Restaurant inspection: Coolers too warm at Duluth eatery

The food permit of a Mexican restaurant in Duluth was suspended following a health inspection where two of the coolers were out of order.

A walk-in cooler and a prep cooler at Las Perlas Marisqueria, 3473 Old Norcross Road, had elevated air temperatures and the food inside was also too warm. The coolers needed servicing, the Gwinnett County health inspector said.

Pico de gallo, ceviche, cheese, milk, chorizo, eggs, tuna and tomatoes were all discarded.

Other food items were not protected from contamination. Garlic bread was stored in a non-functioning cooler that was unclean with mildew, the inspector said. It was also discarded.

The soda dispenser gun and a carafe of lemonade base were stored down inside the automatic ice cooler among ice cubes which would be served in beverages. The items were removed and the ice discarded.

Also, some peppers, oregano and rice were left uncovered in the dry storage room.

Las Perlas Marisqueria scored 54/U, its second consecutive failing routine inspection score. The restaurant had 48/U in May before pulling the score up to an 83/B on a follow-up inspection.

Points were also taken off because raw shrimp was being prepared in the vegetable sink. The shrimp was removed and the sink sanitized.

The food permit was reinstated following a meeting with health officials on a long-term corrective action plan for the restaurant.

Las Perlas Marisqueria will be re-inspected.

In other news: Recently featured Royal China Restaurant, 3293 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Chamblee, scored 76/C on a follow-up inspection.

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