Even though the Charlotte region’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).
These were the top 10 worst inspection scores in Charlotte for July, 2022;
#10 Fonda La Taquiza
5135 ALBEMARLE ROAD, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 88.5 (B) on 7/28/2022
They had the following violations;
- Observed poor oversight of cooling, cold holding, and date marking by PIC.
- Observed sanitizer concentration at 0 ppm.
- Observed soiled utensil stored as clean.
- Observed sopa de mariscos cold holding above 41F after cooling overnight.
- Observed TCS foods at prep top and prep reach in cold holding above 41F.
- Observed ambient temperature of 44F at prep cooler.
- Observed ambient temperature of 40F by end of inspection.
- Observed no date mark on salsas, cooked chicken, cooked tripe, chicken stew, and barbacoa. Employee states she is still in training and did not know about date marking foods.
- Observed salsa verde and Roja with date mark of 7/20.
#9 Deli-Cias
6341 ALBEMARLE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28212
Scored 87.5 (B) on 7/12/2022 (rescored to 95.5 on 8/1)
They had the following violations;
- Observed food employee turn faucet off with their bare hands after hand washing.
- Observed hand washing sink in prep area not supplied with disposable towels and dispenser not working.
- Observed raw fish stored over RTE foods and vegetables in tall reach in refrigerator.
- Observed raw chicken stored over raw beef in walk in cooler.
- Observed some clean plates and pans stored as clean but soiled with food debris. Observed some glasses in beer chest cooler with residues / debris around lip contact area of glasses.
- Observed low temperature dish machine not providing required concentration to sanitize equipment and showing 10ppm chlorine as registered on test kit.
- Observed cut lettuce, cut cabbage, raw chicken, cut Tomatoe, pico, tamales cold held between 43-45 degrees F in flip top prep cooler. Ambient air temperature of unit measured 41 degrees F.
- Observed cut cabbage, beans, tamales not date marked in prep cooler.
- Observed bottle of degreaser not labeled.
#8 Chili’s
500 UNIVERSITY CENTER BLVD, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 87.5 (B) on 7/27/2022
They had the following violations;
- Observed handwashing sink removed at the front service station.
- Observed several soiled dishes stored clean in the clean dish storage area.
- Observed chicken and egg rolls holding below 135F in the hot well.
- Observed wings in the wing PT 1 holding above 41F.
- Observed sausage, chicken, pork, shredded cheese and pepper jack in the single PT 4 holding above 41F.
- Observed lettuce, tomatoes, cheese and pico in PT 5 holding above 41F.
- Observed ribs, chicken and grilled vegetables in cold drawer 5 holding above 41F.
#7 Gong Cha
601 S KINGS DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28204
Scored 87.5 (B) on 7/13/2022
They had the following violations;
- Observed overall lack of control in facility.
- Observed no CFPM on site during inspection.
- Observed no vomit/diarrhea plan available in facility.
- Observed no soap at front line hand sink.
- Observed no paper towels at back kitchen hand sink.
- Observed various jelly’s and puddings holding between 60-65F in prep top.
- Observed heavy cream and milk not date marked in various coolers.
- Observed tapioca bubbles that are held on TPHC with no times marked.
- Observed residential grade pest control spray stored by back mop sink.
#6 Bojangles
5231 OLD DOWD RD, Charlotte NC 28208
Scored 87.5 (B) on 7/8/2022 (rescored to a 93 on 7/20/2022)
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee handle soiled equipment and then handle clean equipment without washing hands.
- Observed raw bacon stored above RTE eggs in the walk in cooler.
- Observed unwashed tomatoes stored above RTE cheese and cut slaw.
- Observed several stacks of pans and utensils said and stored clean according to PIC with food debris left on them.
- Observed flip top unit was functioning above 41F.
- Observed cut lettuce, sliced cheese, pimento cheese, and shredded lettuce all above 41F.
- Observed raw bacon in the walk in above 41F as well.
- Observed sanitizer and cleaners stored above single-service items throughout the kitchen.
#5 Hillside Caribbean
1113 PEGRAM ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 86.5 (B) on 7/27/2022
They had the following violations;
- Employees present at beginning of inspection were not aware of requirements of the food code – multiple risk factors out of compliance – hand washing, cooling, reheating, date marking, cold holding.
