Health inspections: 'Hand wash sink ... does not turn off' at Alps Road deli

Andrew Shearer, Athens Banner-Herald
·2 min read

Here are the Georgia Department of Health's restaurant inspection scores for Athens-Clarke and Oconee counties conducted Feb. 14-27, 2024. Scores in each category are listed in order of most recent inspection date.

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

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.

Thai Spoon in downtown Athens, Ga., on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.
Thai Spoon in downtown Athens, Ga., on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

Athens-Clarke County: Perfect scores

  • OGLETHORPE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (1150 OGLETHORPE AVE)

  • HOWARD B STROUD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (715 FOURTH ST)

  • JITTERY JOE'S - UGA LAW SCHOOL (225 HERTY DR)

  • HAPPY LEMON (225 N NEWTON ST)

  • STARBUCKS KROGER (191 ALPS RD)

Eat Athens: Popular Mexican eatery Agua Linda is now offering breakfast. See what's on the menu.

Athens-Clarke County: High to average scores

  • BARROW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (100 PINECREST DR): 95

  • THE GLOBE (199 N LUMPKIN ST): 96

  • STARBUCKS - DOWNTOWN COLLEGE AVENUE #8327 (100 COLLEGE AVE): 99

  • FUN GALAXY ATHENS, INC. (3030 CHEROKEE RD): 96

  • FOOTPRINTS' CAFE' - BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM (1730 OLYMPIC DR): 99

  • THE PINE (1235 S MILLEDGE AVE): 96

  • MEDITERRANEAN GRILL (1591 S LUMPKIN ST): 92

  • HIDDEN GEM LOUNGE (625 BARBER ST STE 140): 99

  • THAI SPOON (149 N LUMPKIN ST): 92

  • AMICI ITALIAN CAFE (233 E CLAYTON ST): 95

  • IHOP (1180 BAXTER ST): 92

  • UGA - EAST VILLAGE COMMONS COMMISSARY (80 CARLTON ST): 99

  • BUVEZ (585 BARBER ST STE A): 92

  • WALKERS PUB AND COFFEE (128 COLLEGE AVE): 95

  • PIZZA HUT 36063 (680 US 29 HWY. N STE 215): 93

  • FOOD FOR THE SOUL (1965 W BROAD ST): 93

  • CHOO CHOO JAPANESE KOREAN GRILL EXPRESS (1055 GAINES SCHOOL RD STE 101): 97

Previous inspections: Athens seafood restaurant caught using George Foreman grill

Athens-Clarke County: Low scores and why

  • BLIND PIG TAVERN EASTSIDE (2301 COLLEGE STATION RD STE 10A, 11A, 12A): 83. Inspector Notes: "Dried food debris observed on can opener in rear kitchen. Plastic food containers stacked wet after washing."

  • CHINA STAR (3567 ATLANTA HIGHWAY): 89. Inspector Notes: "Splash guard not present between prep table and cook line hand sink. Gasket torn on door to freezer in produce walk-in cooler."

  • ZAXBY'S (2100 BARNETT SHOALS RD): 83. Inspector Notes: "Right side make table top not maintaining food at proper temperature. Do not place TCS foods in make table top until unit is serviced and capable of maintaining food at 41F or below."

  • JASON'S DELI (140 ALPS ROAD): 85. Inspector Notes: "Observed mold buildup in bulk ice machine. Hand wash sink by baked potato oven does not turn off. Continuous steam of very hot water. Back kitchen door has air gap at bottom of door allowing for potential pest entry."

  • DING TEA ATHENS (125 W WASHINGTON ST STE 121): 85. Inspector Notes: "Mold growth observed in kitchen ice maker. Dining tables sanitized using single bucket method. Sanitizer concentration in excess of 100 ppm chlorine. Employees not wearing effective hair restraint during food handling. Employee wearing fingernail polish and nails extending beyond fingertips during food preparation. Sanitizer test strips not available for use to verify concentration of chlorine solutions. Dried food debris on non-food contact surfaces of stand mixer in rear kitchen."

  • MANOR LAKE ASSISTED LIVING & MEMORY CARE (933 US 29 HWY): 81. Inspector Notes: "Heavy mold growth observed in kitchen ice maker. Cut melon, hot dogs and burgers cold held in walk-in (WI) without date mark label. Wet wipe cloth stored on kitchen make table rather than in bucket of sanitizer solution. Box of single-service cups stored on floor in dry goods room. Damaged faucet observed on kitchen hand sink located near steam table. Employee jacket stored on kitchen table shelf and purse stored on food can storage rack rather than in office."

  • PONKO CHICKEN (529 BAXTER ST): 84. Inspector Notes: "Employee dumped beverage ice into kitchen hand sink. Single bucket method used to sanitize dining table tops. Employee wearing bracelet during food preparation. Kitchen hot plates used to sauté chicken not beneath vent hood."

Oconee County: High to average scores

  • DUNKIN DONUTS (1850 EPPS BRIDGE PKWY STE 201): 96

  • WAFFLE HOUSE (1710 EPPS BRIDGE RD): 96

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Health violations found in kitchen at Athens assisted living facility