A restaurant located at Grayson in Metro Atlanta failed the health inspection conducted by the GNR County health department on March 6. Meraki, located at 516 Grayson Pkwy, scored 65 points. Inspectors recorded violations of various provisions of the food code, leading the restaurant to be bashed with the “U” grade.
Health inspectors visited the establishment for the routine inspection on Thursday evening between 5:30 PM and 8:55 PM. In the previous inspection conducted in January 2025 in the new restaurant, it had scored a perfect 100. However, the restaurant stumbled in the latest inspection and will now face follow-up inspections, which will ensure compliance.
Highlights
- A Grayson restaurant failed the health inspection on Meraki after scoring 65 points in the inspection.
- Inspectors report several violations concerning employee hygiene, food storage, and others.
- The follow-up inspection that has been scheduled for the restaurant will ensure compliance with the food code.
Critical Violations Revealed, Corrections Made
Multiple risk factor violations were observed at the restaurant. The report stated that these indicated a lack of active managerial control by the person in charge (PIC). The report also said that the Employees were not informed in a verifiable manner of their responsibility to report foodborne illnesses.
Inspectors saw an employee touch raw salmon with a gloved hand and then change gloves without washing hands. The employee was asked to wash their hands.
Another employee was seen grabbing ready-to-eat bacon with bare hands. The bacon was discarded and the employee was given on-site training. Employee drinks were also stored on the preparation tables, which were relocated to the lower shelves.
In issues concerning food storage and cross-contamination, several instances, like raw meats above ready-to-eat food, unwashed produce above cheese, and more, were observed inside various coolers. As a corrective action, the food items were rearranged based on their internal cooking temperatures.
The report also noted that the buildup of a Mold-like substance was observed inside the ice machine. The report said that chlorine test strips in the facility were expired.
The menu provided at the restaurant was missing required disclosure statements for undercooked animal foods, and asterisks were misplaced or missing.
Follow Inspection Schedule and Additional Notes
The health department will visit the restaurant for the follow-up inspection within 10 days. A required additional inspection will also be conducted within the next 12 months. If the restaurant scores unsatisfactorily or repeat violations and uncorrected violations are observed, it will result in permit suspension.
The inspection report also noted that all cold-holding items and parasite destruction letters are in compliance at the restaurant. The report also instructed that the stickers on fruits and vegetables must be removed before washing.
It also said that the clean containers must be air-dried before they are stacked one on top of the other. It also said that the food ingredients must be stored in working containers that are labeled with their food’s common name.
GNR County Health Department has released the full inspection report for Meraki in Grayson on its official website.
The number of restaurants inspected by the Gwinnett, Newton & Rockdale County Health Departments were 28. Among them, 2 were follow-up inspections and 1 required additional routine inspection, which all of them passed. Ten restaurants were able to score a perfect 100 in the inspection as well.
