Charlotte Restaurant Receives ‘B’ Grade Following Health Code Violations
In the bustling city of Charlotte, excitement often fills the air, especially when it comes to dining out. But hold on to your forks because Rí Rá Irish Pub & Restaurant, situated at 208 N. Tryon St., has recently made headlines for all the wrong reasons. During a health inspection on December 16, 2023, this beloved uptown eatery scored a concerning B grade with a score of 85.5% due to multiple health violations.
What Went Wrong?
Conducted by the Mecklenburg County Health Department, the inspection unveiled a laundry list of issues that are enough to make any restaurant-goer cringe. Among the most alarming findings were the presence of fruit flies buzzing around the kitchen. No one wants to think of those little nuisances while enjoying their shepherd’s pie, right?
The inspectors didn’t stop there! They also spotted raw haddock carelessly stored over sausage, which is a definite no-no in food safety practice. The can opener, surprisingly, had food residue on it despite being categorized as “clean.” You might be wondering, how do you mix up clean and not-so-clean in a busy kitchen? Well, that’s just one of the mysteries in the world of restaurant management.
And if that wasn’t enough, the gravy and potatoes were found in hot holding below the required temperatures, which can lead to serious health issues. In addition, there were containers of spices and breadcrumbs that didn’t have any labels—imagine whipping up a meal without knowing what you’re using!
The situation was compounded by wet wiping cloths being stored improperly on cutting boards and a leak in the ceiling of the basement area. Yikes! It’s not the kind of atmosphere that promotes appetizing meals or happy diners!
History Repeats Itself
This isn’t the first time Rí Rá has been in hot water. In fact, this marks the fourth time the pub has received a B grade in health inspections, with the last one occurring in May. With the Mecklenburg County sanitation grades database revealing at least 126 restaurant inspections conducted between December 13-19, Rí Rá stands out as the sole establishment that did not earn an A grade. It begs the question: will the pub make changes to improve its score or face more scrutiny in the future?
Why Should You Care?
Sanitation scores and their corresponding letter grades are there for a reason! They help diners make informed choices and ensure that restaurants adhere to hygiene standards aimed at preventing the spread of food-borne illnesses. In North Carolina, a score below 70% is alarming enough to lead to immediate revocation of a restaurant’s permit, so thankfully, Rí Rá narrowly avoided that fate.
If you’re keen on checking out the health inspection history of your favorite restaurants in Mecklenburg County, you can easily search through the public database at public.cdpehs.com. It might just help you feel a little more comfortable the next time you bite into a delicious meal!
Questions? Tips? Let’s Connect!
Do you have a question about your community that you’d love to see answered? Or perhaps you have a story idea that needs to be shared? The local service journalism teams are eager to hear from you. Your insights could lead to more awareness and improvement in our cherished dining spots!
For now, keep your dining adventures exciting and safe, Charlotte! And remember, a little extra attention to health standards can go a long way in keeping our community healthy and happy.
