After two failed health inspections, a popular Asian spot in DeKalb County passed on its third try.
Chopsticks II on North Shallowford Road received a 77 after the DeKalb County Board of Health did a re-inspection Nov. 16. The restaurant closed for about 20 hours as they worked to rectify multiple issues found in the past two weeks, DeKalb health board spokesman Eric C. Nickens told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in an email Tuesday.
The Dunwoody restaurant first failed its Nov. 6 health inspection with a 54. Anything below a 70 is considered failing.
The AJC contacted the restaurant for comment but was told by an employee that the owner could not be reached for comment due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
In that initial inspection, health officials noted employees touched food without washing their hands. One of them also picked up a spoon from the ground and began touching food storage areas, again, without washing their hands.
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The inspector also noted that a woman came in to the dining area and began scooping rice with unwashed hands.
Other violations included uncovered food stored in the bottom of the prep cooler and an uncovered “whole duck” in the freezer. Inspectors also noted freezer and walk-in cooler shelves and handles were “unclean to the sight and touch.”
The restaurant didn't fare much better during a Nov. 15 re-inspection. It received a 65.
Then, inspectors noted an employee killed a small insect on a knife and put the knife back in the knife rack, according to the report. An employee later removed the knife to be cleaned. A nymph roach was also found in a patron restroom.
The inspector advised the restaurant to call pest control.
Additional violations included jackets stored on top of bags containing spices, and raw meat stored next to ready-to-eat food in the freezer. There was also a leak under a sink in the women’s restroom.
The restaurant closed the next day to undergo a third inspection.
Nickens said restaurants in Chopsticks II’s position generally have two options: voluntarily close to fix violations or the health board can suspend the food permit. The restaurant voluntarily closed and provided the DeKalb health board with a corrective action plan during a Nov. 16 closure conference.
According to the plan, which was obtained by The AJC, the restaurant instructed its employees not to kill insects with utensils and to clean them if bugs are seen crawling on them. Employees’ personal items will also be stored away from food. The eatery also contracted a plumber last week to fix the leaky sink.
The restaurant also stated in the plan that a professional exterminator already services the eatery monthly but indicated those services will increase “until the pest issue is properly abated.” The restaurant must also send its service documents to the DeKalb County Board of Health.
Chopsticks II
4639-G North Shallowford Road
Dunwoody
Score: 77
Read the full re-inspection report here.
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