La Parrilla
5131 Peachtree Parkway
Norcross
59/U
UPDATE: La Parrilla scored an 88/B on its follow-up inspection, which was completed July 5. Violations cited in the new inspection included improperly kept queso dip and an employee drying dishes with a paper towel.
Read more recent Gwinnett County restaurant inspections here.
ORIGINAL STORY: A Mexican restaurant in Norcross failed a routine health inspection Sunday due to defective equipment and food that had to be discarded.
La Parrilla located at 5131 Peachtree Parkway received a 59/U on its inspection. The establishment had received an 89/B on its previous inspection in January.
Many of the restaurant's violations stemmed from equipment that had broken down and kitchen items in disrepair. Because a cooler was not functioning, the inspector observed several food items that were not being stored at the proper temperatures. The inspector discarded several packages of shredded cheese, coleslaw and lettuce because they had been sitting out overnight.
“Employee was cutting onions that were not washed," the inspector noted in the report. This food was also discarded.
Food items were also "stored under condensation leak / ice buildup inside the walk-in freezer." This leak caused ice to form on pipes, walls, shelves and food packages, including peppers that were not sealed and had to be thrown out. The report noted that "equipment shall be maintained in good repair."
Sonia Castano, a district manager for La Parrilla, has been with the company for 22 years and was disappointed with the results of the inspection.
“This is really hard for us to see," she said. "We’re trying to fix everything that was not in compliance."
She said that the vice president of the company visited the location Monday morning, and a crew had already replaced the broken cooler by Monday afternoon.
The establishment has until June 29 to correct many of the violations. A follow-up inspection will occur within three to 10 days.
"We’ll make sure that we’ll have an A," Castano said.
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