As Charlotte’s restaurant selection continues to grow, many establishments are scrambling to attract customers and really letting their health standards slide in the process.
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).
These were the top 10 worst inspection scores in Charlotte for September 2023;
#10 Taqueria San Miguel
5933 ALBEMARLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28212
Scored 88.5 (B) on 9/28/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed pic unable to demonstrate any knowledge of food safety.
- Observed pic provided no food safety certification
- Observed pic failure to demonstrate employee health knowledge.
- Observed no paper towels at hand sink.
- Observed facility unaware or sanitizer requirements.
- Observed multiple tcs foods cold held above 41f in prep top and reach in.
- Observed multiple tcs date mark applicable foods with no date mark.
#9 La Riviera Marisqueria Bar & Grill
1310 W SUGAR CREEK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Scored 88.5 (B) on 9/11/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed three employee drinks stored on prep stations in kitchen during food prep.
- No hand washing was observed from employees during food prep in kitchen area.
- Observed a large pitcher of water sitting in hand sink in kitchen area.
- Observed no paper towels at hand sinks in kitchen area.
- Observed no hand wash signs at hand sink at any hand sinks in facility.
- Observed oyster tags that were not dated with the date of the last oyster sold. Also, the tags were not stored in chronological order.
- Observed three containers of raw shrimp stored above cooked pigs feet and other ready-to-eat items in walk-in cooler.
- Observed one container of pigs feet that was stored above 41 F in walk-in cooler.
- Observed several containers of food such as cooked shrimp, diced tomatoes, and shredded lettuce that were not dated in the prep cooler.
- Observed one container of cooked shrimp that was dated for 9/08 in walk-in cooler.
- Observed containers of sanitizer in kitchen area that were not labeled.
#8 Americas Best Wings
9630 UNIVERSITY CITY BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28213
Scored 88.5 (B) on 9/26/2023
They had the following violations;
- Many dirty dishes found during inspection.
- Only 1 soap for both kitchen hand washing sinks.
- Par-cooked chicken stored above cooked chicken in domestic cooler.
- All the tongs, several large bowls and containers were found with food residue and grease residue on them but were stored as clean.
- Par-cooked chicken tenders observed in domestic cooler.
- All TCS foods in walk-in cooler were 46-50F. Air temperature in walk-in cooler was 52F. Shrimp, philly, chicken, and lettuce in sandwich cooler were 45-54F. Chicken wings in domestic cooler were 53-58F.
- Chicken in sandwich cooler had discard date of 9-22.
#7 Sunflower Baking Company
220 EAST BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 88 (B) on 9/28/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed no CFPM on site during inspection.
- Observed employee beverage stored over prep table.
- Observed employee rinsing rubber coffee station mat out at handwashing sink.
- Observed shredded pepperjack cheese containing fuzzy blue growth.
- Observed dead fruit fly floating in a large container of uncovered cold brew.
- Observed employee remove trays from 3 compartment sink and place on shelf as clean. When tested, in-use quat sanitizer was at 50 ppm.
- Observed tomato soup that was prepared yesterday and out of cold holding today for service at 47F at 3:43pm and 47F at 4:01pm.
- Observed multiple open milks, brie, high moisture mozzarella, cooked eggs, and cooked mushrooms without prep dates at end of the day, with the intent to use the next day.
- Observed cooked mushrooms from 9/17 and a garlic in oil pesto sauce from 9/15.
- Observed one spray bottle incorrectly labeled as sanitizer when it was actually a disinfectant.
- Observed another spray bottle of disinfectant missing a label.
#6 Fenwick’s
511 PROVIDENCE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28207
Scored 87.5 (B) on 9/12/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed several priority violations; food separated and protected, cold holding, expired TCS items, cooling time, and food contact surfaces.
- Observed raw fish stored over container of muffin mix (no egg or any raw protein, dairy only).
- Observed 0 ppm chlorine sanitizer level for dish machine.
- Observed gumbo cooling at a rate of .07, needed .08.
- Observed chicken cooked the day before holding above 41F.
- Observed cooked rice, coleslaw and tuna with prep date of 9/5. Expired by one day.
- Observed no time stamp on mixed greens held out for time.
#5 Super Mercado El Rey
6300 SOUTH BV, CHARLOTTE, NC 28217
Scored 87 (B) on 9/26/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed several employees handle trash and soiled equipment discard gloves and donned new gloves without a hand wash.
- Observed employees enter and leave kitchen several times without a hand wash prior to donning gloves and food prep/clean utensil handling.
- Observed an employee handle RTE corn tortillas from the grill with bare hands for an order.
- Observed hand wash sink blocked with a large trash can.
- Observed beef cooling at ambient air at the start of the inspection, item was 125F.
- Observed sliced tomatoes, cut lettuce, and shredded cheese above 41F.
- Observed consumer advisory for steak and eggs without a disclosure.
#4 Firebirds
3920 SHARON RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28211
Scored 86 (B) on 9/20/2023 (rescored to 95.5 on 9/26)
They had the following violations;
- Observed an employee handle raw fish with a glove hand.
- Observed an employee handle trash then don gloves without a hand wash.
