The Smith House

84 S Chestatee St, Dahlonega, GA 30533

American

License: Food Service

Last inspected: Apr 1, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

The inspection history at The Smith House is still short, with only two visits logged. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 1, 2025. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near four violations per visit.

“Food-contact surfaces” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.

Compared to other Dahlonega restaurants (averaging 80), there's room to close the gap. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 1, 2025

Routine

3 major violations. 1 corrected on site.

View 3 violations

4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: Observed the hot water sanitizing machine not to reach a wash temperature of at least 160 degrees. EcoLab digital thermometer read wash temperature of 122 degrees after numerous cycles. Analog thermometer not functioning. Kitchen Manager called EcoLab for service and will not use the dishmachine for warewashing until machine is serviced.

511-6-1.05(6)(n)

4-2B - food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed the QUAT sanitizer bucket in the main kitchen to have a concentration of less than 200 ppm upon arrival. COS bucket dumped and sanitizer remade using QUAT tablets. Concentration of 400 ppm QUAT achieved.

511-6-1.05(6)(n)

1-2B - certified food protection manager

Inspector notes: Observed expired CFSM certificates posted at the restaurant hostess desk with expiration of 1/29/2025. Kitchen Manager will enroll in DPH approved CFSM course and send EH certificate once earned.

511-6-1.03(3)(a)

Jan 4, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 3 minor violations. 1 corrected on site.

View 4 violations

15B - warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, used; test strips

Inspector notes: Observed QUAT in use at the facility without any QUAT test strips on site. Test strips must be onsite for the selected sanitizer and must be used each time sanitizer is made to ensure proper concentration. Staff educated about proper concentration of between 200-400 ppm and left with a small roll of QUAT test strip paper until ordered test strips arrive.

511-6-1.05(3)(h)

12A - contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, display

Inspector notes: Observed a dry storage rack in the main kitchen prep area with items including spices, dry gravy packets, glass cleaner, facility paperwork, employee belongings, hand sanitizer. All food items must be stored in a way that separates them from employee belongings and toxic chemicals in order to prevent contamination. These shelves should be sanitized and reorganized to deliberately separate these items in proper storage order. Observed used paint roller brushes in bags about raw chicken in the basement in the walk-in-cooler. Food must be stored away from any nonfood items and in a way that prevents their contamination.

511-6-1.04(4)(z)

12C - wiping cloths: properly used and stored (corrected on site)

Inspector notes: Observed wet and dry in-use wiping cloths stored on prep surfaces. All in-use wiping cloths must be stored in sanitizer buckets with sanitizer of proper concentration. COS wiping cloths discarded and new cloths added to sanitizer buckets.

511-6-1.04(4)(m)

15C - nonfood-contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: Observed a layer of dust accumulated on the top of the steam table above hold holding food items. Observed debris build-up on the handles of equipment and on food storage containers. Observed food debris accumulated on the bottom of the prep table in the main kitchen prep room. Observed dust and debris accumulation on two large fans in the main kitchen. All nonfood contact surfaces must be kept clean and sanitized to ensure employee hands, food items, and in use utensils are not contaminated.

511-6-1.05(7)(a)

Frequently Asked Questions

When was The Smith House last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at The Smith House on file is from Apr 1, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at The Smith House?

Across the inspection record, “food-contact surfaces” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at The Smith House.

How does The Smith House compare to other restaurants in Dahlonega?

The Smith House most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is lower than the Dahlonega average of 80.

Has The Smith House's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at The Smith House have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at The Smith House means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

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