El Sazon! Bar and Grill in Savannah receives a 50% on their recent health inspection

El Sazon! Bar and Grill, located at 492 Jimmy Deloach Pkwy Unit 103 in Savannah, received a score of 50 points out of a possible 100 points during their 11/04/2025 inspection by the Georgia Department of Public Health.

The violations noted by the inspector were:

Violation #1:
1-2A – pic present, demonstrates knowledge, performs duties
511-6-1.03(2)(a)-(n)(p),(q) – responsibility of pic (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple violations of State of Georgia Food rules as evidenced by food separation, cold holding temperatures and sanitation issues. This pattern of non-compliance with food rules is due to a failure of facility in their managerial responsibilities. RCA: PIC is to implement a system utilizing active managerial control over facility issues.

Violation #2:
4-1A – food separated and protected
511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(i)(ii)(iii)(v)(vi)(vii)(viii) – packaged & unpackaged food separation, packaging, and segregation (p, c)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed shredded cheese stored under raw fish and shrimp in reach-in cooler. Observed raw beef stored directly on top of container of beans and next to containers of cabbage slaw mix, lemons and cilantro in walk-in cooler. RCA: Food shall be protected from cross contamination by separating raw animal foods during storage, preparation, holding, and display from Raw ready-to-eat food including other raw animal food such as fish for sushi or molluscan shellfish, or other raw ready-to-eat food such as fruits and vegetables, Cooked ready-to-eat food; and Fruits and vegetables before they are washed.

Violation #3:
4-2A – food stored covered
511-6-1.04(4)(c)1(iv) – packaged & unpackaged food, food stored covered(c)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed cooked chicken wings and raw shrimp uncovered in reach in cooler. TCS found (hamburger patties & burrito) stored in freezer uncovered and thrown on other packages of food and subject to contamination. RCA: Foods shall be stored covered to protect from outside contamination.

Violation #4:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(7)(a)1 – equipment, food-contact surfaces,& utensils (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed mildew-like substance and slime on baffle of ice maker machine. Observed mildew-like substance inside nozzle of frozen margarita dispenser. RCA: Equipment, food-contact surfaces, and utensils shall be clean to sight and touch. Burn ice, clean and sanitize before refilling ice.

Violation #5:
4-2B – food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
511-6-1.05(7)(a)1 – equipment, food-contact surfaces,& utensils (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed nonfood-grade containers used for food storage of chips and foods in walk-in cooler. RCA: Facility is to use food grade containers for safe food storage.

Violation #6:
5-2 – consumer advisory provided for raw and undercooked foods
511-6-1-.04(7)(e) – consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Upon discussion with employee it was found that some foods are served undercooked at request. Observed on menu that consumer advisory for raw/undercooked animal products not provided. RCA: If an animal food such as beef, eggs, fish, lamb, pork, poultry, or shellfish is served or sold raw, undercooked, or without otherwise being processed to eliminate pathogens, either in ready-to-eat form or as an ingredient in another ready-to-eat food, the permit holder shall inform consumers of the significantly increased risk of consuming such foods by way of a disclosure and reminder, as specified in paragraphs 2 and 3 of this subsection using brochures, deli case or menu advisories, label statements, table tents, placards, or other effective written means. The disclosure and reminder statements shall be worded in legible type in all capital letters and no smaller than font size #8, or if displayed on a menu board shall be printed no smaller than the smallest lettering used for a menu item. 2. Disclosure shall include: (i) A description of the animal-derived foods, such as “oysters on the half shell (raw oysters),” “rawegg Caesar salad,” and “hamburgers (can be cooked to order);” Pf or (ii) Identification of the animal-derived foods by asterisking them to a footnote that states that the items are served raw or undercooked, or contain (or may contain) raw or undercooked ingredients. 3. The reminder shall include asterisking the animal-derived foods requiring disclosure to a footnote that states: (i) Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness; or (ii) Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.

Violation #7:
6-1A – proper cold holding temperatures
511-6-1.04(6)(f) – time/temperature control for safety; cold holding (p)
Points: 9
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple TCS foods in reach-in cooler that was not functioning (chicken, beef, shrimp). COS CA: Employee discarded foods. Cold held TCS foods shall be kept at 41 or below for safety.

Violation #8:
6-2 – proper date marking and disposition
511-6-1.04(6)(g) – ready-to-eat time/temperature control for safety food, date marking (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: Yes
Inspector Notes: Observed inconsistent date marking of TCS foods in facility. RCA: Refrigerated, ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food prepared and held in a food establishment for more than 24 hours shall be clearly marked to indicate the date or day by which the food shall be consumed on the premises, sold, or discarded, when held at a temperature of 41°F (5°C) or below for a maximum of 7 days. The day of preparation shall be counted as Day 1.

Violation #9:
8-2B – toxic substances properly identified, stored, used
511-6-1.07(6)(b) – working containers, common name (pf)
Points: 4
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed spray bottle of bleach solution without any labeling. RCA: Working containers used for storing poisonous or toxic materials such as cleaners and sanitizers taken from bulk supplies shall be clearly and individually identified with the common name of the material.

Violation #10:
11C – approved thawing methods used
511-6-1.04(6)(c) – thawing (c)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed ROP salmon completely thawed in ROP packaging, ROP packaging had a label indicating that it was to be removed from packaging before thawing. COS CA: PIC discarded fish. Reduced oxygen packaged fish that bears a label indicating that it is to be kept frozen until time of use shall be removed from the reduced oxygen environment Prior to its thawing under refrigeration that maintains the food temperature at 41°F (5°C) or less.

Violation #11:
11D – thermometers provided and accurate
511-6-1.05((2)(l) – tmd, ambient air & water – accuracy (pf)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple cold holding units without internally placed thermometers. RCA: Ambient air and water temperature measuring devices that are scaled in Celsius or dually scaled in Celsius and Fahrenheit shall be designed to be easily readable and accurate to ±1.5ºC in the intended range of use.

Violation #12:
12A – contamination prevented during food preparation, storage, display
511-6-1.04(4)(q) – food storage (c)
Points: 3
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed multiple containers of foods on floor in walk-in cooler. Observed box of oil on floor in kitchen.

Violation #13:
14A – in-use utensils: properly stored
511-6-1.04(4)(k) – in-use utensils, between-use storage (c)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: Yes
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed ice scoop with handle in contact with ice. COS CA: PIC moved scoop out of ice. During pauses in food preparation or dispensing, food preparation and dispensing utensils shall be stored in the food with their handles above the top of the food and the container.

Violation #14:
15B – warewashing facilities: installed, maintained, used; test strips
511-6-1.05(3)(h),(i),(j) – temperature measuring device, manual warewashing; sanitizing solutions, testing device (pf)
Points: 1
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Observed that facility did not have testing methods for verifying chlorine or quat sanitizer solutions. RCA: A test kit or other device that accurately measures the concentration in mg/L of sanitizing solutions shall be provided.

Violation #15:
16A – hot and cold water available; adequate pressure
511-6-1.06(1)(g),(h) – water supply, capacity; pressure (pf)
Points: 2
Corrected during inspection?: No
Repeat: No
Inspector Notes: Hot water supply not maintained during peak periods. Observed hot water heater was not reliable with employee having to repeatedly turn on pilot. RCA: Facility shall have a reliable hot water heater, unit will need to be serviced or replaced. Hot water generation and distribution systems shall be sufficient to meet the peak hot water demands throughout the food service establishment.

Additional remarks:
Facility is to have an informal hearing on Friday November 7, 2025 at Environmental Health Office located at 1395 Eisenhower Dr. Savannah, GA

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