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 October 2023;
#10 Skyland Family Restaurant
4544 SOUTH BV, CHARLOTTE, NC 28209
Scored 88.5 (B) on 10/18/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee wash hands and turn off faucet without using paper towel barrier.
- Observed employee touch pancake with barehand, observed pancake being served to customer by another waitress.
- Observed raw beef stored above RTE foods inside the WIC.
- Observed raw pooled eggs stored above onions and mushrooms inside RIC.
- Observed Boston butt (x4) placed inside the WIC to cool the previous night.
- Observed sliced tomatoes, coleslaw, sausage, gravy, ham, turkey, boiled eggs, and pasta prepared the previous day with no date marking.
- Observed coleslaw (10/7) stored inside the WIC longer than 7 days.
- Observed chemical spray bottle with no label.
#9 Gong Cha
7808 REA RD, CHARLOTTE NC 28227
Scored 88.5 (B) on 10/10/2023 (rescored to 97 on 10/20/2023)
They had the following violations;
- Observed no PIC present.
- Observed no certified PIC present.
- Observed employee not able to verbally demonstrate that effective employee health policy was being followed and did not have written policy.
- Written procedures for responding to vomiting or diarrheal events were not available.
- Observed no disposable towels provided in men’s restroom or hand washing sinks behind counter or kitchen.
- Observed no handwashing signs provided at restroom hand washing sinks.
- Observed tapioca pearls hot held at 119 degrees F.
- Observed 1 gallon of milk open 2 days ago according to employee not date marked.
#8 Mama’s Caribbean Grill
1504 CENTRAL AV, CHARLOTTE NC 28205
Scored 88 (B) on 10/11/2023
They had the following violations;
- PIC present was not a certified food protection manager.
- Observed raw goat meat stored below raw chicken meat.
- Observed two containers of raw chicken and one container of Mac and cheese that were holding above 41F.
- Observed jerk chicken sauce with cooked plant ingredients with date mark of 9/29.
- Observed large gap in bottom of front door that would allow for insects and rodent entry.
- Observed fruit flies and a lot of evidence of rodents in the form of fecal matter along walls, on top of outlets, around equipment.
#7 Guate Linda
6016 The Plaza, CHARLOTTE NC 28215
Scored 87.5 (B) on 10/17/2023
They had the following violations;
- Hot holding, cold holding and date marking are not being controlled properly. Establishment was leaving out soups and plantains out of temperature control, staff are leaving door to walk-in cooler open during busy hours, causing food in the cooler to rise above 41F, and several items missing date marks, or held past 7 days.
- 2 employee drinks observed on prep table at beginning of inspection.
- Chicken soup measured 110-130F on counter and plantains on shelf measured 105F.
- All TCS foods in walk-in cooler were 48-60F.
- Cooked beef and red cabbage in sandwich cooler missing date labels.
- Rice in walk-in cooler missing date label.
- Adobo sauce (10-9) and beans (10-10) in walk-in cooler were past 7 days.
- Roach observed on shelf below prep table.
- Lots of small flies in dry storage area.
#6 Velvet Taco
2170 HAWKINS ST, CHARLOTTE NC 28203
Scored 87.5 (B) on 10/9/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed employee remove gloves and don new gloves during food preparation without a hand wash between sets of gloves.
- Observed no soap at 2/3 hand sinks throughout the kitchen.
- Observed raw fish and shrimp stored above RTE foods inside the WIC.
- Observed multiple pans that were stored as clean on shelf in dish pit area with food residue and buildup on internal surfaces, food contact surfaces.
- Observed Fried shrimp Hot holding below 135F.
- Observed TCS food items inside the prep unit held above 41F.
- Observed TCS foods stored inside the WIC above 41F due to door being left open during delivery at 10:30 AM.
- Observed multiple (x3) containers of chopped lettuce with no date marking.
#5 La Plebada Restaurant
1352 W SUGAR CREEK RD, CHARLOTTE, NC 28213
Scored 87 (B) on 10/4/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed violations of holding temperatures, evidence that persons unnecessary to the operation of food establishment are in prohibited areas, improper handwashing, improper sanitization, and little knowledge of food borne disease.
- Observed significant evidence that persons not necessary to operation are allowed in designated areas.
- Observed PIC wash hands for less than 20 seconds and turn off faucet without using a barrier.
- Observed PIC crack a raw egg into pan and then return to begin to add RTE foods into pan.
- Observed PIC use handwashing sink to fill a container.
