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 February 2024;
#10 Fonda la Taquiza
5135 ALBEMARLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28205
Scored 91 (A) on 2/7/2024
They had the following violations;
- No PIC present during inspection.
- Observed various TCS items holding above 41F in two door flip top prep unit.
- Observed one unlabeled spray bottle of degreaser.
- Observed three small live insects in facility.
- Observed small bowls used as scoops in rice.
#9 Bocao Sushi
1000 NC MUSIC FACTORY BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28206
Scored 90.5 (A) on 2/28/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee water bottles on the food prep table.
- Observed raw shelled eggs stored over cooked rice in the reach in cooler.
- Observed the interior panel of the ice machine accumulating pink residue.
- Observed cooked broccoli and cauliflower date marked 2/21, exceeding 7 days.
- Observed no written procedures for cooked shrimp, cooked plantains, and cooked rice being held using TPHC.
- Observed unlabeled bottle of glass cleaner.
#8 Bar Marcel
3920 SHARON RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28211
Scored 90.5 (A) on 2/1/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee health policy on site does not discuss exposure.
- Observed shell stock tags stored out of chronological order.
- Observed raw chorizo stored behind ready to eat items in prep top and over ready to eat item in reach in.
- Observed raw chicken behind raw burgers in cooler drawer.
- Observed slicer with food debris and dust on and behind the blade.
- Observed food debris on the base of slicer.
- Observed several stocks sitting out at room temperature for over 1 hour to right of stove prior to being actively reheated.
- Observed red tomato sauce and chicken stock cooling from last night above 41F.
- Observed arriza stock (1/25), short rib (1/25), pesto (1/13), radicchio puree (1/13), red tomato sauce (1/20), roasted tomatoes (1/20), fish stock (1/25), and Brie (1/25) in several coolers including walk in, reach ins, and prep tops.
- Observed no date mark on cooked potatoes and sliced tomatoes in prep cooler, short rib vegetables in walk in, or mozzarella in walk in.
#7 La Sa Son by Winter
4200 SOUTH BLVD, CHARLOTTE NC 28209
Scored 90 (A) on 2/7/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed an employee handle raw shell egg. Discarded gloves and donned new gloves without a hand wash.
- Observed large trash can blocking back hand sink.
- Observed soiled utensil stored in front hand sink of kitchen.
- Observed raw shell eggs stored above rice in the wic.
- Observed several vegetable slicers stored clean according to PIC with food debris left on them.
- Observed cooked yuca cooling at ambient air and not meet proper cooling rate. EHS observed item to be cooling at 107F for 60 mins cool at ambient air to 97F.
- EHS observed soft cheese, pork, rice, and beef all without dates.
- Observed in use spray bottle of sanitizer without a label.
#6 Showmars
2540 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 87 (B) on 2/20/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed facility had several priority item violations today.
- Observed no CFPM on duty at beginning of inspection.
- Observed no clean up instructions at facility.
- Observed the Front handwashing sink had ketchup in it.
- Observed diver stored as clean under prep table with large amount of food debris.
- Observed broccoli cheddar soup in hot well below 135F.
- Observed Greek salad sitting on top of pan in prep top at 46F.
- Observed Greek salad that was made yesterday in prep top with no date mark.
- Observed broccoli on a pan in lowboy cooler and a gallon of milk in the front prep unit with no date mark.
#5 7-11
2825 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28214
Scored 87 (B) on 2/28/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed facility had priority item violations today and PIC not knowledgeable of food safety temperatures.
- Observed no CFPM on duty.
- Observed 2 employee drinks with no lid sitting on prep top.
- Observed no paper towels at back handwashing sink.
- Observed smoked sausage being offered for sale at 130F.
- Observed wings being HH at 107F.
- Observed whole milk and French vanilla creamer in coffee creamer dispenser above 41F.
- Observed 4 open packages of tcs for HH roller in lowboy cooler not date marked.
- Observed employee use thermometer in food without first sanitizing the thermometer.
#4 Courtyard Marriot
2700 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 86.5 (B) on 2/15/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed PIC is not a CFPM and facility had several priority item violations today.
- No CFPM on duty during inspection.
- Observed no soap at front hand sink VR needed.
- Observed no paper towels at front hand sink VR needed.
- Observed water temperature at all 3 hand sinks below 100F.
- Observed several dishes stored as clean with food debris and sticker residue on them.
- Observed Quat sanitizer at 3 comp sink reading 0 ppm.
- Observed oatmeal being held at grill below 135F.
- Observed Queso cheese and shredded lettuce in the WIC not date marked.
- Observed Hummus in front cooler not date marked.
- Observed Pepperoni, Quac, and panned Parmesan cheese dated for more than seven days.
#3 Wendy’s
2933 EASTWAY DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 85 (B) on 2/26/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed food employee wash hands and recontaminate them by touching faucet handles without using a barrier (i.e.: paper towels).
- Observed another employee arrive to facility, wash hands and recontaminate them by directly touching faucet handles without using a barrier.
- Observed no soap available at approximately three hand washing stations.
- Observed no paper towels at two hand washing stations.
- Observed chili reheating since 9 am with less than 30 minute window.
- Observed well below flat top grill unable to maintain TCS foods queso and swiss cheese at 135 F degrees.
- Observed reach in unit maintaining raw beef patties between 46-48 F degrees.
- Observed numerous containers of TCS applicable foods such as cheese, diced chicken, lettuce and scrambled eggs in the walk-in cooler without their date marking requirement.
- Observed containers of cut lettuce, cheeses and two containers of sliced tomatoes being held on TPHC without time labels.
- Observed small cockroach crawling inside dump sink behind front counter station.
#2 Chicken King
2400 W SUGAR CREEK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 82.5 (B) on 2/23/2024
They had the following violations;
- Observed no CFPM present during time of inspection.
- Observed no paper towels in dispenser in men’s bathroom.
- Observed raw eggs stored over onions in prep unit.
- Observed raw bacon stored over drinks and blue cheese in WIC.
- Observed raw chicken stored over raw shrimp in WIC.
- Observed unwashed tomatoes stored over RTE sauces and teas in WIC.
- Observed raw fish and chicken on ice on prep table with no protective covering.
- Observed food debris and residue on dishes stored as clean.
- Observed items hot holding in steam well below 135F.
- Observed cut tomatoes, eggs, housemade cole slaw, housemade potato salad, bologna, boiled eggs, pulled pork and peppers and onions in prep unit with no date.
- Observed housemade cole slaw, housemade potato salad and salads in RIC with no date.
- Observed pulled pork and chili in WIC with no date.
- Observed bottle of raid stored in dry storage area.
- Observed dead pest inside of feta cheese container in prep unit.
#1 Velvet Taco
2170 HAWKINS ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 81 (B) on 2/2/2024
They had the following violations;
- No employee health policy was available during inspection.
- Observed an employee remove gloves after working with raw fish.
- Observed no paper towels present at the grill hand sink.
- Observed raw chicken and beef stored above corn and lettuce in the walk-in cooler.
- Observed raw eggs stored above cheese in the walk-in cooler.
- Observed raw ground beef and mechanically tenderized beef stored above steak.
- Observed rice reheated to 150 degrees for hot holding.
- Observed corn salsa and guacamole cooling 0 degrees in 25 minutes.
- Observed beef hot holding at 114 degrees.
- Observed rice hot holding at 120 degrees.
- Observed salsa, guacamole, chopped avocado, mayo crema and ranch crema above 41 degrees while sitting on a thin layer of ice.
- Observed three spray bottles and one sanitizer bucket missing labels.
- Observed a sanitizer bucket being stored above plastic forks.
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.