Restaurant inspections: Augusta diner showed 'black buildup around the lemonade dispenser'

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 Aug. 30 and Sept. 5, 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 score

Here are food and drink establishments in Richmond and Columbia counties that passed recent food-service inspections between Aug. 30 and Sept. 5 with scores of 100, without a single health violation:

Dirty Dough Augusta, 3602 Exchange Ln., Ste. 300

Doctor BBQ, 5170 Windmill Pl., Evans

Grandaddy's Kitchen, 6008 Clarks Hill Rd., Appling

A.R. Johnson Magnet School, 1324 Laney-Walker Blvd.

Salthill Farms Coffee, 5937 Rockford Dr., Grovetown

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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 Aug. 30 and Sept. 5, followed by their scores:

Riverside Refreshments at T-Mobile, 3750 Wheeler Rd.: 99

Smoke Show Southern Style BBQ - Catering and Mobile Base, 6001 Washington Rd., Appling: 97

Sonic 5816, 3712 Mike Padgett Hwy.: 96

Smoke Show Southern Style BBQ - Mobile #1, 6001 Washington Rd., Appling: 95

K's Buffalo Wings, 230 Sand Bar Ferry Rd.: 95

Lamar-Milledge Elementary School, 510 Eve St.: 94

Mirin Fusion Kitchen, 630 Crane Creek Dr., Ste. 402: 93

Roly Poly Sandwiches, 3626 Walton Way: 92

Agape Day Living, 1840 Phinizy Rd.: 92

Augusta Gardens, 3725 Wheeler Rd.: 92

VFW Post 649, 2430 Windsor Spring Rd.: 90

McDonald's - Tobacco Road, 2508 Tobacco Rd., Hephzibah: 90

Not quite done

Here are restaurants in Richmond and Columbia counties that posted the lowest recent food-service inspections between Aug. 30 and Sept. 5, followed by their scores and, where available, inspectors' comments. Scores of 70 and below are considered failing:

Wings Hut, 270 Bobby Jones Expy., Ste. 118: 89 

Inspector's comments:

• "Observed chicken wings, breaded chicken, and french fries held at room temperature with no discard time label. If the food is going to be held at room temperature (using time as a control for pathogens), there must be a written procedure, and there must be a discard time for the food. If any food is kept past the time label, it must be discarded. If it's easier, a dry erase marker may help when switching out the containers for new food (when switching the old container of chicken out for new chicken). A label was put on the chicken. It was put at room temperature during the beginning of the inspection."

• "Observed scoops stored inside of food with no handle. The scoops for the food must have a handle. Scoops removed."

• "Observed mop stored resting on the outside of the mop sink. Mop should be stored to air dry, without touching the sink or the wall. Mop was moved to the drying rack."

• "Observed employee items stored inside coolers and on tables. Employee items must be stored in a designated area, away from food and food preparation. If they are stored in the cooler, it should be in a container, like a box, stored under all food for the restaurant."

Waffle House 1971, 103 Talbot Dr., Hephzibah: 86 

Inspector's comments:

• "Observed sanitizer bucket with no sanitizer. Ensure all sanitizer buckets are given proper portion of sanitizer solution."

• "Observed containers in reach-in cooler that did not have any prep and discard dates. Food not in original container needs prep and discard dates. Sliced vegetables need prep and discard dates."

• "Observed cell phone stored on top of food container in food prep area. Store cell phones in designated area used for personal belongings."

McAlister's Deli, 3602 Exchange Ln., Unit 3: 82 

Inspector's comments:

• "Observed black buildup around the lemonade dispenser. Clean all dispensers. Increase cleaning frequency to limit buildup."

• "Observed time/temperature control for safety foods (Ham - 46 F, Club bombs - 45 F and Ham - 47 F) cold held above 41 F. Maintain cold held foods at 41 F or below."

• "Observed an employee wearing a wristwatch during active food prep. Ensure no jewelry is worn on arms or wrists during active food prep."

• "Observed clean dishes stacked wet on the drying rack. Allow dishes to properly air dry before stacking."

Taco Madre, 3450 Wrightsboro Rd., Ste. D225: 81 

Inspector's comments:

• "Observed black buildup inside the bulk ice machine. Clean buildup. Increase cleaning frequency to limit buildup."

• "Observed time/temperature control for safety foods (Pico - 45 F and Beef - 44 F) cold held above 41F in the walk-in-cooler. Monitor cold held foods at 41 F or below."

• "Observed the most recent inspection not posted in customer view. Post most current inspection within customer view."

• "Observed mop stored on floor in main kitchen. Hang mop to air dry."

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Restaurant inspections: Richmond, Columbia counties by the numbers