A DeKalb County steakhouse is temporarily closed after receiving a shockingly low score on its health inspection this week — before failing again on the follow-up review a day later.

Arizona’s, located near The Mall at Stonecrest, received a score of 21 on its Tuesday inspection by the DeKalb County Board of Health. The following day, it scored a 46, reports show.

The restaurant racked up two dozen violations on its first inspection, including flies and gnats in the kitchen, coolers not being cold enough and an employee touching chicken with his bare hands.

Arizona’s is located near The Mall at Stonecrest.

Credit: � 2019 Cox Media Group.

icon to expand image

Credit: � 2019 Cox Media Group.

The next day, a county health inspector “observed 2 employees flick their nose or touch the area under their nose and then touch food equipment or pans holding food.” It also received some repeat violations from the first inspection.

Arizona's, which serves a wide variety of meat dishes and American-style cuisine, said in a statement that it "has been one of Stonecrest's favorite restaurants for more than 14 years."

Management temporarily closed the establishment Wednesday “and is working diligently with the Health Department to bring the restaurant into compliance with state standards and reopen.”

“We were appalled at the results of the inspection issued by state,” Roberto Woods, a spokesman for Arizona’s, said in a statement. “We are not only employees and owners of Arizona’s Restaurant, but we also live in the community and our families and friends dine here.”

Woods said management has not yet decided when it will reopen.

Arizona’s plans to implement additional training and food safety measures to improve on the failing scores, Woods said.

A commercial kitchen equipment repair truck was outside Arizona's on Wednesday, Channel 2 Action News reported.

Follow DeKalb County News on Facebook and Twitter 

Related news:

During the inspection on Aug. 8, the DeKalb County health inspector reported seeing cockroaches near the main handwashing sink, a cooler and the employee table.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Emory University police are investigating after a woman died at 1256 Briarcliff Road shortly after midnight Friday. The site, shown in this image captured hours later, corresponds to a filming location from the Netflix series “Stranger Things.” Emory purchased the site in 1998. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Hendren

Featured

Yemaya Lyles (right) wipes away tears during a news conference in front of the Rockdale County Public Schools administration building on Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023. Lyles' son, Antonio, was assaulted by a paraprofessional, who has since been fired and charged with battery. Lyles says her case against the school district has dragged on since then. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2023)

Credit: Miguel Martinez