French Toast, a breakfast and brunch spot on Windy Hill Road in Marietta, flunked a routine state inspection this week for serious sanitation problems, then pulled off a whiplash turnaround by earning a perfect score just hours later. Inspectors initially cited dirty equipment, cross-contamination issues and unsafe food temperatures, and the owner later told reporters they were taking responsibility. After a rapid return visit the same day, state inspectors signed off on a 100 during reinspection. Over in Sandy Springs, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream quietly cruised to a spotless 100 and picked up this week’s Golden Spatula.
What inspectors recorded at French Toast
According to Atlanta News First, the May 27 inspection found black residue on juice drink nozzles, an employee who did not wash their hands after handling raw fish and eggs, and sausage and lamb chops held at unsafe temperatures. The outlet reported that the manager asked reporters to leave during the inspection visit and that the owner later called to accept responsibility for the failing grade.
Deeper detail from the inspection form
Local reporting that dug into the official state form says inspectors logged more than a dozen violations and ordered immediate corrective action, including tossing contaminated food and fixing or swapping out problem equipment. The Georgia Sun noted that the report cited cross-contamination risks, heavy buildup inside an ice bin and a dish machine running with no detectable sanitizer, all of which carry higher penalties under Georgia’s scoring rules.
How Georgia's grading works
The Georgia Department of Public Health uses a 100-point inspection scale: 90-100 is an “A,” 80-89 a “B,” 70-79 a “C,” and any score below 70 is marked “U” for unsatisfactory. A “U” typically triggers follow-up inspections and can lead to permit suspension if violations are not fixed. As Marietta.com explains, many restaurants that fail an initial visit are reinspected and can restore their permit once inspectors confirm that the problems have been resolved.
Quick recheck and other results across the metro
Atlanta News First reports that French Toast rebounded to a 100 on a reinspection conducted just hours after the failing visit. The same round of follow-ups saw Sambong in Suwanee climb to an 88, a “B,” while Café Hot Wing in Lilburn landed a perfect 100 on reinspection. In that coverage, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs was singled out for the Golden Spatula after its flawless inspection; the shop is known for its made to order ice cream churned with liquid nitrogen. Weekly compilations of state health scores back up the May 27 inspection date and permit number for the Marietta location, according to Cobb Courier.
Where to check inspection records
Full inspection reports are publicly available through the Georgia Department of Public Health’s online portal, and local outlets routinely compile weekly lists of scores for Cobb and Gwinnett counties to help diners keep track. Those records show that reinspections often clear violations once restaurants make the fixes inspectors call for, but an initial “U” still sends a strong message to both regulators and customers.
The rapid turnaround at French Toast underscores that inspections capture a single moment in time and that a failing grade can spur swift changes, but a “U” remains a serious warning sign for anyone paying attention. We will keep an eye on state records and local reporting for any further developments or enforcement actions involving the restaurant.
