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 November 2023;
#10 Popeyes
4050 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE, NC 28206
Scored 89 (B) on 11/17/2023 (rescored to 93 on 11/28)
They had the following violations;
- Observed three different PICs during the course of the inspection.
- Observed first PIC was not knowledgeable about day-today operations of establishment,
- Observed evening shift PIC not able to answer questions related to foodborne disease, not properly washing hands, and not able to locate written policies/procedures related to day-to-day operations.
- Observed no written vomit and diarrheal clean up procedures available at time of inspection.
- Observed PIC touch hair, face and other body parts without washing hands.
- Observed PIC wash hands for less than 20 seconds.
- Observed PIC and food employee wash hands and turn off faucet without using a barrier, thus recontaminating hands. Observed PIC return to work station without washing hands.
- Observed food debris and greasy residue on dishes stored as clean.
- Observed black buildup inside of ice machine.
- Observed buildup inside of drink dispenser nozzles.
- Observed items hot holding below 135F. Refer to temperature chart.
- Observed items in prep unit/RIC above 41F.
- Observed opened door on RIC that would not close.
#9 Famous Toastery
101 N MAIN ST, DAVIDSON NC 28036
Scored 88 (B) on 11/7/2023 (rescored to 93 on 11/21/2023)
They had the following violations;
- Observed lack of Active Managerial Control (AMC) during inspection.
- Observed low QAC sanitizer at three compartment sink- 0ppm.
- Observed a few metal insert pans stored as clean soiled with food waste.
- Observed shrimp and tomatoes cooling too slowly to meet cooling parameters in egg make table. Product prepared 11/7/23 @ 8:30am.
- Observed cut cantaloupe and honeydew cooling too slowly to meet cooling parameters in walk-in cooler. Cantaloupe prepared 11/6/23 and honeydew 11/7/23 – both used during morning prep(9am).
- Observed TCS foods being held above 41F in egg make table. Ambient temp of unit 50F. Observed various TCS foods being held above 41F in low boy. Ambient temp of unit 51F.
- Observed various TCS foods in main make table being held on ice and above 41F. Unit inoperable.
- Observed no TPHC paperwork for pico de gallo, hollandaise sauce, and clarified butter held on counter using TPHC.
- Observed top of dish machine soiled with food waste.
- Observed buildup on vents on ice machine.
- Observed buildup on fan covers in walk-in cooler.
- Observed buildup on black standalone fan at egg make table.
#8 Lagz Restaurant Bar & Grille
2539 LITTLE ROCK RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28214
Scored 88 (B) on 11/1/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee change gloves twice without washing her hands.
- Observed spoiled milk on top shelf in WIC.
- Observed slicer stored as clean with buildup and debris on bottom of blade.
- Observed black buildup on inside of ice machine.
- Observed cooked leaf greens and cooked seeds cooked at 9 am cooling in WIC above 70F at 11:30 am.
- Observed several cooked TCS foods in WIC, WIF, Cold holding drawers, and prep unit not date marked.
#7 Boudreauxs Louisiana Kitchen
501 E 36TH ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 87.5 (B) on 11/9/2023 (rescored to 93 on 12/4)
They had the following violations;
- No one present in the facility has taken or passed an ANSI accredited test.
- Observed buildup in top interior of ice machine in kitchen area.
- Observed plastic containers of pouched eggs in water that were prepared on Sunday the 5th.
- Observed sausage, gator meat, shrimp, and chicken stored in bottom of refrigerator above 41 F.
- Observed that the compressor unit in refrigerator is blocked by large, plastic containers on the top shelf.
- Observed pouched eggs that were not dated from Sunday.
- Observed containers of crab hushpuppies that were marked for eight days in walk-in cooler.
#6 Irie Nation Restaurant
2729 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28206
Scored 87.5 (B) on 11/14/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed PIC cleaning counters and sweeping the floor and return to food prep without properly washing hands.
- Observed food employee use handwashing sink to store sanitizer bucket.
- Observed handsink with no knob handle on hot water.
- Observed brown stewed chicken, oxtail, jerk chicken, red beans and rice and other items in WIC with no protective covering.
- Observed food debris on utensils and containers stored as clean.
- Observed greens prepared last night above 41F. Refer to temperature chart.
- Observed 3 containers of macaroni and cheese in steam box below 135F.
- Observed brown stew and jerk chicken, sweet potatoes and peas in WIC with no date.
- Observed bottle of sanitizer with no label.
#5 Harris Food Mart
8400 OLD STATESVILLE RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28269
Scored 87.5 (B) on 11/28/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee wash hands for less that 20 sec.
- Observed employee turn off sink without barrier.
- Observed cooked bologna and sausage in WIF cooling on top of Raw beef burgers.
