Sunday, July 27, 2008
Food, In this Issue...

Squeeze with Cheese

 

Photos/Sue Ann Kuhn-Smith for The Newton Citizen
Adam Murphy attempts to eat the “Squeeze with Cheese.”

By Adam Murphy

There’s no other cheeseburger like it around Atlanta, and the only way to eat it is to literally squeeze it into your mouth. It’s called the “Squeeze with Cheese,” and you’ll find it at the Squeeze Inn Restaurant on Highway 278 in Covington. I recently featured the burger joint on my Restaurant Report Card segment for receiving 96 points on a health inspection. I quickly discovered the restaurant’s signature burger looks a lot like a flying saucer. It features a huge helping of shredded cheddar cheese on top of a 1/3 pound ground chuck patty. The cook actually melts the cheese on to the grill, giving it that UFO appearance. I can honestly say it’s one of the best cheeseburgers I’ve ever eaten, and it’s definitely worth the trip out I-20.

I wish I could say the same for every other restaurant, but I can’t. I uncovered serious health violations in June that may spoil your appetite. O’Charley’s on Buford Drive near the Mall of Georgia failed with 42 points and a U for unsatisfactory. The report says the cook didn’t wash his hands after handling meat, fish and chicken. I confronted management about it, and they told me they’d already addressed the problem. O’Charley’s received 92 points and an A on a reinspection. In Dacula, Big Apple Bagels on Braselton Highway scored a U and only 44 points. Health inspectors found a container of lettuce stored on the trash can. Plus, an employee opened a package with their teeth. I was so appalled by the violations I decided to grill management about it. Let’s just say the manager shoved our camera and kicked us out of the restaurant during our surprise visit. Big Apple Bagels received 97 points and an A on a reinspection. Here’s some more food for thought: China Star on Highway 20/81 in McDonough struggled with only 46 points and a U. The report says there were roaches and rodent droppings in the kitchen. Yuck! SP
Watch Adam Murphy’s CBS 46 Restaurant Report Card every Thursday at 4 p.m. and Fridays at noon. You can also catch all of his reports in streaming video at www.cbs46.com.

JUNE SCORECARD


Worst Scores

O’Charley’s: 42 points (U)
3217 Buford Dr., Buford
Problem Areas: Ribs, tomatoes, sour cream, milk, orange juice and broccoli casserole were at unsafe temperatures. Plus, the cook did not wash his hands after handling meat, fish and chicken. O’Charley’s received 92 points and an A on a reinspection.

Big Apple Bagels: 44 points (U)
3685 Braselton Highway, Dacula
Problem Areas: An employee was slicing bagels barehanded, and there was a container of lettuce stored on the trash can. Plus, an employee opened a package with their teeth. Big Apple Bagels received 97 points and an A on a reinspection.

China Star: 46 points (U)
874 Highway 20/81, McDonough
Problem Areas: Cooked chicken was at an unsafe temperature and food handlers were not washing their hands properly. Plus, there were roaches and rodent droppings in the kitchen. China Star in McDonough received 88 points and a B on a reinspection.

 

Best Scores

Taco Bell: 100 points (A)
1642 Mulkey Road, Austell

Honey Baked Ham: 97 points (A)
244 Newnan Crossing, Newnan

Olde Towne Café: 91 points (A)
8496 Main St., Woodstock