Update: After failing a health inspection partly due to issues with roaches and gnats, a taco joint in Austell passed its re-inspection.
If Don Magana Taqueria had scored two points less than its 71/C rating on Monday, it would have failed again.
The inspector saw kitchen staff not washing their hands in the proper sinks nor washing dishes as they should, according to the re-inspection report.
Also mentioned in the report were holes in the ceiling at the front service area. The location of the holes is new, but the problem is one the eatery has had in the past.
Original (published March 27, 2017): An Austell taco joint failed its recent health inspection in part because of pests in its kitchen and holes in the ceiling, according to a health inspector's notes.
While at Don Magana Taqueria on Thursday, the inspector reported roaches in the dry storage area, “gnats flying throughout the kitchen” and cobwebs also in the kitchen.
The business, which sits in a plaza at 366 Six Flags Drive next to a supermarket with the same name, scored a 54/U. Any score 69 or below is considered failing.
A manager who answered the restaurant’s phone Monday didn’t want to give his name and declined to comment on the inspection without first speaking with his owner.
The taqueria has a history of pest issues.
An inspector in July 2015 told the business to fix holes in its kitchen ceiling tiles to keep out pests. That health check resulted in a score of 73/C.
In November 2015, an inspector noticed roaches in the prep and storage areas for the first time. It received a 92/A.
The eatery was doing its own pest control instead of having a licensed professional handle the work as required, that November 2015 report said.
During an April 2016 check-up, the inspector noted bleach stored with food and reminded the staff that they must have a licensed pest control company come in. The score then was an 88/B.
Aside from seeing pests Thursday, the inspector noted workers handling food before washing their hands and storing raw meats too close to each other.
Follow-up inspections are usually done within 10 days of the original evaluation.
