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 June 2023;
#10 Rhino Market
2320 N DAVIDSON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28205
Scored 88.5 (B) on 6/5/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed no CFPM on site at start of inspection.
- Observed open cup of soda on prep table.
- Observed raw shell eggs stored over lettuce.
- Observed unwashed blueberries and strawberries stored over washed, RTE lettuce.
- Observed cooked chicken that was in the cooling process with a cooling rate of 0 degrees/min.
- Observed TCS foods in WIC and prep top unit above 41F. Reference temperature chart. Ambient temperature of WIC was 47F. Cheeses in prep top unit were over stacked, above the fill line.
- Observed roasted garlic and garlic in oil with no date mark. Observed garlic aioli (garlic in oil mixture) from 4/24, Caesar dressing (garlic in oil mixture per recipe book) from 5/28, shrimp soup from 5/15, cut cantaloupe from 5/28 and 5/29, and cooked portobello mushrooms from 5/28.
#9 Pho Real
440 E MCCULLOUGH DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 88 (B) on 6/16/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed several risk factor violations. EHS has had conversations with the managers several times in the past about different rick factor violations.
- Observed cup of boba without a lid stored with the dry storage items on the shelf in the hallway.
- Observed several bags of raw beef stored over several containers of soups in tall reach in freezer
- Observed raw shrimp stored over cooked pork bag and shrimp bags.
- Observed raw chicken stored over beef in tall RI freezer.
- Observed slicer heavily soiled with old food and debris.
- Observed pork and chicken under the 3 comp sink and in the mop sink holding above 41F.
- Observed shrimp, chicken, noodles and pork in the low reach in cooler holding above 41F.
- Observed noodles and beef on the low reach in holding above 41F.
- Observed pho soup stored in an ECOLAB sanitizer bucket.
#8 Tacos El Regio
8829 E W T HARRIS BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28227
Scored 87.5 (B) on 6/15/2023
They had the following violations;
- No one present at start of inspection with ANSI food protection manager certification.
- Several employee drinks observed on prep tables and above food in cooler units during inspection.
- No paper towels at hand washing sink.
- Employee observed washing lettuce in hand washing sink.
- Employee also observed filling up water at hand sink.
- Raw eggs stored on shelf above avocados.
- Large amount of pans, containers and other utensils found with food residue on them.
- Some black buildup on interior of ice machine.
- Salsa was reheating in steam table at 90F.
- Most TCS ready-to-eat foods missing date labels throughout (salsas, cooked meats, hot dogs, ham, etc.).
- 1 spray bottle of Windex observed on prep table.
#7 Hawkers
1930 CAMDEN RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 87.5 (B) on 6/20/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed various repeat risk factor violations including cooling methods, cold holding, and clean food contact surfaces.
- Observed multiple dishes stored clean with stickers and sticker residue present. Stickers and sticker residue should be removed entirely during cleaning process.
- Observed steak cooked to 133F initially, yet PIC stated no proteins are offered raw or undercooked.
- Observed second final cook temperature of 177F.
- Observed various TCS items holding above 41F in multiple units throughout facility.
- Observed one container of duck and two containers of chicken lacking date marks.
- PIC unable to locate written procedures for holding rice on time.
#6 Cinergy 109
5336 DOCIA CROSSING RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28269
Scored 86.5 (B) on 6/9/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed metal pans, slicer, and dicer stored as clean with food debris. Observed several pans stored as clean with sticker residue.
- Observed Queso being held in hot well at 71F.
- Observed 4 trays of raw hamburger patties and one pan of chicken breast in cook line cooler at 62F.
- Observed ranch cups in cold cabinet above 41F and dated 6-4-23.
- Observed stainless steel cleaner and sanitizer spray bottles above and on prep tables.
- Observed 2 spray bottles of sanitizer not labeled.
- Observed dead bugs in unclean warmer.
#5 La Unica Mexican Restaurant
900 NC MUSIC FACTORY BV, CHARLOTTE, NC 28206
Scored 86 (B) on 6/13/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed unwashed avocados stored over washed, chopped lettuce in WIC.
- Observed unwashed tomatoes and green peppers stored over washed, diced peppers and onions in WIC.
- Observed uncovered containers of chips, tostados, and taco shells.
