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 worst inspection scores in Charlotte for June 2024;
Dishonorable Mentions:
9 Spices Indian Cuisine – 89 (B) on 6/25/2024
NC Tavern – 88.5 (B) on 6/24/2024
Essex Bar & Bistro – 88.5 (B) on 6/4/2024
#10 Tap and Vine
7828 REA RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28277
Scored 88 (B) on 6/13/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed limited oversight within kitchen as evidenced by improper holding temperatures and cooling procedures/monitoring.
- Observed box of unwashed apples stored over ready to eat items in walk in cooler.
- Observed dish machine at 0ppm chlorine. EHS noted that the stock bucket for sanitizer was empty.
- Observed lobster bisque, piccata sauce, marinara sauce, garlic cream, mashed potatoes, and prime rib roast cooling in walk in cooler from yesterday still above 41F.
- Observed beets cooling on speed rack from yesterday at room temperature.
- Observed top layer of meatballs in steam well held below 135F. Product was not in liquid, therefore they were not held hot.
- Observed piccata and Marsala sauces held on stove with no heat on below 135F.
- Observed appetizer prep unit and right side of cooler drawers under grill holding food items above 41F.
- Observed shredded cheese in reach in above 41F. All other items in cooler at 36F.
- Observed one pan of asparagus from 6/3 in cooler drawer.
- Observed container of housemade apple butter in reach in with date of 5/23.
- Observed no consumer advisory on brunch menu for all “add egg” options, breakfast skillet, breakfast platter, and biscuits and gravy. Observed no consumer advisory on lunch menu for burger slider under “pick 2” or the 2 burger slider special.
- Observed no consumer advisory for salmon add on to salad, or pan seared ahi tuna. The same issues are on the table tripod menus for the lunch menu.
- Observed Caesar salad asterisked when Caesar dressing has no raw eggs.
#9 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburger
3811 CORNING PL, CHARLOTTE NC 28216
Scored 88 (B) on 6/11/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed no V&D plan or clean up kit.
- Observed employee drop items on floor pick up with no hand wash.
- Observed food and cloths in hand wash sink.
- Observed debris on dishes. Also Observed slicer stored as clean with food debris.
- Observed hot dogs in warmer at 121F.
- Observed grilled onions, pepper jack, American and Swiss cheese above 41F.
- Observed flying pests throughout kitchen.
#8 Kozi Italian Street Food
11318 N COMMUNITY HOUSE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28277
Scored 87.5 (B) on 6/10/2024 (rescored to 94.5 on 5/29)
They had the following violations;
- Observed pic failure to ensure food safety as evidenced by failure to demonstrate sufficient knowledge or cold, hot, cooling and reheat temperatures as well as proper cleaning and sanitization of food contact surfaces.
- Observed pic enter kitchen and set open coffee or tea cup on food preparation table, as well as multiple water bottles stored on food prep surfaces or at hand sink.
- Observed front hand sink to have pitcher stored in the basin.
- Observed crate of raw shell eggs stored above closed bus tub of cooked pasta.
- Observed sanitizer in utensil washing sink to be 50 ppm qac.
- Observed container of cooked lasagna at 119 f.
- Observed large pot of cooked marinara at 89 f cooling on prep table, cooked bolognaise, cooling in closed plastic container in top of WIC at 94f and meatballs cooling in closed plastic container at 46f.
- Observed cooked TCS foods like marinara, Al Al vodka sauce and a white sauce hot held below 135 f.
- Observed cold held marinara shredded. Cheese and deli mats cold held above 41 f.
- Observed multiple TCS foods cooked yesterday or before but date marked today.
- Observed 3 spray bottles of qac sanitizer at various concentrations not labeled sanitizer.
#7 Mac’s Speed Shop
2414 SANDY PORTER RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28273
Scored 87.5 (B) on 6/24/2024 (rescored to 96 on 7/2)
They had the following violations;
- Observed PIC wash hands then press paper towel dispenser with finger, recontaminating hands.
- Observed bottle of glass cleaner stored in hand sink.
- Observed raw chicken and cooked collard greens just received holding above 41F. See temperature chart.
- Observed unwashed kale stored above RTE foods in WIC.
- Observed quat sanitizer at 3 comp sink at 50 ppm.
- Observed multiple pans and containers with food debris and sticker residue in clean dish storage area.
- Observed multiple cooked, portioned chicken wings in large, deep container in WIC holding above 41F.
- Observed beans holding in cabinet at 131F.
- Observed raw burger patties, garlic aioli, sliced ham, and sliced turkey holding above 41F.
- Observed turkey cooked yesterday in lowboy cooler with no date mark.
- Observed no dates on items stored on speed rack.
- Observed bacon jam with date 6/7.
- Observed multiple cooked, portioned chicken wings cooling since last night in large, deep container holding at 44F-46F.
#6 Anita’s Mexican Grill
2904 YORKMONT RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28208
Scored 87 (B) on 6/14/2024 (rescored to 93 on 7/1/21)
They had the following violations;
- Observed food employee wash hands for less than 20 seconds.
- Observed food employee washing dishes at 3-compartment sink and return to food prep without washing hands.
- Observed PIC wash hands and not use a barrier to turn off the faucet, thus recontaminating hands.