- No employee present during inspection with ANSI food protection manager certification.
- Employee failed to wash hands after handling mop bucket and after handling soiled towels and dishes. Employee then went to preparing food on the stove top.
- Rubber gloves and metal pole stored in hand washing sink at start of inspection.
- Jerk chicken measured 126F.
- Chicken in steam table measured 109F and had been reheating for 1.5 hours.
- Rice and beans began cooling at 10:15AM and measured 114F at 12:30PM.
- Beef patties cooling for over an hour on counter.
- Beef patties sitting on prep table out of temperature control at 75F.
- Cooked fish in upright cooler missing date label.
#4 Bamboo Garden
231 MT HOLLY-HUNTERSVILLE RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 86.5 (B) on 7/12/2022 (rescored to 95 on 7/21)
They had the following violations;
- Observed no PIC on site, they are the same people as normal but they have very little understanding of food safety and the food code.
- Observed peas and carrots thawing in the HS.
- Observed RTE noodles below raw beef in the WIC.
- Observed cooked shrimp in front of raw shrimp in the prep unit.
- Observed several containers with stickers from 5/18, 5/12 etc.
- Observed no time stamps for today, times tamps were from 5/18.
- Observed flies in the kitchen area.
- Observed cooked egg rolls and dumplings sitting in plastic containers, stored on top of the bamboo garden menu.
#3 Bistro La Bon
1322 CENTRAL AV, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 86 (B) on 7/28/2022
They had the following violations;
- No employee present at beginning of inspection.
- Employee observed washing hands in dump sink at bar.
- Bar employee observed handling limes with bare hands.
- Employee observed rinsing towel in hand washing sink.
- 2 batches of mussels were missing shellstock tags.
- No information available regarding salmon parasite destruction.
- Over 75% of clean utensils checked had visible food residue on them.
- Marinara sauce that began cooling yesterday measured 50F.
- 2 cartons of half and half measured 48-50F in coffee cooler. Coffee cooler air temperature was 50F.
- Restaurant week menu is missing consumer advisory for filet and salmon.
#2 Hawkers
1930 CAMDEN RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 83.5 (B) on 7/25/2022
They had the following violations;
- Observed metal scrubber in basin of hand sink at dish area and strainer/plastic tub in hand sink at bar.
- Observed container of 6 minute soft cooked eggs which require consumer advisory stored directly above ready to eat food items in WIC.
- Observed bulk unwashed produce items stored directly above steeping Thai tea in WIC #2.
- Observed pans of pork belly placed into WIC for cooling with internal temperatures of 101f.
- Observed large bulk container of curry gravy cooling since previous day still at 56 and large bulk container of curry broth cooling since previous day at 50f in WIC.
- Observed blanched spring roll mix cooling in plastic lidded tub at 64f at 12:30 still at 60f at 1:20pm.
- Observed various items holding above 41f in flip top portions of line coolers including dumplings, raw shell eggs, wontons, and more.
- Observed house made kimchi with 10 day date mark present 7/24 – 8/3.
- Observed establishment is using TPHC for house made hot cooked chili oil, bird’s eye chili sauce, and more.
- Observed multiple spray bottles labeled sanitizer holding peroxide multi disinfectant cleaner. Observed spray bottle of quat sanitizer with no label. Observed spray bottle with no label holding peroxide multi disinfectant.
- Observed spray bottle of peroxide disinfectant cleaner on expo countertop immediately adjacent to in use food and food contact items.
#1 Harris Food Mart
8400 OLD STATESVILLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28269
Scored 77 (C) on 7/7/2022
They had the following violations;
- Observed nobody on site with food knowledge.
- Observed no paper towels at HS.
- Observed eggs over bologna in the prep unit and eggs over RTE sauce in the WIC.
- Observed FE (main kitchen person) wash dish without a full basin of soapy water, then set aside as clean. No sanitizing process involved.
- Observed mac/cheese beans and two other items in the hotwell at 89F.
- Observed two bottles without labels.
- Observed roaches on the walls, flies flying around.
- Observed cooking oil stored on the floor.
- Observed drains building up black build-up, black build-up in the WIC walls. Grease next to the fryer. Inside of prep units, shelves have debris build-up and handles on coolers need cleaning.
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.