- Observed chicken that was cooked yesterday, 6/12, that did not cool within 6 hours, as it was 45F at time of inspection.
- Observed three types of salsa that were in a cold holding unit above 41F.
- Observed opened packages of hotdogs and sliced ham without date marks.
- Observed tripe without a thaw date, only had prep/frozen date of 1/3.
- Observed crab prepared on 6/5.
#4 Copan Restaurant
3607 N SHARON AMITY RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 85.5 (B) on 6/15/2023 (rescored to 96 (A) on 6/21)
They had the following violations;
- Manager’s food protection manager certification has expired.
- Employee observed touching face and then did not wash hands before bare handing cooked chicken. Also, manager breaded raw fish with gloves on and then discarded gloves and donned new gloves to work with cooking food without washing hands in between.
- Employee observed handling fried chicken with bare hands.
- Raw chicken stored on shelf above cilantro on floor. Raw chicken breading bowl with raw chicken residue stored directly on top of vegetables.
- Salsa measured 68F at 12:30PM. PIC stated it began cooling at 12PM. Salsa still measured 68F at 1:30PM.
- No date labels observed on any TCS ready-to-eat foods in walk-in cooler or sandwich cooler.
#3 El Thrifty Social
1115 N BREVARD ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28206
Scored 85 (B) on 6/15/2023 (rescored to 98.5 (A) on 6/26)
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee touch limes with bare hands.
- Observed employee touch RTE taquitos with bare hands in WIC.
- Observed large plastic containers blocking hand sink near prep sink.
- Observed cracked, raw shell eggs stored in an open bowl over RTE foods in reachin.
- Observed unwashed corn stored over RTE foods in WIC.
- Observed multiple dishes and food storage containers stored as clean with food residue and debris.
- Observed quat sanitizer solution at 3 comp sink at 50ppm.
- Observed chip warmer that was not yet in-use today, visibly soiled from previous days.
- Observed black and pink buildup inside ice machine.
- Observed taquitos in WIC at 44F.
- Observed vegetable taquitos prepared on 6/7, Verde (garlic in oil) prepared on 5/29, birria meat cooked on 6/1, and chorizo taquitos cooked on 6/6.
- Observed guacamole, cooked ground beef, and two trays of enchiladas with no date mark.
- Observed unlabeled spray bottle near dish machine.
#2 La Sa Son
4200 SOUTH BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28209
Scored 85 (B) on 6/8/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed no one present at start of inspection who was a certified food protection manager.
- Observed PIC unable to properly respond to questions about foodborne disease symptoms and illnesses.
- Observed PIC pick something up off the ground with gloves on and not wash hands before engaging in food prep.
- Observed several food employees leave their work stations and return without washing hands.
- Observed PIC wash hands and turn off faucet without using a barrier.
- Observed hand washing sink without any type of drying device.
- Observed food employee manually W/R/S with chlorine sanitizer concentration at 0 ppm.
- Observed puréed yuca in WIC prepared yesterday afternoon between 45-47F.
- Observed tuna hot holding at 93F. Per PIC, it had just been reheated about an hour ago.
- Observed fish in WIC at 51F. Per PIC, fish was prepared yesterday and left overnight on food cart.
- Observed tuna prepared yesterday in steam table with no date.
- Observed Queso fresco, carne cerdo and beef empanadas prepared yesterday in reach-in with no date.
- Observed cooked shrimp and fish in prep top prepared yesterday with no date.
- Observed beef empanadas, cooked diced chicken, salad, and beans in WIC prepared yesterday with no date.
- Observed menu item that contains undercooked eggs with no consumer advisory.
- Observed no asterisks on menu for menu item that serves eggs that can be undercooked.
#1 Maple Street Biscuit Company
2725 SOUTH BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28209
Scored 85 (B) on 6/5/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed that manager does not have food protection certification.
- Observed employee drink cup stored on pan at food prep sink.
- Observed employee go to put on new gloves after removing dirty gloves, without washing hands.
- Observed no hand towels at hand sink in front area of store.
- Observed there to be no sanitizer mixed for use on food contact surfaces.
- Observed food debris on bowls, pans.
- Observed waffle mix to be mixed in large deep containers which measured at 56F.
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.