- Observed dish detergent in handwashing sink.
- Observed handwashing sink at front of house with no paper towels dispensing from dispenser.
- Observed handwashing sink in men’s bathroom with no paper towels.
- Observed cut peppers in RIC below prep unit with white, fuzzy growth.
- Observed raw eggs stored over RTE salsa and rice in WIC.
- Observed raw chicken stored over raw pork in RIC under prep unit.
- Observed several items in WIC with no protective covering such as peppers and onions, menudo, and salsa.
- Observed several plates stored as clean with food residue/debris.
- Observed PIC unable to properly create bleach sanitizing solution with concentrations above 400 ppm.
- Observed refried beans and cooked beef hot holding below 135F. Refer to temperature chart.
- Observed diced tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, cut lettuce, sour cream, housemade chicken salsa, pork tamales, cooked chicken, raw beef ribs, and raw chicken in prep unit/RIC under prep unit above 41F.
- Observed Housemade red and green salsa in drink cooler above 41F.
- Observed pork tamales and cooked chicken in RIC below prep unit with no dates.
- Observed housemade salsas in drink cooler with no dates.
- Observed chicken, menudo and housemade salsas in WIC with no dates.
- Observed bleach spray bottle with no label.
- Observed employee personal medication near cook line and near register.
#4 American Deli
5700 UNIVERSITY POINTE BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28262
Scored 86 (B) on 10/20/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed no CFPM on site.
- Observed raw shrimp stored over veg in the tall reach in freezer.
- Observed slicer soiled with old food debris.
- Observed employee washing dishes and putting them away for use without any sanitizer.
- Facility did not have any sanitizer to use.
- Observed tomatoes, lettuce, ham, sliced cheese, shredded cheese and tzatziki sauce in prep top holding above 41F.
- Observed gyro and roast beef in the low reach in cooler holding above 41F.
- Observed roach crawling on box in the dry storage area.
- Observed dead roach on the wall.
#3 Chin Garden
4420 THE PLAZA, CHARLOTTE NC 28215
Scored 84.5 (B) on 10/10/2023 (rescored to 98.5 on 10/26)
They had the following violations;
- Establishment is not date marking foods effectively.
- Establishment was not cooling chicken, shrimp, or pork properly.
- All containers and pans had greasy residue on them.
- Establishment was using cardboard boxes to store cooked food.
- Most pans and containers stored as clean had greasy residue on them.
- Cooked chicken measured 75-86F after cooling for over 2 hours.
- Cut cabbage held out of temperature control at 59F. Egg rolls in reach-in cooler measured 44-46F. Chicken in reach-in cooler measured 44F.
- Tofu, baby corn and pork ribs missing date labels in sandwich cooler.
- Cooked chicken in reach-in cooler missing date label.
- Egg rolls held on TPHC were missing time label.
- Cleaning chemical bottle not labeled.
- Bottles of medications stored in top of meat grinder.
#2 Pho Ngon
2215 AYRSLEY TOWN BV, CHARLOTTE NC 28273
Scored 83.5 (B) on 10/26/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed Employees come in from outside and started preparing food.
- Observed chicken stored over beef in WIC.
- Observed a few dishes with debris.
- Observed Sanitizer low in dish machine.
- Observed employee washing pan in prep sink.
- Observed Beef broth and spicy Broth being held below 135.
- Observed Lettuce, tomatoes, cooked chicken, cooked shrimp, raw shrimp, tendons, beef meatballs, fish eggs, raw chicken & beef, fish sauce, cooked chicken breast, Hot chili sauce, bone broth all temping above 41.
- Observed cooked chicken from previous day without date marking.
- Observed Noodles without time indication.
#1 Taqueria Gaviota Latina
3112 THE PLAZA, CHARLOTTE NC 28278
Scored 82.5 (B) on 10/6/2023
They had the following violations;
- Observed PIC and food employee wash hands and turn off faucet without using a barrier.
- Observed tamales with cloth towel on top of them in RIC.
- Observed sanitizer at 3 compartment sink over 200ppm.
- Observed corn, al pastor, shredded beef and carne asada in RIC above 41F. Refer to temperature chart.
- Observed atole de avena dated 9/6/23, tamales de pollo dated 9/28/23, pulled pork dated 9/28/23 & 9/7/2023.
- Observed rice, corn, pulled pork, queso fresco, and housemade salsas with no date.
- Observed soup and tamales in freezer with no date mark.
- Observed dead crawling critters behind clean dish storage and near bathroom area.
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.