- Observed ice in handwashing sink.
- Observed unwashed veggies stored over RTE veggies in WIC.
- Observed unwashed vegetables stored over RTE shrimp in WIC.
- Observed no protective coverings on mole, chicken broth, burrito sauce and Queso in WIC.
- Observed items in prep unit above 41F.
- Observed ambient air of unit at 56F.
- Observed poblano pepper in prep unit with no date mark.
- Observed chicken, housemade chicken broth, burrito sauce (made with tomatoes), shrimp, beef and refried beans in WIC with no date mark.
- Observed cut tomatoes, housemade salsas, pico de gallo and other items being placed on TPHC right after prep, without being properly cooled down.
- Observed no time stamp on beef, chicken broth and beans being held on time.
- Observed no label on 2 spray bottles.
#5 Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse
210 E TRADE ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28202
Scored 87 (B) on 6/25/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee handle slider buns with bare hands.
- Observed 2 oyster tags with no last date sold.
- Observed raw lobster stored over raw oysters that were pre-shucked and are served raw in reach in cooler.
- Observed unwashed produce stored over ready to eat items in the walk in cooler.
- Observed employee pick up a mushroom from the floor with gloved hands, discard the mushroom, and then move to continue to work with mushrooms.
- Observed crab cake mix cooling in walk in cooler in a deep covered container after more than 4 hours.
- Observed entire main line coolers holding product above 41F. Ready to eat products above 41F were voluntarily discarded. Raw products were relocated to the walk in as all were 45F and below.
- Observed no date mark on cooked onions in reach in.
#4 DD Peckers Wing Shack
10403 PARK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28210
Scored 87 (B) on 6/28/2024
They had the following violations;
- No certified PIC present.
- Observed food containers on storage rack with food debris on them. Need to be thoroughly washed, rinsed, and sanitized.
- Observed large package of American cheese left on drainboard of 3-compartment sink, was about 65F. Placed into walk-in refrigerator, cooled to below 41F prior to inspector leaving facility.
- No written procedure or labeling for wings using TPHC. Justin advised that he was having staff to complete a written procedure and items would be labeled for tonight.
- Observed food stored on damaged beverage trays in walk-in and items stored the same way in kitchen.
- Observed walls in walk-in refrigerator, floors throughout, and walls in many places in need of cleaning.
#3 Oak Steakhouse
4777 SHARON RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 85.5 (B) on 6/17/2024
They had the following violations;
- No employee present is a certified food protection manager.
- Observed a hand sink next to the prep coolers with no paper towels or hand wash sign.
- Observed oyster tags out of chronological order. Several tags were missing the date of last one sold.
- Observed no parasite destruction letters for Seabass and other items featured on the “Catch of the Day” menu.
- Observed unwashed vegetables stored above ready-to-eat vegetables in the walk-in cooler.
- Observed a large amount of microbial growth inside of the ice machine.
- Observed eggs, shrimp, tomatoes, lettuce, cheese and slaw around 50 degrees in Prep Cooler.
- Observed tomatoes, blue cheese, noodles and broccoli around 50 degrees in Prep Cooler.
- Observed boiled eggs and pickled cabbage past the 7-day date mark.
- Observed missing time labels for Honey Butter and Rosemary Butter.
- Establishment was unable to produce the entire HACCP plan approved by the local Health Department.
#2 Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
1626 EAST BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 85.5 (B) on 6/6/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed cooling/cooling methods, hot holding, cold holding and TPHC violations during inspection.
- Observed hand sink near grill without soap or paper towels.
- Observed food employee handle soiled dishes and proceed to touch clean dishes without changing gloves.
- Observed cut romaine cooling over 4 hours still above 41F.
- Observed portion cups of house made ranch and chipotle ranch 58-57F with 40mins left in the cooling window.
- Observed mushrooms and onions hot holding below 135F.
- Observed various TCS items in salad prep top, grill drawers, in ice baths and buttermilk on counter above 41F. Ambient air of salad unit is 49F. Items being held in ice baths were barely sitting in ice.
- Observed approximately 5 sheet trays of chicken wings with a prep date of 5/29.
- Observed house made chipotle ranch being held on TPHC without a time label.
#1 Restaurante Y Panaderia Salvadorena
5724 E W T HARRIS BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28215
Scored 80.5 (B) on 6/10/2024 (rescored to 95.5 on 7/3)
They had the following violations;
- Observed Facility had several priority item violations today. PIC is not ensure that food code is being followed.
- Observed cook handle dirty dishes, leave kitchen, put hands in water, all with her gloves on and she did not change gloves and wash her hands before handling food.
- Observed employee turn faucet off with her clean hands.
- Observed frozen food in reach in freezer not covered.
- Observed meat grinder with visible food debris on inside.
- Observed tamales and rice/bean mix cooling in reach in cooler for more than 2 hours and still above 70F.
- Observed several TCS foods cooling since yesterday in reach in cooler above 41F.
- Observed empanadas in Low boy cooler above 41F and beans above 41F. PIC stated that the beans had been out this morning.
- Observed multiple pans of cooked and prepped foods in the reach with no date mark.
- Observed food at pupusa station held on TPHC not marked with discard time.
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.
