 3144 Wrightsboro Rd.: 86

Inspector's comments: "Observed build up on can opener blade. Wash, rinse, sanitize."

"Observed fritas in walk in cooler held above 41 F. Food was discarded. Food items in walk in cooler must be held below 41 F."

"Obtain test strips for dish machine."

Outback Steakhouse, 2949 Washington Rd.: 85

Inspector's comments: "Observed cheesecake stored in RIC below prep top cooler near grill line stored uncovered. Cover all food in storage."

"Observed blue cheese, parmesan cheese, cooked egg, and tomatoes cold holding on prep top cooler at temperatures above 41 degrees F. Cold hold all food at 41 degrees F or lower."

"Observed floor tiles broken and not in good repair. Have floor tiles repaired."

Farmer's Basket, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd.: 84

Inspector's comments: "Observed no employee health reporting agreements at establishment. Ensure employees have an employee health agreement on site."

"Observed no diarrhea/vomit response kit on site. Obtain kit or procedures."

"Observed several foods hot held at improper temperatures. Chicken in the warmer at 125 F and green beans in warmer at 131 F. All hot held foods must be held at 135 F or higher."

"Observed scoop stored inside food. Store scoops without handle touching food."

"Observed wet stacking of dishes. Ensure dishes are properly air dried before stacking."

"Observed wet mop stored inside mop bucket. Store all mops so they are able to properly air dry when not in use."

Giuseppe's, 3690 Wheeler Rd.: 81

Inspector's comments: "Observed an expired Food Protection Manager certification. Obtain a new Certified Food Protection Manager cert within 60 days."

"Observed chicken/45 F, sausage/43 F, and cheese/44 F cold held at temperatures above 41 F inside the coolers in the main kitchen. Ensure cold held foods are held at 41 F or below."

"Observed employees not wearing hair restraints during active food prep. Ensure employees wear hair restraints during active food prep."

"Observed scoops improperly stored inside several containers of sugar. Ensure scoops are properly stored."

"Observed wet nesting of clean dishes. Allow dishes to properly air dry before stacking."

"Observed buildup on several pieces of equipment. Clean all equipment. Increase cleaning frequency."

"Observed missing ceiling tile in the main kitchen and back room. Replace all missing ceiling tiles."

Auntie Anne's, Cinnabon and Planet Smoothie, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd., Ste. 2328: 78

Inspector's comments: "Observed employee drinks scattered throughout kitchen area (Arby's cup stored in dry storage, personal cup stored on front service line countertop). Store employee belongings and food items away from food storage and food prep areas."

"Observed containers stored in front service area RIC without labels and stored outside original packaging. Observed kiwi fruit product with expiration date of June 2023. Repeat violation. Monitor expiration dates closely. Label all food in storage."

"Observed employee put on gloves and proceed to touch several other things (his soiled apron, countertops) before going to prep food product. Observed several employees wearing watches, earrings and other jewelry. Wash hands prior to food prep and rewash if contaminated from touching other items. Do not wear excessive jewelry during food prep. The only jewelry acceptable is a plain band ring."

"Observed scoops stored in sugar and cinnamon sugar containers. Store scoops outside of food product itself."

"Observed wet nesting of stacked dishes. Allow dishes to properly air dry prior to stacking."

"Observed sticky, dirty floors. Observed spills behind equipment and in corners. Observed build up in ice machine. Clean as needed."

"Observed live cockroach activity. PIC showed proof of pest control that took place on 2/12/24. Observed cockroach activity still present. Clean and have pest control done regularly."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Augusta restaurant inspections found food with June 2023 expiration