Even though Charlotte’s restaurant selection continues to grow, so does our population, and some restaurants are taking advantage of this growing customer base by letting their health standards slide.
Some of the most common reasons for low scores were food handlers not washing their hands properly, contaminated food containers, and improper food temperatures (many restaurants are starting to use infrared thermometers to avoid this). You can see exactly what the inspectors look for on this blank copy of an inspection report.
These are the top 10 worst currently standing inspection scores in Mecklenburg County (some restaurants scored lower in February but were reinspected with higher scores before March 6th):
#10 Zeppelin
235 W. Tremont Ave., Charlotte, NC
Scored 90.5 (A) on 2/13/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed bartender rinse hands in sink but not wash.
- Observed employee wash hands and turn faucet off with hands.
- Observed employee grating limes with bare hands.
- Observed sink in men’s restroom with no hot water.
- Observed numerous boxes of unwashed produce over ready to eat foods in walk-in cooler.
- Observed raw shell eggs stored in top drawer at bar (above bottled beverages).
- Observed cooked lobster tail stored next to raw fish.
- Observed employee go into the walkin cooler without discarding gloves. She then came back out and continued handling the food she was chopping.
- Observed sanitizer spray bottle at bar and 2 sani buckets in kitchen at 100ppm Quat or lower.
- Observed lamb ribs with a thick layer of fat stored in the walkin cooler from Sunday at 48F.
- Observed bechamel sauce cooling in a plastic container in an ice bath then moved to the cooler. It had not been stirred and was cooling at a rate of .27 (should be .54).
- Observed 2 containers of diced sweet potatoes on cold top at 47F and 49F.
- Observed tomato relish and cheek fat with dates of 2/6.
- Observed Brie and Humboldt Fog cheeses missing date marks.
#9 Bernardin’s Restaurant
435 South Tryon St., Charlotte, NC
Scored 90 (A) on 2/1/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employee drink stored in prep area.
- Observed chef tasted sugar, using hand, from unmarked container.
- Observed owner touch baked onion slices that were cooling.
- Observed small jar of home canned lemon preserves (Food in hermetically sealed containers shall come from a regulated food processing plant).
- Observed raw scallops over cooked potatoes.
- Observed double stacked ham on cook line 52F, baked portabella mushrooms 48F and room temperature veggie mix.
- Observed bags of fresh spinach and other vegetables and duck not date marked.
- Observed pasta dated 1/24 in cooler.
#8 Pho An Hoa
4832 Central Ave., Charlotte, NC
Scored 89 (B) on 2/12/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed no certified food protection manager onsite today.
- Observed two containers of chicken broth that had been cooling overnight and still had not reached <45F
- Observed chicken broth and spicy soup holding at <135F
- Observed a few TCS items at >45F
- Observed lettuce, cabbage, and sprouts at room temperature and the time chart had not been filled out.
#7 Subway #33788
201 N. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC
Scored 88.5 (B) on 2/16/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employee drinks being stored on top of container of sauces and employee drink in a separate area being stored on top of bags of mayo.
- Observed employees on several occasions wash hands for about 5 seconds to go back to working with food after being on the phone.
- Observed employee wash hands and then recontaminate them by turning off faucet with barehand.
- Observed tuna salad cooling at a rate of 0 deg/min and buffalo chicken cooling at a negative rate in prep cooler.
- Observed multiple items holding above 45F on prep top including turkey, ham, veggie patties, provolone cheese, sweet onion chicken, buffalo chicken, and bologna.
#6 Fresh Market
10828 Providence Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 88.5 (B) on 2/27/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed a box of raw chicken stored directly on top of a box of raw pork loin.
- Observed utensils at gelato and coffee area, as well as pizza area soiled from use the night before sitting at those areas the following morning.
- Observed cheese cutting equipment soiled from use the night before.
- Observed stuffed olives, boiled eggs, cole slaw, deli wraps, and brie holding above 45F.
- Observed mortadella and proscuitto de parma dated for 30 days, and facility was unable to provide paperwork from supplier stating that this procedure was approved.
- Observed paninis, spinach, pizza sauce, and sausage opened the day before with no date labels.
- Observed brie and cambozola dated for 15-30 days in cheese display.
#5 Little Caesar’s Pizza #27
228 Eastway Dr., Charlotte, NC
Scored 88 (B) on 2/23/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed piece of pizza on food prep table that had been partially eaten.
- Observed lids removed on make table.
- Observed food debris and residue on containers and lid stored as clean on the drying rack.
- Observed food residue on can opener.
- Observed sausage in prep cooler stored > 45F.
- Observed pizzas on speed rack off of temperature control. timers had not been set.
- Observed additional pizzas on speed rack from earlier in the morning without time being monitored.
#4 Travel Inn (aka Residence Inn)
5115 Reagan Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 88 (B) on 2/26/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed carpets damaged in all rooms in building B (#234, #254, #131, #141)
- Observed dressers, desk and nights stand with burn marks on surfaces.
- Observed walls damaged/dirty in rooms #234, #254, #141.
- Observed door to restroom in room #234 damaged in need of repair.
- Observed fitted sheet in room #234 damaged/stained in need of replacing.
- Observed burned holes in comforter in room #109.
#3 Yorkmont Restaurant
2925 Yorkmont Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 87.5 (B) on 2/12/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed food employee recontaminate hands by closing faucet with bare hands, not using paper towel or barrier to avoid recontaminating hands.
- Observed sanitizer in sanitizer bucket with concentration less than 10ppm chlorine.
- Observed several food items such as potato salad, tuna salad, and feta cheese without date mark at flip tops.
- Observed several foods such as sautade peppers, burgers, and onions held on time without being clearly marked with begining and end times.
- Observed bags of rice, grits, sugar and other dry goods not sealed or protected from contamination. Food were exposed to contamination.
#2 A Mouthful
2601 Tuckaseegee Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 87 (B) on 2/16/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Food employees stated they were not aware of employee health policy. No written policy was produced.
- Observed no paper towels available near 3 comp sink.
- Observed unwashed produce stored above ready to eat foods in reach in cooler.
- Observed several foods in reach in cooler holding temperature above 45F.
- Observed several foods without date mark in reach in.
- Observed Raid used as pesticide control for ants.
#1 New Century Oriental Deli
4500 N Tryon St., Charlotte, NC
Scored 85 (B) on 2/2/2018
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed several employee beverages stored on food prep surfaces.
- Observed raw whole pig stored in contact with sauces, and vegetables in walk-in cooler. observed raw pork stored over ready-to-eat pork in walk-in freezer.
- Observed open bags of dry foods stored in uncovered containers. CDI by placing in sealed top containers.
- Observed build-up on can opener.
- Observed build-up on mixers.
- Observed build-up in microwave oven.
- Observed soiled utensils in utensil bins.
- Observed pans of cooked pork stored in upright cooler without date mark.
- Observed boiled eggs and open container of milk without date mark.
- Observed unlabeled sanitizer spray bottles.
As of March 6th, the above scores have not changed, but they can be increased (or decreased) at any time, as soon as they have a re-inspection.
If you’d like to monitor health scores, or do a quick search for a restaurant you’re about to eat at, check out North Carolina’s health inspection database here.