- Observed quart sanitizer low 100ppm per manufacturer should read 150ppm to 400ppm.
- Observed buildup on nozzles of soda fountain.
- Observed cheese at 48F
#4 Bar B Q King
2900 WILKINSON BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28208
Scored 87 (B) on 11/30/2023
They had the following violations;
- PIC and employee unable to properly discuss all aspects of an employee health policy.
- PIC was unable to provide written procedures for vomit and diarrhea clean up.
- Observed several employees wash hands and use bare hands to turn the faucet off this action recontaminates the hands.
- Observed an employee enter the kitchen from the back door.
- Observed restroom hand sink without a hand wash sign.
- Observed raw fish stored above RTE pickles in the wic.
- Observed veg slicer, large plastic containers, and metal containers stored clean according to PIC with food debris left on them.
- Observed two large covered containers of pulled pork.
- Observed flip top with several containers of slaw without a proper date marking. PIC stated items are dated in the walk in cooler.
- Observed 2 containers of pork and one of chili in wic without date marks.
#3 Angela’s Pizza & Restaurant
9705 MINTWORTH AV, CHARLOTTE NC 28227
Scored 86.5 (B) on 11/1/2023 (rescored to 94 on 11/12)
They had the following violations;
- Observed Food employee wash hands at 3-comp sink during inspection.
- Observed food employees switching task and not changing gloves throughout the inspection.
- Observed employee cleaning containers at 3-comp sink with sanitizer that was 10 ppm (must be at least 50 ppm).
- Observed containers of Cooked noodles, diced ham, and meat sauce in walk-in cooler that were stored above 41 F.
- Observed containers of cooked noodles, and smoked pork Jowl in walk-in cooler and prep coolers that did not have the proper date on them. Items were marked from 10/21 with no intent of freezing or that they were frozen between process.
- Observed chubs of ham and Mortedella stored in walk-in cooler that were not dated.
- There is not a disclosure or reminder for consumer advisory on Brunch menu for eggs cook anyway and steak.
#2 Ri Ra Irish Pub
208 N TRYON ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28202
Scored 85.5 (B) on 11/9/2023 (rescored to 91 on 11/14)
They had the following violations;
- Observed limited control of kitchen processes as evidenced by improper cooling of cooked foods, improper cold holding temperatures, and improper handwashing procedures.
- Observed employee move from working with raw burgers to ready to eat items with no hand wash.
- Observed employee pick up a dropped spatula from the floor and then move to working with ready to eat food and clean utensils.
- Observed potato cutter and fresh vegetable dicer with food debris and build up.
- Observed several items including mashed potatoes, curry, beer cheese, and soups reheating after more than 2 hours still below 165F.
- Observed chicken wings cooling from yesterday in tightly wrapped bags in the walk in.
- Observed raw chicken bites prepped and marinated yesterday still cooling from prep in the reach in part of the prep cooler.
- Observed mashed potatoes in steam well below 135F. Employee stated that they were placed there after cooking at 10am.
- Observed reach in cooler behind salad station holding items above 41F. Cooler was “zoned” with the top shelf at 41F, the middle shelves at 44F and the bottom shelf at 46F.
- Observed turkey thawing in walk in with date of 10/29.
- Observed no date mark on cooked onions and on goat cheese in prep top cooler.
- Observed no label on spray bottle of chemical at the 3-comp sink.
#1 Sixty Vines
1415 VANTAGE PARK DR, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 82 (B) on 11/27/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed closed beverage container stored on prep table.
- Observed open beverage containers stored in prep area and over clean dishes.
- Observed multiple employees wash hands, turn off faucet with bare hands, and then dry hands. Hands were recontaminated when employees turned off soiled faucet with bare hands.
- Observed employee handle raw shrimp, remove glove, not wash hands, and don new glove.
- Observed employee pick up lemons with bare hands.
- Observed large mixing spoon stored in rear hand sink.
- Observed shell stock tags not stored in chronological order.
- Observed no parasite destruction records for salmon that is currently offered with a consumer advisory.
- Observed raw ground lamb stored over pancake batter and hummus in reachin.
- Observed unwashed berries and carrots stored over washed, cut melon and RTE juices.
- Observed soiled slicer that had not been in use today.
- Observed cooked, smashed potatoes that started cooling yesterday at 10am, at 44F, 49F, and 47F at 4:50pm.
- Observed a roasted garlic sauce that started cooling at 10:28am, at 43F at 4:53pm.
- Observed pizza sauce that is prepared from room temperature ingredients at 10:41am at 50F at 4:55pm.
- Observed garlic in oil held on TPHC from 12:00pm-4:00pm not discarded at 4:13.
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.