Bowdon, Carroll County

El Mezcal Mexican Restaurant & Bar

108 CITY HALL AVE BOWDON, GA 30108

Food

Latest score

Jan 5, 2026

City

Bowdon

County

Carroll

Inspections

Score history

Inspection scores over time for this facility.

Inspection history

Georgia inspection history is score-based, with violations grouped under each recorded inspection.

Jan 5, 2026

Routine

Score: 755 violations

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4-1A - food separated and protected

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)

9 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: Yes

Observed in reach in cooler: raw steak above clamato juice, raw bacon beside cooked beef, raw fish beside salsa; in walk in cooler: raw steak beside raw chicken, raw chicken beside corn. PIC moved all items to appropriate locations.

6-1B - proper hot holding temperatures

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; hot holding (p)

9 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed hot held items below 135F including: steam table- corn 116F; counter- white rice 90F; Steam well at buffet- cooked onion 92F, cooked pepper 128F. PIC discarded all items.

2-2A - management knowledge, responsibilities, reporting

Regulation: 511-6-1.03(2)(o) - person-in-charge duties (pf)

4 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed no signed employee reporting agreements.

2-2D - adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible

Regulation: 511-6-1.06(2)(o) - using a handwashing sink- operation & maintenance (pf)

4 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed sponges and rags in handwash sink at bar. PIC removed items.

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

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(3)(h),(i),(j) - temperature measuring device, manual warewashing; sanitizing solutions, testing device (pf)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed no chlorine test strips to test sanitizer in dish washer and buckets

Jun 16, 2025

Routine

Score: 823 violations

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4-1A - food separated and protected

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)

9 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: Yes

Observed in reach in cooler: hotdogs beside raw chorizo, raw chorizo beside raw steak; in walk in cooler: raw beef beside salsa, squash beside raw chicken, raw shrimp beside queso. PIC moved items to appropriate locations.

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

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(6)(n) - manual and mechanical warewashing equipment, chemical sanitization-temperature, ph, concentration, hardness (p,pf)

4 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed sanitizer bucket at 0 ppm. PIC re-made sanitizer.

11D - thermometers provided and accurate

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(3)(g) - food tmd, provided and accessible; appropriate tmd for measuring thin foods (pf)

3 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed no probe thermometer to measure food temperatures.

Oct 23, 2024

Routine

Score: 883 violations

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4-1A - food separated and protected

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)

9 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: Yes

Observed in reach in cooler raw steak stored next to salsas; observed in reach in cooler steak over pork; observed in walk-in cooler raw chicken stored next to vegetables./PIC moved food items to correct location

15A - food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(2)(h) - nonfood-contact surfaces (c)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed card board used as a liner to line dry storage shelves

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

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(3)(h),(i),(j) - temperature measuring device, manual warewashing; sanitizing solutions, testing device (pf)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed no chlorine test strips to test sanitizer in dish washer and buckets

Mar 22, 2024

Routine

Score: 833 violations

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4-1A - food separated and protected

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)

9 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed in reach in cooler- raw beef over sauces, raw beef beside salsa, cooked octopus beside raw fish, raw steak beside raw chicken; in walk in cooler- raw chicken & raw steak beside salsa, raw chicken beside lettuce. PIC moved all items to appropriate location.

2-2D - adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible

Regulation: 511-6-1.07(3)(a) - handwashing cleanser, availability (pf)

4 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed no soap and no paper towels available at bar handwash sink.

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

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(6)(n) - manual and mechanical warewashing equipment, chemical sanitization-temperature, ph, concentration, hardness (p,pf)

4 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed no sanitizer made up; employees were using water to wipe down counters/tables; PIC made sanitizer buckets.

Aug 7, 2023

Followup

Score: 945 violations

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18 - insects, rodents, and animals not present

Regulation: 511-6-1.07(2)(m) - outer openings protected (c)

3 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Main door has been repaired, but still showing daylight at the bottom due to concrete being uneven, other door leading to outside has daylight showing at the bottom right corner./Manager will repair uneven concrete base

14A - in-use utensils: properly stored

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(k) - in-use utensils, between-use storage (c)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

pitcher used as a scoop in rice container./keep scoops handles up and out of food contact surfaces to prevent potential contamination

14B - utensils, equipment and linens: properly stored, dried, handled

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(10)(a) - equipment & utensils, air-drying required (c)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed dishes/pans stacked wet./allow air drying prior to stacking

15A - food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(1)(i) - nonfood-contact surfaces (c)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed ice built-up in chest freezers in dry storage area./consider changing freezers due to age or defrost to prevent malfunction

17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean

Regulation: 511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) - good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed cracked tile in bar area with water accumulation./repair broken tiles and repair water leak

Jul 27, 2023

Routine

Score: 6111 violations

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4-1A - food separated and protected

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) - packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)

9 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed pork and chicken thawing in the same compartment./Chicken and other raw meats must be thawed separated to prevent cross contamination Observed chicken stored over steak in reach in freezer./adhere to stacking order to prevent potential contamination

6-1A - proper cold holding temperatures

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(6)(f) - time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p)

9 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed prep top cooler and walk-in coolers holding TCS foods between 45-49F, see temperature log for reference./Time control safety foods must be held at 41F or below to prevent pathogen growth, Manager must discard foods held longer than 4 hours and move other foods to different unit until coolers get repaired

6-1C - proper cooling time and temperature

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(6)(d) - cooling (p)

9 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Large pans of carnitas and carne al pastor stored overnight at 49F./discarded, staff instructed on proper cooling methods and proper food safety ways to achieve cooling

2-2D - adequate handwashing facilities supplied & accessible

Regulation: 511-6-1.06(2)(o) - using a handwashing sink- operation & maintenance (pf)

4 ptsCorrected: YesRepeat: No

Observed no soap present at handwashing sink, several pots and stacked dished blocking access to sink./re-stocked

4-2A - food stored covered

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(iv) - packaged & unpackaged food, food stored covered(c)

4 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed foods in prep top cooler, reach in coolers and walk-in coolers uncovered allowing potential contamination./Keep all foods covered

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

Regulation: 511-6-1.05(7)(b) - food contact surfaces and utensils - cleaning frequency (p, c)

4 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed in use can opener with old food debris present./clean between uses to prevent built-up

8-2B - toxic substances properly identified, stored, used

Regulation: 511-6-1.07(6)(c) - storage, separation (p)

4 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed bottle of fabuloso stored next to large bag of onions in dry storage area./All cleaning products and chemicals must be stored in a segregated area away from foods to prevent contamination

18 - insects, rodents, and animals not present

Regulation: 511-6-1.07(5)(k) - controlling pests (pf, c)

3 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: Yes

Observed live fly activity in main kitchen area; observed door leading to outside with daylight showing at the bottom and door lock is showing day light around it./seal all outer openings to prevent pest entry to facility

10D - food properly labeled; original container

Regulation: 511-6-1.04(4)(d) - food storage containers identified with common name of food (c)

3 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed multiple spice containers without a label or common name./Label all dry foods and spices stored outside of original packaging

15A - food and nonfood-contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed, and used

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed rusted shelves around facility./refinish or repaint; observed ice built-up in multiple chest freezers./defrost

17C - physical facilities installed, maintained, and clean

Regulation: 511-6-1.07(5)(a),(b) - good repair, physical facilities maintained; cleaning, frequency & restrictions, cleaned often enough to keep them clean (c)

1 ptsCorrected: NoRepeat: No

Observed hole in the wall, Observed cracked tiles around facility./repair or replace observed stained ceiling tiles with dust and grease built-up./repair or replace