Briar Patch BBQ in Hiram failed a recent routine health inspection, its second failing score in just over a month.

The restaurant had several repeat violations, including several live and dead roaches throughout the facility. The inspector said Briar Patch is working with a pest control company to get pests under control.

Other repeat violations included food separation, date marking and protecting food from contamination. For example, the barbecue had no discard time or temperature verification recorded. It was discarded.

Cooked chicken made in-house and stored in a cooler had no date mark. It was also discarded.

Okra and cooked chicken were at unsafe temperatures. In addition, a package of raw ground beef was touching cooked bacon in a cooler. The bacon was discarded.

Among other violations, wiping cloths were stored damp under cutting boards, and the sanitizer bucket was not labeled.

The inspector recommended staff training in food health risk factors. The restaurant will be re-inspected.

Briar Patch BBQ, 3807 Atlanta Highway, Hiram. Score: 51/U. The restaurant had a failing score of 60/U in September. It will be re-inspected.

About the Author

Keep Reading

A bus waits to move over 20 unhoused persons from the Old Wheat Street encampment to the Welcome House, Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Rebecca Ramage-Tuttle, assistant director of the Statewide Independent Living Council of Georgia, says the the DOE rule change is “a slippery slope” for civil rights. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC