Even though Charlotte’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). You can see exactly what the inspectors look for on this blank copy of an inspection report.
These are the top 10 worst currently standing inspection scores in Mecklenburg County:
#10 Vine American Kitchen
13735 Conlan Circle, Charlotte, NC
Scored 90 (A) on 8/18/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed food employee correcting date marks on food container, cooking and handling soiled utensils directly before handling sliced tomatoes without change of gloves or a hand wash.
- Observed bottle of butter out of temperature control, observed a metal container with butter at 53F on counter. Observed brussel sprouts in metal pan in ice bath at 54F.
- Observed garlic aioli, quinoa, roasted Brussels sprouts, broccoli and fresh mozzarella with date mark of 8/11 on 8/18. TCS foods may be held in facility for no longer than 7 days if held at 41F and below.
- Observed spinach, diced tomatoes and roasted onions with incorrect date mark, from 8/17. Small containers had label with today’s date, large batch containers had 8/17 date label.
- Observed a container of roasted garlic oil without a date mark, prepared more than 24 hours prior.
#9 Bad Daddy’s Burger Bar
1626 East Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 90 (A) on 8/18/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employee go from handling raw hamburger to tater tots without washing hands between glove usage.
- Observed employee come into kitchen from outside and begin task without hand wash.
- Observed fries in walk-in cooling that were 71F after 2 hour mark.
- Observed cooked mushrooms in walk-in at 79F after 2 hour mark.
- Observed lettuce on cook like at 53F and mozzarella cheese 59F in an ice bath, stacked too high.
- Observed brie, cheddar cheese and lettuce in produce cooler at 48F.
- Observed blanched fries missing discard time on label.
#8 Anzi Pizzeria
8133 Ardrey Kell Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 87.5 (B) on 8/22/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employee and PIC donning gloves multiple times without a hand wash.
- Observed employee and PIC using soiled gloves (both from handling equipment doors and from not washing hands before donning gloves) to prepare salads and cut tomatoes.
- Observed PIC washing a tomato in a hand sink.
- Observed utensils with food debris on them hanging above three compartment sink and in plastic bins on shelving adjacent to salad prep unit.
#7 Bangkok Ochai
7629 Pineville-Matthews Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 86 (B) on 8/15/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed food employee beverage not covered being stored above flip top unit.
- Observed food employee donning gloves without hand washing.
- Observed food employee cracking with raw shell eggs and handling raw poultry wearing gloves and then start to touch ready to eat foods.
- Observed 2 containers of lettuce, bean sprouts and cabbage cold holding above 45 degrees.
- Observed 6 containers of toxic substance not labeled.
#6 Little Caesar’s Pizza #27
228 Eastway Dr, Charlotte, NC
Scored 85.5 (B) on 8/28/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employees washing hands at hand sink and using bare hands to turn off water.
- No hand towels provided at hand sinks.
- Observed food debris on utensils/pans stored as clean on the drying rack. observed dried food residue on can opener.
- Observed pepperoni, sausage, cheese stored in pizza prep cooler > 45F.
- Observe pepperoni pizzas on speed rack stored outside of refrigeration > 45F. Pizza timer on rack had not been started for time hold.
#5 Muscles Sports Bar and Grill
2228 Beatties Ford Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 84.5 (B) on 8/17/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employee pick up a dropped water bottle from floor with gloves, did not change gloves before attempting to continue cooking foods.
- Observed molded shredded cheese and molded cherry tomatoes stored in non working prep cooler.
- Observed prep cooler on cook line holding cut tomatoes, sliced lettuce, and cole slaw and raw burgers at 60 degrees. Cooler not operating properly.
- Observed grits and cooked potatoes in drink fridge prepared more than a day ago that were not being date marked.
- Observed spray bottles of sanitizer not labeled.
#4 Fonda La Taquiza
5135 Albermarle Rd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 84.5 (B) on 8/1/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed tomatoes being washed in the handsink- staff moved them to the prep sink to re wash to correct.
- Observed a soiled tea nozzle soaking in a container of soapy water in the handsink.
- Observed raw chicken stored over raw beef.
- Observed raw tilapia stored over cooked pork today.
- Observed build up on the tea nozzle today.
- Observed TCS foods in the walk in cooler that had been cooling overnight and still had not reached 45F or less(they were also much higher in temperature than other foods in walk in and warmer in the middles).
- Observed TCS items holding around 47-48F in the walk in cooler today.
- Observed degreasor in a bottle labeled as all purpose.
#3 Viet Thai Noodle House
8314 Pineville Matthews Rd., Eastway Dr., Charlotte, NC
Scored 83 (B) on 8/22/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed food employee at ware washing going from dirty to clean without washing hands.
- Observed food employee wearing gloves while going into walk in cooler; come back out with food in glove hands; continue with food preparation; touching raw steak and ready to eat green onions.
- Observed raw chicken being stored directly on top of beef.
- Observed unwashed produce being stored directly above ready to eat products suchs as cooked beef.
- Observed raw beef being stored above tofu.
- Observed egg rolls in reach in unit not protected with a covering.
- Observed food debris on plates and bowls stored as clean.
- Observed bottle of sanitizer containing bleach concentration stronger than 200 ppm where stirp was turning black to white.
- Observed large pan of covered noodles, two large containers of chicken, and egg roll stuffing cooling in room temperature kitchen at arrival.
- Observed product that is cooked then frozen not being date marked with the pull date; items such as shrimp skewers, beef, chicken etc.
- Observed shell eggs being held out of temeperature control on time without a begin and end date.
#2 Wild Wing Cafe – University City
9539 Pinnacle Dr., Charlotte, NC
Scored 82 (B) on 8/30/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed an employee touch several pieces of celery with bare hands.
- Observed no paper towels at the hand sink by the back door.
- Observed a raw shell egg sitting directly on top of tomatoes in the prep top.
- Observed raw shrimp skewers stored above vegetable skewers in the prep unit across from the grill.
- Observed 2 veggie burgers stored in the same container with raw beef burgers in the drawer cooler beside the grill.
- Observed raw bacon stored on top of cooked bacon in the walk in cooler.
- Observed raw burgers stored above raw shrimp in the walk in cooler.
- Observed black and pink build up in ice machine.
- Observed raw chicken wings, lettuce, cheese and salad above 45F.
- Observed chicken wings held on time but the time was not marked.
#1 New Century Oriental Deli
1603 South Blvd., Charlotte, NC
Scored 81 (B) on 8/24/2017
They had the following critical violations;
- Observed employee beverages stored on food prep surfaces.
- Observed cigarette butts in trash can in kitchen (tobacco use not allowed inside).
- Observed handsinks without paper towels supplied.
- Observed bowl containing adulterated cooked rice.
- Observed food debris and residue on knives, containers, utensils stored as clean.
- Observed dried food debris on cutting boards.
- Observed one bottle of sanitizer not labeled.
- Observed deli ham, sliced pork, ground pork, and pooled eggs stored in upright cooler in back kitchen area > 45F.
- Observed raw ducks soaking in water at 3 compartment sink > 45F.
- Observed pork liver and sliced pork stored in upright glass door cooler in deli > 45F.
- Observed beef tripe, pork stomach salad, and pork ear salad not marked for time.
As of September 5th, the above scores have not changed, but they can be increased (or decreased) at any time, as soon as they have a re-inspection.
If you’d like to monitor heath scores, or do a quick search for a restaurant you’re about to eat at, check out North Carolina’s health inspection database here.
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