- Observed several employees handle trash on front cook line and don gloves without a hand wash.
- Observed several employees wash hands for less than 15 secs.
- Observed cart stored in front of back hand sink.
- Observed several jicama with white and green growth on them.
- Observed unwashed produce stored above washed RTE foods in the walk in cooler.
- Observed several metal containers stacked together with sticker residue and food debris left on them.
- Observed plates and bowls with food debris and splatter on them in the front prep area.
- Observed meat balls cooked to 125F.
- Observed cut lettuce (4 containers), fish, sliced chicken, sliced turkey, sliced roast beef, and sliced cheese above 41F in cold hold drawers/reach ins.
- Observed several areas throughout the kitchen with small and large flies.
#3 Fonda La Taquiza
5135 ALBEMARLE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 86 (B) on 9/26/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed several food borne illness risk factor violations out of compliance including cooling of food, temperature monitoring of food items during prep and cooling processes, children’s menu burger offered undercooked, and the dish machine not sanitizing properly, however still in use.
- No employee present with active ANSI food protection manager certification.
- Observed book of shellstock tags has nothing recorded past July 2023.
- Observed raw chicken stored over raw beef in reach in part of prep cooler.
- Observed sanitizer not holding prime in dish machine.
- Observed cheeseburger on kids menu asterisked as being offered undercooked.
- Observed cheese dip reheated to 136F and then placed for hot holding per employee.
- Observed chicken soup, beef soup, and refried beans in walk in cooler cooling from yesterday still above 41F.
- Observed date mark for chicken soup was 9/26 when it was made 9/25.
- Observed 2 dead cockroaches in facility.
#2 Cottage Restaurant
1704 HARRIS HOUSTON RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 84 (B) on 9/5/2023 (rescored to 93.5 on 10/3)
They had the following violations;
- Date marking, cold holding, hand washing, and cooling are not being controlled.
- Employee observed washing hands in prep sink.
- Employees were washing hands for less than 5 seconds with no soap.
- No paper towels at both hand washing sinks at start of inspection.
- Raw tuna and pre-cooked imitation crab stored in same pan in walk-in cooler.
- Heavy food buildup on most utensils and food-contact equipment.
- Prep sink has not be cleaned or sanitized in days/weeks.
- Meat grinder had visible raw meat residue on the food-contact portions of it, and a roach crawled out of it.
- Roaches observed in potato starch and flour bulk bins.
- Lo mein measured 85F at 1PM. PIC stated it began cooling at 12PM. Lo mein measured 84F at 2:45PM.
- Breaded chicken and chicken wings were being held on shelf out of temperature control at 66F and 68F.
- Date labels are extremely old on most TCS ready-to-eat foods.
- Live roach observed on prep table.
- Large amount of flies observed during inspection.
#1 BAOBAO Chinese Restaurant
9715 SAM FURR RD, HUNTERSVILLE NC 28278
Scored 76.5 (B) on 9/28/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed no PIC available upon the beginning of the inspection. Owner arrived later, however no active managerial control observed.
- Observed open and closed personal beverages stored on prep tables, on top of clean bowls and above food prep.
- Observed numerous hand washing violations.
- Observed hand sinks used for rinsing food (immediate intervention occurred) and observed food debris in both sinks along with a metal scrubber.
- Observed food (box of mushrooms, open container of raw pork, open container of cut eggplant, box of celery) contaminated by leaking water in walk-in.
- Observed raw poultry, raw pork, raw beef, raw seafood, raw eggs comingled together and with ready-to-eat foods throughout each refrigerated unit and freezers.
- Observed unwashed produced comingled with washed produce and all other foods.
- Observed uninformed staff try to clean equipment by rinsing in the 3-comp sink which housed raw meat & seafood and other dirty equipment. Observed bloody pans treated this way, too.
- Observed improper cleaning of the slicer, which had been used to cut raw pork, with just moist towels and “Oxiver TB”.
- Observed dirty plates stored as clean, dough hook/mixer in need of cleaning.
- Observed pan of pork belly pieces at 111F cooked at 10 a.m., checked at 1:48 p.m.
- Observed cooked noodles from 11 a.m. at 80F checked after 2 p.m. & cooked chicken breasts at 78F from noon checked at 3 p.m.
- Observed cooked meat and chicken held in bowls at on flip top cutting board held between 80-90F.
- Observed flip top prep unit and walk-in refrigerator holding TCS foods between 42-55F.
- Observed cut cabbage and blanched bok choy sitting out at room temp.
- Observed no date labels on any RTE/prepared TCS foods held over 24 hours – Items observed: cooked chicken pieces, cut cabbage, cooked pork belly pieces.
- Observed unlabeled spray bottle w/ degreaser.
- Observed Oxivir Tb being used as cleaning for slicer.
- Observed fruit flies particularly around beer taps/drain.
- Observed container of pork/water thawing on floor under 3-comp sink, large tub of re-hydrated mushrooms stored under dirty drain board of 3-comp sink, bottles of sauce stored on floor and roll of plastic wrap in onions.
- Observed wet and dry cloths stored on tables throughout facility.
- Observed build up of grease and debris around and on surfaces throughout.
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.
