Rumi’s Kitchen at Avalon in Alpharetta received a 73, or C, during a routine health inspection on Sept. 10, according to a Georgia Department of Public Health inspection report. The Avalon location previously received a 93, or A, in February.
The popular Persian restaurant is one of three Rumi’s Kitchen locations in Georgia, with two others in Sandy Springs and Midtown Atlanta’s Colony Square.
During the inspection, officials found several food safety issues involving handwashing, food temperatures and kitchen equipment.
Inspectors said managers were unable to correctly answer food safety questions. They found the hot water turned off at the only handwashing sink in the main kitchen. Other handwashing sinks were being used for storage or other purposes, while a sink at the bar did not have a way for employees to dry their hands.
The inspection found several refrigerated foods being held above the required 41 degrees, including smoked salmon at 58 degrees and chicken skewers at 50 degrees. Staff discarded the affected ready-to-eat foods and placed other items on ice.
A reach-in cooler used to store meat skewers was also unable to maintain the required temperature, according to the report. Temperature logs from the previous seven days showed the cooler’s lowest recorded temperature was 43 degrees. The meat was moved to refrigeration that could maintain the proper temperature, and the cooler was taken out of use until it is repaired.
The report noted a problem with the restaurant’s commercial dishwasher. Its temperature gauge was not working properly, and the restaurant was directed to use a three-compartment sink until the machine is repaired.
Other violations documented in the report included food containers and lids with residue and containers stacked while still wet. Kitchen staff were observed drying clean plates with a towel instead of allowing them to air dry. Several issues were corrected during the inspection.
A follow-up inspection is scheduled for Sept. 24.
