An Athens Sonic Drive-In on Atlanta Highway has landed in the health inspector’s hot seat, failing a routine state inspection Monday with a score of 69, an Unsatisfactory grade under Georgia rules. Inspectors at the 4275 Atlanta Highway location cited eight violations totaling 31 points, triggering a mandatory reinspection that the restaurant must pass by May 13, 2026.
Inspection details
According to The Georgia Sun, inspectors discovered a moldy slice of cheese in the make table, which became the single biggest hit on the score sheet at nine points. A food worker tossed the cheese immediately. The report also notes that several items were being held past the required seven-day discard date, including corn dogs, hot dogs, liquid eggs, and shredded lettuce and cheese. All of those out-of-date foods were thrown away during the visit.
The inspection further states that the ice machine showed "mold-like growth" and that flies were seen throughout the kitchen. Unlike the expired food and the moldy cheese, those issues were not corrected before the inspector left.
Facility problems and management lapses
The visit turned up structural and management problems that were flagged as repeat violations. Inspectors reported broken floor tiles and three doors propped open, both listed as recurring issues for the restaurant. The report also says the person in charge could not provide signed illness reporting agreements for staff, and the restaurant had failed to post its most recent inspection report at the drive-thru window as required.
Staff did close the propped doors before the inspection wrapped up. However, several other violations, including the ice-machine mold and damaged flooring, remained uncorrected in the official record, putting the location at risk of escalation, The Georgia Sun reported.
Follow-up and enforcement
Georgia uses a 100-point grading scale for restaurant inspections, and any score below 70 is labeled Unsatisfactory, which typically leads to fast follow-ups and written orders to fix problems. Local reporting on the state’s grading system notes that restaurants receiving a "U" are usually given a short window, often up to 10 days, to correct violations before regulators consider suspension or closure.
Given the low score and the repeat violations at this Sonic, inspectors are expected to see clear improvements at the May 13 reinspection or potentially move toward enforcement steps, according to Marietta.com.
How to see the report
The full inspection report is available through the Georgia Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health Inspections portal. Diners can search by facility name or enter permit number FSP-029-000383 to view the original inspection and any follow-up results. The DPH portal serves as the official source for updated scores, and Clarke County residents with concerns can reach out to their local environmental health office for more information. Georgia Department of Public Health
