A Mexican restaurant in Austin known for its brunch offerings did not meet food code standards on Wednesday, May 21. Inspectors who visited Gabriela’s Downtown gave the restaurant 66 points after reporting multiple violations. As the restaurant did not meet food safety standards during the routine inspection, it will face a reinspection.
Please note that the result mentioned here is from an inspection conducted on May 21 and may not represent the future health inspection status of the food establishment.
Highlights
- Gabriela’s Downtown scored 66 points and failed a health inspection conducted on May 21.
- Violations reported at the restaurant included a concerning a lack of proper documentation, cleanliness issues, improper food storage, and others.
- The public health department has scheduled a reinspection at the restaurant, which will take place in two weeks.
Gabriela’s Downtown to Face Follow-Up Inspection
- Where: 900 E 7th St, Austin, TX 78702
- When: May 21, 2025
- Score: 66
Inspectors from the Austin Public Health department examined compliance with the food code at Gabriela’s Downtown between 12:20 PM and 2:15 PM on Wednesday. They visited the food facility as part of the periodic inspections conducted at such establishments to ensure adherence to the food code and avoid public health risks.
Violations Reported
The violations reported at Gabriela’s Downtown were multifaceted. Included among the first violations noted were the absence of an individual with a food manager certificate and the lack of written procedures to be followed during vomiting or diarrheal events.
Improper food handling practices like inadequate cold and hot holding of TCS foods, improper thawing of frozen meat, and storage of raw foods above ready-to-eat items was also reported.
Food-contact surfaces and utensils were found unclean, and sanitizer concentration in dishwashing equipment was well below the required level, the report said. Documentation for parasite destruction in raw fish was found missing, and the menu lacked appropriate consumer advisories and asterisks for raw or undercooked items, it was noted.
Improper storage practices were also noted as food on the floor and utensils with handles in contact with food were found. Adequate pest control measures were not found to be taken, as evidenced by the presence of flies and a toilet room door not properly sealed.
General maintenance issues were also reported. These included rust, debris, mold accumulation in the ice machine, and unclean physical surfaces. The report also pointed out procedural oversights such as the lack of a first aid kit, an inaccessible handwashing sink, and improper storage of wet wiping cloths.
The report also mentioned the corrective actions that were taken or were to be taken in the case of each violation reported. It also outlined the corrective actions that are to be taken to address the violations noted.
Reinspection Scheduled
Following the unsatisfactory score in the routine inspection, Gabriela’s Downtown will undergo reinspection, the inspection report said. The restaurant will have to pay the reinspection fee on or before May 27, 2025. Further, the inspectors will visit the establishment for the follow-up on or before June 6, 2025.
Failure to comply with the payment deadline and achieve a score above 70 during reinspection may result in the establishment facing legal action and permit suspension.
