East Point, Ga. – A LongHorn Steakhouse on Camp Creek Parkway has come under renewed scrutiny after an employee posted a video that appears to show roaches crawling across the kitchen floor and food waste scattered on work surfaces. The employee, Sean Headley, who started at the restaurant in April, said he recorded the footage because he believed the kitchen had become unsafe for staff and guests.
Employee raises concerns
Headley told FOX 5 Atlanta that he had repeatedly raised sanitation concerns with his managers and with the corporate offices of Darden Restaurants, the parent company of LongHorn, but felt his complaints were ignored. “Really, it was the work environment and the conditions that we were working in,” he said. “There were a lot of inhumane conditions.” The video he posted on social media shows several cockroaches moving across the floor and piles of discarded food near cooking stations.
Company response
LongHorn Steakhouse issued a statement to FOX 5 Atlanta acknowledging the video. “The conditions shown are unacceptable and have been addressed,” the statement read. The company added that it has taken “necessary steps to ensure a safe experience for our guests and team members” and that a new leader has been placed in the restaurant to uphold its “strict standards.”
Health officials act
Fulton County health officials said they are planning a follow‑up inspection of the East Point location in response to the viral video. The Georgia Department of Public Health last inspected the restaurant on Aug. 25, awarding it a score of 90, which corresponds to an “A” rating. Inspection records from the past two years show scores ranging from 88 to 91, indicating generally good compliance, but the recent footage has prompted officials to take a closer look.
Employee hopes for broader change
Headley said he hopes the incident will spark broader reforms beyond a single restaurant. He called for more frequent health inspections of Darden‑owned establishments and improvements to workplace conditions, including repairs to broken air‑conditioning systems that he says contribute to an unhealthy environment.
Public reaction
The video quickly spread online, drawing criticism from users who described the conditions as “beyond unacceptable” and urged restaurant workers to report sanitation concerns promptly. Some commenters emphasized the responsibility of food‑service employees to take food safety seriously, while others questioned how the restaurant had previously passed health inspections.
LongHorn Steakhouse has not provided a timeline for the upcoming health inspection, but the company’s statement suggests it is taking the matter seriously and working to restore confidence among diners and staff.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
