Residents near Dacula will have to find another place to get their Cuban sandwiches for now. Babalu Cuban Joint, 802 Dacula Road, had its health permit suspended for operating without hot water.

A Gwinnett County health inspector gave the restaurant a 64/U on a routine inspection Dec. 19, and said the facility couldn’t re-open until hot water is restored.

It seems the hot water service was discontinued prematurely. Babalu’s staff said the facility was closing that next day because the restaurant was changing ownership.

However, it appeared as though it was business as usual at Babalu’s, the inspector said. The lights were on, the kitchen was in use and foods were prepared and cooling on the steam table.

Some hot foods were being cooled incorrectly. Cooked yucca, left in a pot at room temperature, was transferred to the walk-in cooler to speed up the cooling process. Cooked rice that had not cooled down quick enough to prevent bacteria was discarded.

Bulk containers of mojo sauce were left out on tables instead of being refrigerated. They, too, were discarded. Some moldy limes were also thrown out. The ice shoot on the soda machine had mold. It was cleaned during the inspection.

Babalu Cuban Joint could not be reached for comment. If the restaurant changes ownership the new owners must apply for a separate food service permit, the inspector said.

Here are other recent inspection scores from area restaurants.

Cobb County

• Shadowood Café, 2110 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta. 100/A
• St. Charles Deli, 380 Interstate N. Parkway, Atlanta. 84/B
• Ted’s Montana Grill, 2500 Cobb Place, Kennesaw. 96/A
• The Vineyard 2, 2022 Powers Ferry Road, Atlanta. 100/A
• Whitcher St. Café, 55 Whitcher St., Marietta. 85/B

DeKalb County

• Arizona’s, 2940 Stonecrest Circle, Lithonia. 86/B
• El Toro, 3222 Northlake Parkway, Atlanta. 93/A
• Figo Pasta, 627 E. College Ave., Decatur. 86/B
• Ming’s, 5150 Buford Highway, Doraville. 88/B
• Rice China, 1230 S. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain. 95/A

Fulton County

• Adobo Taqueria, 11585 Jones Bridge Road, Alpharetta. 97/A
• Ceviche, 963 Canton St., Roswell. 91/A
• Hecter’s Kitchen, 17 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, Atlanta. 95/A
• Ocean 66 Sports Café, 5058 Old National Highway, Atlanta. 85/B
• Philly Wings Plus, 1722 Campbellton Road, Atlanta. 91/A

Gwinnett County

• Dominick’s Restaurant, 197 W. Crogan St., Lawrenceville. 76/C
• La Sabrosita, 4085 Highway 29, Lilburn. 87/B
• Mi Cafetal, 1605 Buford Highway, Buford. 74/C
• Sunshine Chinese, 525 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee. 80/B
• Sushi Kita, 1145 Peachtree Industrial Blvd., Suwanee. 93/A

Rockdale County

• Chianti Italian Restaurant, 1895 Highway 20, Conyers. 100/A
• Dynasty Chinese, 1823 Highway 138, Conyers. 89/B
• Greek Pizza House, 977 S. Main St., Conyers. 93/A
• Karen’s International Restaurant, 2040 Eastside Dr., Conyers. 98/A
• Thai Palace, 968 Main St., Conyers. 98/A

– by Laura Berrios for the Food & More blog

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